Bill > AB2158

This bill, titled the Outdoor Learning and Environmental Literacy Act of 2026, encourages school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to incorporate outdoor learning, which involves regular, structured instruction in outdoor settings, into their curriculum across various subjects to enhance pupil engagement, environmental understanding, and academic achievement, particularly for underserved communities. It mandates that the State Department of Education, by July 1, 2028, develop and publish statewide guidance on outdoor learning, including best practices, safety measures, and strategies for equitable access, after consulting with educators, tribal partners, and community organizations. The bill also authorizes the department, with legislative funding, to provide professional development and resources to educators for implementing outdoor learning. Furthermore, it establishes a three-year Statewide Outdoor Learning Pilot Program, contingent on legislative appropriation, to investigate the effectiveness of outdoor learning in improving student outcomes and to gather evidence for future policy decisions, with grants awarded to six pilot sites across California. The program will be evaluated, and a final report on its outcomes and recommendations for statewide expansion will be published by December 31 of the pilot's final year.

Budget and Finance, Education

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2158