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<ns0:Id>20250AB__215899INT</ns0:Id>
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<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
<ns0:ActionDate>2026-02-18</ns0:ActionDate>
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<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Hoover</ns0:AuthorText>
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<ns0:Name>Hoover</ns0:Name>
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<ns0:Title> An act to add Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 51805) to Chapter 5 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of, and to repeal Section 51805.8 of, the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction. </ns0:Title>
<ns0:RelatingClause>pupil instruction</ns0:RelatingClause>
<ns0:GeneralSubject>
<ns0:Subject>Pupil instruction: outdoor learning.</ns0:Subject>
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<html:p>Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary education in this state. Under this system, local educational agencies throughout the state provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive, and existing law establishes courses of study for those pupils.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would encourage school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to integrate outdoor learning into standards-aligned instruction across subject areas, as provided. The bill would authorize local educational agencies to describe in their local control and accountability plans or other relevant planning documents how outdoor learning will be used to support pupil engagement, environmental literacy, climate resilience, and academic achievement of pupils from historically underserved communities.</html:p>
<html:p>Existing law establishes the State Department of Education under the administration of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and assigns the department numerous duties relating to the governance and funding of local educational agencies.</html:p>
<html:p>This bill would require the Superintendent, on or before July 1, 2028, to arrange to develop and publish statewide guidance on outdoor learning. The bill would also require the Superintendent, in developing this guidance, to consult with county offices of education, classroom educators, tribal partners, environmental literacy experts, and community organizations with experience in outdoor learning. The bill would authorize the Superintendent, subject to an appropriation, to provide professional learning resources to support educators in delivering high-quality outdoor learning. </html:p>
<html:p>This bill would establish the Statewide Outdoor Learning Pilot
Program for a period of 3 years following an appropriation of funds for this purpose to, among other things, demonstrate the effectiveness of outdoor learning in improving pupil outcomes, and build statewide evidence to inform future legislative and budgetary decisions. The bill would require the Superintendent to, as part of this pilot program, award grants to six pilot sites with representation from northern, southern, and central California. The bill would authorize the Superintendent to contract with a nonprofit organization with demonstrated expertise in environmental literacy, as defined, and outdoor learning to serve as the intermediary coordinator to, among other things, develop grant award selection criteria and to consult with the Superintendent on selecting grantees. The bill would make the pilot program subject to an appropriation by the Legislature.</html:p>
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<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
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<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>This act shall be known, and may be cited, as the Outdoor Learning and Environmental Literacy Act of 2026.</html:p>
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<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 51805) is added to Chapter 5 of Part 28 of Division 4 of Title 2 of the
<ns0:DocName>Education Code</ns0:DocName>
, to read:
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<ns0:LawHeading type="ARTICLE" id="id_23616C35-BA11-4019-9FC8-BFD1130029C0">
<ns0:Num>9.5.</ns0:Num>
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<ns0:LawHeadingText>Outdoor Learning</ns0:LawHeadingText>
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<ns0:Num>51805.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
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The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
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Senate Bill 720 of the 2017–2018 Regular Session established environmental literacy as a statewide priority. It affirmed that all pupils should have equitable access to learning experiences that prepare them to understand and address environmental challenges.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
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Outdoor learning, the regular, structured instructional activities that take place in outdoor environments, strengthens environmental literacy and overall academic achievement, improves pupil engagement, improves mental and physical health, deepens connections to local communities and ecosystems, and prepares pupils for science, technology, engineering,
mathematics (STEM), and natural resource-related careers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
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Pupils in low-income communities and communities disproportionately burdened by pollution or other environmental harms often have the least access to safe, developmentally appropriate outdoor learning environments.
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<html:p>
(b)
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It is the intent of the Legislature to extend the environmental literacy foundation established by Senate Bill 720 of the 2017–2018 Regular Session by clarifying that outdoor learning is an effective instructional method and by providing statewide guidance and support to ensure equitable access for all pupils.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_5D624D49-DF2D-4476-B9C1-4023B7BAA7F6">
<ns0:Num>51805.2.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:</html:p>
<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Environmental literacy” means the understanding of, and ability to, apply the environmental principles and concepts developed pursuant to Section 71301 of the Public Resources Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Outdoor learning” means instructional activities occurring in outdoor settings, including, but not limited to, schoolyards, gardens, campuses, green spaces, community spaces, local parks, public lands, outdoor environmental education facilities, coastal and watershed areas, and other
natural or built outdoor environments.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
“Pilot program” or “program” means the Statewide Outdoor Learning Pilot Program established pursuant to Section 51805.8.
