Update: California AB 285 (2023)—Mandating K–12 Climate Change Instruction

Source: California Legislature, Assembly Bill No. 285, Enrolled (Oct 8 2023)

https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB285

“This bill would require, commencing in the 2024–25 school year, instruction in climate change in grades 1 to 12, consistent with the California Next Generation Science Standards and the 2016 Science Framework.” (EC § 51210, § 51220)

Comment:

California’s AB 285 is groundbreaking in requiring every K – 12 public school to teach climate change—embedding the crisis into science classes statewide. By aligning with the Next Generation Science Standards, the law ensures a rigorous foundation. Yet without dedicated supports for teachers or clear accountability measures, its ambitious reach may outpace actual classroom practice.

Strengths

1. Universal mandate: All public K–12 students must receive climate-change lessons—no district opt-outs.
2. Standards-aligned: Leverages existing CA NGSS and Science Framework, ensuring scientific rigor.
3. Scope & sequence: Specifies grade-level learning objectives (e.g., greenhouse-gas modeling in high school)

Gaps

1. Teacher preparation: No funding or timeline for professional development to teach complex climate topics.
2. Assessment & accountability: Lacks clear metrics or reporting requirements to track fidelity or student understanding.
3. Cross-disciplinary linkages: Anchored in science—misses opportunities to integrate climate justice in social studies, language arts, or civics.

Question @everyone: How could your school or district build on AB 285 by:

• Designing reflexive climate projects (e.g., community emission audits)?
• Embedding climate justice themes across other subjects?
• Establishing teacher cohorts or micro-credentials to ensure high-quality instruction?