Transcript Highlights:

• What it is, it's an early literacy experience.
• </c><00:03:02.000><c> early</c><00:03:02.400><c> literacy</c> What it is, it's an early early literacy
• What it is, it's an early early literacy experience.<00:03:04.280><c> The</c><00:03:04.600><c> beauty
• The only way you can do teach literacy.
• </c> both literacy and veterans. both literacy and veterans.

Transcript Highlights:

• early literacy and other aspects of school and life.
• A fourth is strengthening the foundational skill of early literacy through Mass Literacy.
• need for stronger early literacy education.
• need for stronger early literacy education.
• childhood and early literacy supports.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The hearing was a Joint Committee on Ways and Means budget session held in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 education and local aid budget, with remarks from legislative co-chairs, local officials, and education agency leaders. Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero emphasized Lawrence’s high-need student population, the importance of Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, and the impact of state aid on schools serving many English learners and low-income families. Carrero highlighted Lawrence High School programs such as early college, dual degrees, career pathways, and early childhood classrooms embedded in the high school, while lawmakers introduced themselves and noted the importance of the hearing to their districts. Acting Secretary of Education Amy Kershaw, Commissioner of Higher Education Noi Ortega, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Pedro Martinez, and Commissioner of Early Education and Care Amy Kershaw outlined the administration’s FY27 priorities. They described investments in literacy initiatives, universal school meals, student mental health, early college and career pathways, higher education affordability, community college and university student-success supports, preschool expansion, child care subsidies, and workforce supports for early educators. The commissioners also discussed federal funding threats, equity gaps, and the administration’s efforts to improve outcomes for Black and brown students, multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students. Members questioned the panel about the local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to revisit Chapter 70 funding to better address rising costs such as special education, transportation, and health care. Officials said the local contribution study report is expected by the end of June, with a draft to be shared after data analysis and public comment. Commissioner Martinez said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but more work is needed, and he pointed to a proposed Accelerating Achievement Initiative to support the highest-need schools. Senator Oliveira also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities and asked about partnerships with libraries to support literacy, prompting discussion of broader early literacy collaboration.

Transcript Highlights:

• Unlike literacy, where you have that large 14 million appropriation for literacy and the Summer Literacy
• All early grades, K through 2, and this would make it K through 3, are required to take early assessments
• It would require all literacy instruction for kindergarten through third grade students and literacy
• and long-term literacy.
• Chair, is we have literacy coaches. Can we add, as needed, bi-literacy coaches too? Thank you, Mr.

Transcript Highlights:

• And IACTE institutions also host ongoing professional development around early literacy and the science
• of reading, including the Vandal Early Literacy Symposium and C of I and BSU's Literacy Leaders Summit
• literacy skills.
• literacy.
• Students in early literacy. Follow up, Mr. Chairman. Follow up. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• The four pillars include evidence-based literacy programming, early testing, and early disclosure of
• literacy initiative.
• We already have with literacy.
• Literacy Center, we are putting $5 million into operations for a Literacy Center.
• to structured literacy.

Transcript Highlights:

• we did for math and early learning and early learners.
• We're working the literacy.
• math education, early literacy education, and get them to the table.
• retention, interventions, literacy coaches, you know— Third grade retention, interventions, literacy
• And so in the original K-3 literacy legislation, that was put into that early literacy statute.

