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Panel backs AB 86 to adopt statewide K–8 health instructional materials
Summary
AB 86 would require the State Board of Education to adopt updated instructional materials for K–8 health education; the committee passed the bill to Appropriations after student co‑creators and school districts described gaps in district materials and pandemic delays to the adoption process.
Assemblymember Burner introduced AB 86 to require the State Board of Education to adopt instructional materials for K–8 health education based on the existing state health education framework. The author said pandemic disruptions and publisher interest shortfalls prevented a planned adoption in 2020, leaving many districts to assemble nonstandard or ad‑hoc materials.
Two Stanford University students who co‑created and supported the bill testified that districts — especially under‑resourced ones — lack consistent instructional materials and that adoption would provide vetted, age‑appropriate resources for teachers. Supporters included San Diego Unified and the California Federation of Teachers (processing support), which said adoption helps ensure consistent, evidence‑based health instruction across districts.
No witnesses opposed the bill during the hearing; committee members expressed support and noted the difficulty of teachers assembling health lessons without adopted materials. The committee voted to pass AB 86 to Appropriations (the transcript shows the motion was recorded as a 5‑vote outcome then listed later as out of committee), and the bill moves forward for fiscal review and potential adoption scheduling by the State Board of Education.
