California lawmakers pass bill barring school boards from banning inclusive books, curricula

After some contentious debate, a California bill that would prohibit school boards from banning books, instructional materials or curricula that are deemed inclusive and diverse cleared its final major legislative hurdle Thursday, when the State Senate passed it, 30-9.

Supporters of Assembly Bill 1078, by Assemblyman Corey Jackson, D-Moreno Valley, argue that it’s about preventing censorship and the banning of books by and about LGBTQ people or people of color. Critics say it’s about taking power away from parents and locally elected school boards to decide what their children should read.

Books and curricula have become a culture war flashpoint in some school districts with conservative board majorities.

In May, the Temecula Valley Unified School District in Riverside County voted to reject an elementary social studies curriculum that mentions gay rights activist and San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Harvey Milk. School board President Joseph Komrosky referred to Milk, the state’s first openly gay elected official, who was assassinated in 1978, as a “pedophile.” He questioned why Milk would be featured, calling it “morally reprehensible.”

The panel backed down a few weeks later after Gov. Gavin Newsom threatened to fine the district $1.5 million.

At a Senate Education Committee hearing on AB 1078 this summer, dozens of parents and advocacy groups testified in opposition, with one quoting from a frequently banned book, “This Book Is Gay” by Juno Dawson.

Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, R-Yucaipa, said Thursday that the bill takes away local control and gives it to the state, preventing parents from having a voice.

She also argued that opponents aren’t against the bill because they’re opposed to diversity, but because they don’t want their children reading age-inappropriate books.

“We’re not having the conversation at the core of the issue, which is age appropriate materials,” she said.

Sen. Kelly Seyarto, R-Murrieta, said supporters have blown opposition to the bill “way out of proportion.”

“Parents should have a right to be able to go up to their school board and voice their concern about the content of the material they’re being taught,” Seyarto said.

The senator admonished his colleagues not to “demonize the parents who are getting upset about this.”

Sen. Dave Min, D-Irvine, said that AB 1078 prevents a practice (book banning) with a long and troubling history, “and it’s quite pernicious.”

Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, said that he trusts teachers and librarians, who are trained professionals, to curate students’ reading materials.

He said efforts to ban books amount to “government censorship.”

“And if you think it stops at school libraries, let me tell you it’s not going to stop at school libraries,” Wiener said.

Wiener challenged the argument that this is about age appropriate materials, saying, “This isn’t about age appropriate, they’re trying to whitewash history.”

The bill passed along largely partisan lines, though Modesto Democratic Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil broke with her party to vote no.

After passing out of the Assembly on a concurrence vote, the bill moved to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk. He has backed the measure and will likely sign it into law. When he does, it will be effective immediately.

After the bill passed, Assemblyman Jackson told The Bee that he was “ecstatic” to see it make it through the Legislature and on to Newsom’s desk.

Jackson said that while opponents of the bill have argued that it is about parents rights or local control, “we know that this is really a political strategy.”

“And we’re not going to fall for it. And we have to protect our most vulnerable children. So I think overall, we’re on the right side of history,” he said.

This story was originally published September 8, 2023 at 6:00 AM with the headline "California lawmakers pass bill barring school boards from banning inclusive books, curricula."