Committee: House Education

Summary: The House Education Committee met on March 18, 2026, with 11 members present and adopted prior meeting minutes without objection. The committee first heard HB 649 by Rep. Brass, which would create a statewide common application portal for dual enrollment. Supporters from the Pelican Institute and the Board of Regents said the bill would simplify enrollment, reduce paperwork for counselors and families, and improve awareness of dual enrollment options. Members asked about nonparticipation by institutions and access for nontraditional students; the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up HB 807 by Rep. Brass, which would establish the Workforce Instructor Capacity Investment Program within LCTCS to help recruit and retain instructors for high-demand workforce programs. Testimony from River Parishes Community College, Dow, and the Louisiana Chemical Association described instructor shortages as a bottleneck for training workers for major industrial projects, and said employer-sharing models and apprenticeships have been successful. An amendment expanded eligibility to include LSU Eunice and Southern University at Shreveport, and the committee adopted the amendments. After debate about whether the state needed a new fund versus using existing systems, the bill was reported favorably by a 13-1 roll call vote. Next, the committee heard HB 285 by Chairman Bacala, which authorizes school boards to cooperate with banks and credit unions to operate branches in high schools as part of financial literacy programs. Bacala said the bill clarifies statutory authority, and an amendment added banks to the original credit union language. Members discussed ethics, exclusivity, student access, and whether the branches could market products; supporters from LABI and financial industry groups said the programs improve hands-on financial education. The bill was reported with amendments without objection. The committee also considered HB 28 by Rep. Owen, which adds a BESE-level appeal for certain teacher certification applicants affected by administrative or contractor errors. Owen described a case in which applicants paid for certification programs but were denied because of a mentor-signature issue, and said the amendment would require BESE or its designee to act within 30 days. Department of Education staff said the Teacher Certification Appeals Council had already granted extensions rather than outright denials in the affected cases, but the committee advanced the bill after a 9-4 roll call vote. Finally, the committee began HB 268 by Rep. Carver, which would strengthen career exposure requirements for students by tying activities more closely to high-wage, high-demand jobs and adding an annual exposure requirement in K-5; testimony emphasized early workforce awareness, and discussion focused on keeping the requirements manageable for schools.

Transcript Highlights:

• Literacy coaches at $15 million.
• Now, the specific goals of the regional literacy network, of course, are to strengthen that core literacy
• Regional literacy network bucket that is being used to support the regional literacy networks, as well
• District literacy leads participate in a community practice, as well as the regional literacy network
• In early childhood literacy grants, there was a shift in some of the language that was originally proposed

Bills: HF2430 , HF2433

Committee: House Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• high-dosage early literacy tutoring at no cost to families.
• early literacy and other aspects of school and life.
• A fourth is strengthening the foundational skill of early literacy through Mass Literacy.
• need for stronger early literacy education.
• childhood and early literacy.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Transcript Highlights:

• of high-dosage early literacy tutoring at no cost to families.
• early literacy and other aspects of school and life.
• A fourth is strengthening the foundational skill of early literacy through Mass Literacy.
• need for stronger early literacy education.
• childhood and early literacy.

Committee: Joint Joint Committee on Ways and Means

Summary: The Joint Committee on Ways and Means held a public hearing in Lawrence focused on the governor’s proposed FY27 budget for education and local aid. Opening remarks from Senator Pavel Payano, Representative Pat Duffy, and local leaders emphasized the importance of education funding for Lawrence and other Gateway Cities, with Acting Mayor Giovanni Rodriguez and Superintendent Ralph Carrero highlighting the city’s high-need student population, Chapter 70 and Student Opportunity Act funding, early college and career pathways, and the need for sustained support to close achievement gaps. The Education Secretariat testified in support of the budget, with Acting Secretary Amy Kershaw outlining investments in early literacy, universal pre-K, student mental health, school meals, high school redesign, higher education affordability, and early childhood systems. Commissioner Noi Ortega described higher education proposals including expanded free community college, continued free tuition at public four-year institutions, student success funding, early college and dual enrollment investments, and the Bright Act and Drive Act. Commissioner Pedro Martinez detailed K-12 proposals such as full Student Opportunity Act funding, increased Chapter 70 aid, special education circuit breaker funding, transportation aid, literacy initiatives, and a new Accelerating Achievement Initiative aimed at schools with the greatest needs. Commissioner Kershaw also described early education proposals including funding for C3, child care financial assistance, CPPI, workforce supports, and administrative funding restoration. Committee members questioned the administration about the pending local contribution formula study, the final year of Student Opportunity Act implementation, and the need to address health care and other cost drivers in school funding. Officials said the local contribution report is expected by the end of June and that a draft will be shared for public comment after data analysis is complete. Members also raised concerns about Chapter 70 disparities between districts and urged a broader review of the formula. In response, the commissioners said the Student Opportunity Act narrowed funding gaps but further work is needed, and they pointed to the new achievement initiative, literacy efforts, and early college expansion as ways to improve outcomes. No votes were taken at the hearing.

