AB1581 - Pupils: data reporting: American Indian and Alaska Native pupils.

Enrolled September 02, 2026 Passed IN Senate August 27, 2026 Passed IN Assembly August 28, 2026 Amended IN Senate August 21, 2026 Amended IN Assembly March 23, 2026 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION Assembly Bill No. 1581 Introduced by Assembly Members Ramos and Patel (Coauthor: Assembly Member Bonta) January 13, 2026 An act to add Section 33318.7 to the Education Code, relating to pupils. 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. Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO Bill Text 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.