In recent years, the enrollment numbers in public schools in California have been declining, according to Larry Sands, chairman of the nonpartisan nonprofit organization California Teachers Empowerment Network (CTEN). Sands mentioned during a community event that some California laws have led parents and children to consider leaving public schools, causing harm to charter schools.
A report by the California Policy Center (CPC) revealed that in the past decade, enrollment in public schools decreased in 45 out of 58 counties in California, with a total decrease of 762,000 public school students statewide. Sands explained that there are many reasons for this decline, but the primary and most significant reason might be parents’ dissatisfaction.
Sands, who started his teaching career in New York in 1971 and later moved to teach in the Los Angeles Unified School District in 1985, founded CTEN in 2006. After retiring in 2009, Sands became the chairman of CTEN, a grassroots organization that provides teachers with information they cannot access from school districts and unions. Recognizing that parents, taxpayers, and others often receive misinformation from mainstream media, CTEN expanded its mission in 2011 to help the public understand current education issues.
The legislation, named AB1955 “Support Academic Futures and Educators for Today’s Youth Act,” was proposed by Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward of the 78th District (San Diego area) and the California Transgender Legislative Task Force. It was supported by 14 Democratic lawmakers in both houses, passing 29-8 in the Assembly and 61-16 in the Senate (with some members absent), and was signed by the governor to take effect from January 1, 2025.
Sands stated, “I believe most people are aware of it, this terrible law prohibits school districts and staff from disclosing information about their child’s gender identity changes to parents, a law not seen in other states.”
The law prohibits schools from notifying parents when a child uses a different name or pronouns, uses restrooms or changing rooms, or participates in school activities based on their gender identity. After more than ten school districts or school boards in California proposed or passed policies to notify parents, the enactment of AB1955 overturned these related policies.
Following the passage of the bill, Elon Musk immediately announced relocating SpaceX headquarters from California to Texas, citing that this law and several others have “attacked families and companies.”
Named the “Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025,” AB495 was drafted by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez of the 43rd District, with 22 Democratic lawmakers jointly proposing the bill in both the Senate and Assembly. It passed 29-10 in the Assembly and 60-20 in the Senate, awaiting the governor’s signature.
Sands remarked that the bill claimed to provide a compassionate solution for immigrant families facing sudden separations, “However, critics including lawyers, parental rights groups, and legal guardianship advocates argue that AB495 strips parents of their rights, creates legal loopholes, and facilitates child abduction.”
“Some say it’s a ‘dream proposal’, without background and welfare checks, court oversight, or verification procedures, children can be taken away with just a piece of identification without any obligation,” he said. “It’s plain and simple kidnapping.”
AB495 expands the definition of “relatives” to include adults who are blood-related, adoptive, or within five generations of family relations; all step-parents, step-siblings, and adults related through great-grandparents or older generation affiliations, even if marital relationships end due to death or dissolution, can be considered relatives of the child. The proposal aims to make arrangements for children when parents or guardians are absent due to detention, hospitalization, military deployment, or similar circumstances.
Last Thursday (2nd), Rodriguez held a press conference in Los Angeles with dozens of child rights advocates and immigrant leaders, urging Governor Newsom to promptly sign AB495. If signed, the bill will become effective on January 1st of the following year.
The proposal argues that California has 10.6 million immigrants, with nearly half of children having at least one immigrant parent. When (illegal) immigrant parents are detained or deported, children may suddenly lose access to education, healthcare, and stable housing.
The proposal further states, “Due to President Trump’s immigration actions, families face separation,” thus the need to provide a stable living environment for children to reduce childhood trauma, aiming to protect students from the influence of parents and ensure their care.
Opponents of the proposal include the California Family Council, National Center for Law and Policy, organizations for child protection, Concerned Women for America, Pacific Justice Institute, among many others, along with 32 individuals, who point out, “The broad definition of relatives almost covers anyone… they can enroll the child in school, make medical decisions without court supervision and background checks, which essentially opens the door to child abuse and trafficking.” Parents are deeply concerned about their children being taken away at school by others.
Opponents highlight, “AB495 also stipulates that joint custody records must remain confidential, avoiding public scrutiny, hindering law enforcement and social services from identifying abuse.” They believe there are many ways to help immigrant families without transferring parental rights to a vague third party.
AB230, named the “Menstrual products: Menstrual Equity for All Act of 2021,” was jointly proposed by 16 Democratic state senators and assembly members, passing 32-0 in the Assembly and 77-0 in the Senate, effective upon the governor’s signature.
The bill requires providing free menstrual products such as pads, tampons to students in grades 3 to 12 in all public schools in California. “All restrooms must have them, and by 2024, the initiative expands to all boys’ restrooms in schools, as well as gender-neutral restrooms.” Sands finds this provision “quite insane.”
The bill, an extensive name involving school accountability and finances, charter school authorization, supervision, funding, operations, networks, contracting, data systems, and background checks for local educational agency contractors, was jointly proposed by three Democratic senators and assembly members, passing 43-25 in the Assembly, currently inactive in the Senate.
Regarding this legislation, Sands said, “We were involved in the drafting of the bill, but now thinking about it, it would divert millions of dollars from charter schools and heavily affect blended education, online education, and homeschooling.”
According to the California School Employees Association that initiated the bill, after discovering fraud in some non-classroom teaching charter schools, the setting up of NCB charter schools (where teaching under qualified teacher supervision is less than 80% and the school mostly serves students with special needs or athletics or arts students) was suspended.
Supporters argue that over 700,000 students in California attend charter schools, and existing audits, authorizations, and fund supervision have failed to prevent fraud, calling for legislation to enhance oversight. Opponents, including the California Charter Schools Association, believe the proposal is punitive, costly, and will restrict and harm the educational programs of schools. ◇