Transcript Highlights:

• structured literacy.
• It is a literacy piece and training teachers on how to understand the whys behind literacy and why it's
• You know, so enough said about, about the balanced literacy versus structured literacy.
• For the last 4 years, we have put money specifically in the budget for early literacy, structured literacy
• Uh, so we've put money in the budget for your early literacy.

Transcript Highlights:

• Before I begin with that, I know that it's been mentioned prior about the increase in early literacy
• But the early grade literacy grades K, 1, and 2. The spring 2025 gains in kindergarten.
• But we need to continue our focus on early literacy interventions to accelerate this literacy growth.
• Invest in early math interventions, sustain and expand early literacy programs into the...
• They're part of the literacy; it's part of the overall literacy score.

Transcript Highlights:

• Uh, now we're going to transition to early literacy outcomes.
• </c> transition to early literacy outcomes. transition to early literacy outcomes.
• ><c> in</c> of early literacy and changes in of early literacy and changes in educator<01:43:02.480><
• So you can see the first is about knowledge around early literacy instruction.
• The yellow early literacy instruction.

Committee: Joint Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c><00:02:28.000><c> in</c> million we have put towards literacy in million we have put towards literacy
• </c><00:09:16.839><c> Network</c> getting the regional literacy Network getting the regional literacy
• </c> districts are using their literacy districts are using their literacy incentive<00:10:22.079><c>
• Then we have the local literacy plans. Local literacy plans were submitted last June.
• plans</c><00:13:04.360><c> were</c> literacy plans local literacy plans were literacy plans local literacy

Committee: Senate Education Finance

Transcript Highlights:

• literacy.
• on—early intervention.
• Early on, okay.
• The only thing I'll say about that, because the bill specifically references early literacy and some
• financial literacy course in it.

Committee: Senate Education

Summary: The committee heard SB 1067, which would require annual math screening for kindergarten through second grade students beginning in 2028-29 to identify early numeracy difficulties and connect students to evidence-based supports. Senator Weber and supporters, including EdVoice, UC Davis researcher Charles Wilkes, and several education and community advocates, argued that California’s math performance is too low and that early screening would help close gaps before they widen. Opponents, including the California Mathematics Council, county superintendents, and the CTA, said the bill could narrow instruction, overemphasize deficit-based measures, and should instead be paired with stronger investments in teacher training and implementation of the California Mathematics Framework. Committee members generally expressed support for the bill’s goals while discussing how the screener would work and what kinds of follow-up supports would be needed. The committee also heard SB 1110 on child care subsidy administration, which would restructure funding for alternative payment programs and core contracts as the state moves to enrollment-based funding. Supporters said the bill would stabilize child care providers, improve payment timelines, and better reflect the administrative work of enrolling families and managing services; there was no opposition testimony. SB 1374, supported by the CSU and UC systems, would allow public higher education institutions to seek temporary restraining orders when credible threats are directed at a campus rather than a specific person. Supporters described recent campus threats that created safety concerns but did not fit current restraining-order law; there was no opposition. Senator Nilo presented SB 1321, which would direct the State Auditor to review remedial course use and student preparedness at selected UC and CSU campuses after a UC San Diego report showed a sharp decline in incoming students’ math readiness. Supporters argued the audit would help identify gaps in college readiness and the effects of K-12 changes, while some members raised concerns about bypassing the usual legislative audit process; the bill was held on call. The committee then took up SB 1086 on microschools, which would define microschools and direct model ordinances for local land-use regulation. Supporters said it would create a clearer path for small, individualized learning communities, but several members questioned whether the concept was sufficiently defined and whether the state had enough information to draft model ordinances; the bill was also placed on call after a quorum was established. Finally, SB 1181 was presented as a limited pilot program in Central Valley counties to connect schools with regional threat assessment centers when credible safety concerns arise. The author and supporters, including the mother of a student killed in a shooting and several students, said it would improve early intervention and communication; committee members raised privacy and federal-sharing concerns but indicated support, and the bill was moved forward on a vote once quorum was present.