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_D1FB76A3-F2BC-491D-8ADE-5807C2081283">
<ns0:Num>51805.4.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Outdoor learning is hereby recognized as an effective and developmentally appropriate instructional method that improves mental and physical health, environmental literacy, climate resilience, student engagement, and whole-child development.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Local educational agencies are encouraged to integrate outdoor learning into standards-aligned instruction across subject areas, including, but not limited to, science, history-social science, mathematics, English language arts, health, and visual and performing arts.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A local educational agency may describe in its local control and accountability plan, or other relevant planning document, how outdoor learning will be used to
support pupil engagement, environmental literacy, climate resilience, and the academic achievement of pupils from historically underserved communities.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Nothing in this section shall be construed to mandate a specific curriculum.
</html:p>
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_CE668F1C-E680-45CC-B019-78017C51A8E1">
<ns0:Num>51805.6.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
On or before July 1, 2028, the Superintendent shall arrange to develop and publish statewide guidance on outdoor learning.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The guidance developed pursuant to subdivision (a) shall include, at a minimum, all of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Best practices for delivering standards-aligned instruction in outdoor settings.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Safety and risk management considerations.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Strategies to ensure equitable access for unduplicated pupils, pupils with disabilities, English learners, and pupils from historically underserved communities.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Models for enhancing outdoor learning environments on school sites.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(5)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Strategies for partnering with community-based organizations, park agencies, tribes, and outdoor education providers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
In developing the guidance, the Superintendent shall consult with county offices of education, classroom educators, tribal partners, environmental literacy experts, and community organizations with experience in outdoor learning.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Subject to an appropriation for this purpose, the Superintendent may provide professional learning resources to support educators in delivering high-quality outdoor learning.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Professional learning provided pursuant to paragraph (1) shall
align with the guidance developed pursuant to subdivision (a).
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<ns0:LawSection id="id_C360F76C-D9FB-4D3E-A216-C90BCDC72442">
<ns0:Num>51805.8.</ns0:Num>
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<html:p>
(a)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Statewide Outdoor Learning Pilot Program is hereby established for a period of three years following an appropriation of funds made for this purpose. The pilot program shall serve all of the following purposes:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Demonstrate the effectiveness of outdoor learning in improving pupil outcomes, including attendance, engagement, academic achievement, environmental literacy, and mental and physical health.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Build statewide evidence to inform future legislative and budgetary decisions.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(3)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Support partnerships between local educational agencies and community-based outdoor learning providers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(4)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Prioritize implementation in communities historically underserved or disproportionately burdened by environmental harms.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(b)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
As part of this pilot program, the Superintendent shall award grants to six pilot sites, with representation from northern, southern, and central California.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
To the extent practicable, the six pilot sites shall include diversity in community type, grade span, and program model.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Each pilot site selected for a grant shall include both of the following:
</html:p>
<html:p>
(A)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
A local educational agency.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(B)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
One or more community-based outdoor learning providers.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(c)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Superintendent may contract with a nonprofit organization with demonstrated expertise in environmental literacy and outdoor learning to serve as the intermediary coordinator to develop grant award selection criteria, consult with the Superintendent on selecting grantees, provide technical assistance to grantees, and work with grantees in a community of practice for this pilot program.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(d)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Superintendent, in consultation with the intermediary coordinator, if contracted with pursuant to subdivision (c), shall select a single statewide evaluator to assess the impact of the pilot program. The Superintendent may authorize site-specific evaluators if they adopt a common evaluation framework that makes cross-site analysis possible.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(e)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The Superintendent, or the intermediary coordinator, if contracted with pursuant to subdivision (c), may develop a summary of the
pilot program to publish publicly to the department’s internet website. The summary may include, but is not limited to, information regarding the pilot program sites, program design, outcomes of the pilot program, and potential improvements for future outdoor learning programs.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(f)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
Funds appropriated for purposes of the pilot program may be used by the Superintendent, or the intermediary coordinator, if contracted with pursuant to subdivision (c), for program implementation, evaluation, communications with grantees, coordination of the pilot program, pilot site visits, and statewide learning community activities.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(g)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
(1)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
By December 31 of the final year of the pilot program, the Superintendent, or the intermediary coordinator, if contracted with pursuant to subdivision (c), shall publish a final report summarizing the outcomes of the pilot program, lessons
learned from the pilot program, and recommendations for statewide expansion of outdoor learning to the department’s internet website.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(2)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
The report developed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the Legislature in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(h)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section shall be operative only upon appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or in another statute for this purpose.
</html:p>
<html:p>
(i)
<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2032, and as of that date is repealed.
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