Assembly BillChaptered/SignedEducation
AB 1581: Pupils: data reporting: American Indian and Alaska Native pupils.
What AB 1581 does, verified October 2, 2026
The bill requires the California Department of Education to collect and define a record of tribal affiliation for American Indian and Alaska Native pupils starting from the 2027-28 school year. This data will be part of the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS). School districts, county offices of education, and charter schools will also be required to collect and report this information. The department will provide technical assistance to help local educational agencies implement these provisions. Reimbursement for costs imposed by the bill will be made if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains mandated costs.
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Last action: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 881, Statutes of 2026. (2026-09-30)Alert me
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| Sep. 30, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 881, Statutes of 2026. |
| Sep. 30, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Sep. 08, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3:30 p.m. |
| Aug. 28, 2026 | Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 77. Noes 0. Page 6788.). |
| Aug. 27, 2026 | In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. |
Latest bill textChaptered version, September 30, 2026 · 513 words
Assembly Bill No. 1581
CHAPTER 881
An act to add Section 33318.7 to the Education Code, relating to pupils.
[ Approved by Governor September 30, 2026. Filed with Secretary of State September 30, 2026. ]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1581, Ramos. Pupils: data reporting: American Indian and Alaska Native pupils.
Existing law creates, in the State Department of Education, the American Indian Education Unit to provide technical support to, and proper administrative oversight of, American Indian education programs established by the state in order to ensure that American Indian pupils attending California public schools are able to meet specified challenging academic standards.
Existing law establishes the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS), which is maintained by the State Department of Education and consists of pupil data from elementary and secondary schools, as specified, relating to demographic, program participation, enrollment, and statewide assessments, among other things. Existing law requires the system to be used to accomplish specified goals, including to provide school districts and the department access to data, including demographic data, necessary to comply with federal reporting requirements.
This bill would require the department to, on or before July 1, 2028, and each July 1 thereafter, post, on the department’s internet website, statewide aggregate educational outcome data for the prior school year for pupils who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native, as specified.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) The accurate identification of American Indian and Alaska Native pupils in California is a critical issue that significantly affects the allocation of educational resources and the development of culturally responsive programs.
(b) In 1997, the Office of Management and Budget revised its Statistical Policy Directive 15 to require two separate race and ethnicity questions, with the ethnicity question, “Are you Hispanic or Latino?”, collected first before a more specific race question.
(c) The aforementioned questions have inadvertently led to many American Indian and Alaska Native pupils being misclassified or overlooked, particularly when they select Hispanic or Latino in the first question, as responses are often not disaggregated.
SEC. 2.
Section 33318.7 is added to the Education Code, to read:33318.7.
(a) For purposes of this section, “pupils” means pupils who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native only, and pupils who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native in addition to another race or ethnicity.(b) (1) On or before July 1, 2028, and each July 1 thereafter, the department shall post, on the department’s internet website, statewide aggregate educational outcome data for the prior school year for pupils, with information on each of the following indicators:
(A) The number of pupils.
(B) The academic achievement of pupils, as determined by quantitative data currently collected.
(C) The rate of suspension and expulsion of pupils.
(D) The rate of chronic absenteeism of pupils.
(E) The four- and five-year cohort graduation rates of pupils.
(2) In meeting the requirement of paragraph (1), the department shall use data, where appropriate, reported pursuant to existing law.
Text of AB 1581 as chaptered, from the official record. Connect Plus keeps every version and highlights what changed.Compare versions