Transcript Highlights:

• responsible for delivering literacy instruction.
• Access to the educator literacy training program, professional development aligned to the literacy curriculum
• program or related statutes to strengthen statewide implementation and improve students' early literacy
• program or related statutes to strengthen statewide implementation and improve students' early literacy
• Pellett's bill on structured literacy. It's incredibly important.

Summary: The House Education Committee first briefed several bills and amendments before going into caucus, then returned for executive action. House Bill 1295, on comprehensive literacy programs, was amended to require aligned literacy curricula and reporting, with one proposed substitute withdrawn and several amendments debated; the committee rejected amendments that would have added implementation deadlines and reporting, adopted an amendment requiring a 2032 OSPI report on literacy outcomes, and advanced the bill with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2262, which adds cursive signature instruction to mandatory high school civics and requires election-related reporting on signature mismatches, was amended to recognize culturally specific signatures, include historical context about marginalized communities, remove a graduation-credit condition, and drop State Board monitoring language; the committee rejected a null-and-void amendment and advanced the bill. House Bill 2551, allowing certain school districts to sell real property with superintendent authorization, was debated as a fiscal flexibility measure and passed out of committee on a 10-4 vote. The committee also considered House Bill 2593 on school district fund balances and monthly financial reporting. A proposed substitute shifted the bill away from mandatory minimum fund balances toward formal financial monitoring for districts below required levels, technical assistance from OSPI, and possible withholding of apportionment payments for reporting failures; an amendment removed the withholding provision, and the substitute bill was then advanced with a do pass recommendation. House Bill 2594, establishing state-based protections for homeless students and aligning state requirements with McKinney-Vento, received a technical amendment to avoid duplicative provisions and was reported out unanimously. House Bill 2636, creating a Public Education Performance Operations and Funding Review Commission, was substantially revised into a Public Education Review Advisory Council that would work with JLARC to review education policy requirements and funding; a null-and-void amendment failed, and the committee advanced the substitute bill unanimously. Throughout the meeting, sponsors and members emphasized literacy improvement, student access, district fiscal stability, and reducing or reviewing unfunded mandates. Several members spoke in support of the bills as tools to improve outcomes or provide flexibility, while others raised concerns about mandates, reporting burdens, and the practicality of implementation. Final actions included multiple do pass recommendations, with recorded votes on HB 2551, HB 2593, HB 2594, and HB 2636, and unanimous or near-unanimous support on the other measures after amendment debate.

Transcript Highlights:

• Starting on Row 54, we have $42.2 million for universal school meals, $14 million for early literacy,
• at those later problems, and students are supported with early numeracy and early math skills so that
• The bill would require all literacy instruction for pre-K through 3rd grade students and all literacy
• So, this no longer prohibits because a lot of balanced literacy is also part of structured literacy.
• Applicable instead of literacy coaches, by literacy coaches when applicable. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Transcript Highlights:

• literacy concepts.
• </c><00:54:01.040><c> And</c><00:54:01.280><c> so</c><00:54:01.440><c> we're</c> early literacy concepts
• And so we're early literacy concepts.
• And then on page 19, the repealer, uh, that is the existing language for early childhood literacy.
• 20.480><c> literacy.

Bills: HB0076 , HB0102 , HB0115

Committee: Senate Education

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> communicate with their literacy lead. communicate with their literacy lead.
• </c> slides and then the local literacy plan. slides and then the local literacy plan.
• In early childhood literacy grants, there was a shift in some of the language that was originally proposed
• in that space. in early childhood<00:57:34.559><c> literacy</c><00:57:35.119><c> grants.
• Let us focus on literacy. Let's stop at. Let us focus on literacy.

