California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 285, a measure to support climate change education in the Golden State's public schools, into law on October 8, 2023, according to a legislative update from his office.
The new law requires the California course of study for grades 1-6 and grades 7-12 to emphasize the causes and effects of climate change and methods to mitigate and adapt to its effects. Additionally, appropriate coursework including such material is required to be offered as soon as possible, no later than the 2024-2025 school year.
California is the second state to enact a statutory requirement for climate change education. In 2022, a similar requirement was included in a budget bill in Connecticut, as NCSE previously reported.