Bills: HF2430 , HF2433

Committee: House Education Finance

Keywords: education finance, teacher training, Read Act, state aid, school funding, education funding, children with disabilities, transition aid, special education, school district consolidation

Transcript Highlights:

• </c> that we continue to improve literacy that we continue to improve literacy scores<00:02:47.280><c
• </c> under the K12 language and literacy under the K12 language and literacy program.<00:04:07.200><c
• </c><00:05:22.960><c> intervention</c> a former literary literacy intervention a former literary literacy
• She said Moms for Liberty Wyoming supports the goal of improving early literacy outcomes across Wyoming
• She said Moms for Liberty Wyoming supports the goal of improving early literacy outcomes across Wyoming

Bills: SF0014 , SF0053

Committee: House Education

Transcript Highlights:

• literacy.
• on, early intervention.
• Early on, okay.
• He noted the bill references early literacy and other elements, and said the committee is also grappling
• literacy course.

Summary: The committee heard testimony on SB 1067, which would require annual early math screening for K-2 students beginning in 2028-29 to identify learning gaps and connect students to evidence-based support. Senator Weber and supporters, including EdVoice and UC Davis researcher Dr. Charles Wilkes, argued that California’s low math performance and persistent achievement gaps justify early identification and intervention. Opponents, including the California Mathematics Council, county superintendents, and CTA, said the bill could create a new mandate, encourage narrow skill-based instruction, and divert attention from implementing the California Mathematics Framework and investing in teacher training and coaching. Committee members discussed how the screener would work, whether it would identify disabilities or simply flag students needing further evaluation, and cited examples of districts already using early screening tools. No vote was taken because quorum had not yet been established at that point. SB 1110, a child care subsidy administration bill, was presented next. Senator Becker and co-sponsors from the Child Care Resource Center and EveryChild California said the measure would stabilize the child care system as the state moves to enrollment-based funding by clarifying funding for administrative and family-service functions and helping providers maintain staffing, payment timelines, and compliance. There was support from several child care and education organizations and no opposition testimony. The bill was not voted on because the committee still lacked quorum. After recess, the committee heard SB 1374, which would allow public higher education institutions to seek temporary restraining orders on their own behalf when they face credible threats of violence. The CSU Chancellor’s Office and San Diego State police described incidents where threats were directed at campuses broadly rather than specific individuals, leaving institutions without a legal remedy under current law. UC and independent colleges supported the bill, and there was no opposition. The bill was held on call pending quorum. The committee then took up SB 1321, which would direct the State Auditor to review remedial course use and student preparedness at selected UC and CSU campuses. Senator Nila and supporters argued that recent UC San Diego data show severe gaps in incoming students’ math preparation and that the audit would help assess admissions and placement practices; there was no opposition testimony. Members raised concerns about the scope and timing of the audit request, and the bill was held on call. The committee also heard SB 1086 on microschools, which would define microschools in statute and direct model ordinances for local land use regulation. Supporters said microschools are growing but face inconsistent zoning treatment, while some members questioned whether the Legislature had enough information to define the model or direct state guidance without more study. After quorum was established, the committee voted SB 1086 out on a 4-1 vote to the Senate Appropriations Committee, with Senator Perez voting aye, Senator Ochoa Bogh aye, and Senator Cabaldon no; the remaining votes were not fully recorded in the transcript. Finally, SB 1181 was presented as a voluntary pilot program in Central Valley counties to allow schools to share credible safety concerns with regional threat assessment centers. Senator Hurtado and supporters, including the mother of a student killed in a shooting and Corcoran High School students, said the bill would improve early intervention and communication around threats. Members expressed support while also raising privacy and federal-sharing concerns about fusion centers; the bill was discussed but no vote was taken in the excerpt.