Dear ,

Welcome to our first edition of Policy Watch, a fact-based, easy-to-read editorial series designed to inform our school districts, education agencies, and community partners about critical legislative changes. Our goal is to support our education communities by offering a resource to discern and navigate complex legislation. Please feel free to share insights from Policy Watch with your governing board and leadership teams.



Identified below are updated laws pertaining to immigration and TK-12 action items beginning Jan. 1, 2026:

EdCode section 234.7: 

Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law several Assembly Bills (AB) regarding immigration enforcement around local education agencies (LEA) that amend EdCode section 234.7. 

AB 49: Restricts immigration enforcement activities in schools by prohibiting access to nonpublic areas and preventing sharing of student, family, or employee information without a valid judicial warrant, subpoena, or court order. While AB 49 took effect immediately on Sept. 20, 2025, as an urgency bill, its short-term provisions will be expanded and made permanent through AB 495 beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

AB 419: Requires LEA governing boards to post the California Attorney General (AG) Rob Bonta’s Know Your Educational Rights guide in administrative buildings, on the agency’s website, and at each school site, in every language in which the Attorney General provides. The guide limits school district assistance with immigration enforcement by reinforcing privacy protections for students and families and clarifying how districts must respond to enforcement requests. Like AB 49, the provisions of AB 419 will be folded into AB 495 beginning Jan. 1, 2026.

AB 495: AB 495, also known as the Family Preparedness Plan Act of 2025, permanently updates Education Code section 234.7, expanding and unifying protections against immigration enforcement in schools, including the following: 

• Denies law enforcement access to nonpublic areas.
• Withholds personal information without valid identification and judicial authorization.
• Mandates updates to, and the adoption of the Know Your Educational Rights checklist.
• Requires all LEAs to update policies and post multilingual notices by Mar. 1, 2026.

What Districts and School Sites Need to Know About AB 495

• Licensed childcare facilities and state preschools may not collect immigration-related information from students or families; personal information receives additional protection.
• Strengthens protections for parents’ legal rights and helps ensure children’s security if a parent is separated from them due to immigration enforcement, disability, military service, or incarceration.
• Changes in legal custody or guardianship must be decided by a court, preserving parents’ legal rights. 
• Does not change who may serve as a child’s caregiver, legal custodian, guardian, or parent without a court order. 
• Encourages parents/guardians to update emergency contact lists.

Earlier this month, AG Bonta released updated guidance and model policies to support TK–12 schools in adjusting to changes made by AB 49, AB 419, and AB 495. Grounded in federal and state law affirming that all students, regardless of immigration status, have a right to safe, secure, and discrimination-free educational environments (Plyler v. Doe), this guidance also clarifies the rights of educators and the limits on law enforcement, particularly immigration enforcement, on public school campuses. Using the AG’s 5 updated guidance and model policies, we have outlined the most pertinent details and action items for LEAs below. 

Essential Steps for Compliance and Implementation

1. Gathering and Handling Student and Family Information 

• LEAs must have written procedures and staff training to prevent collecting immigration or citizenship status. (pgs. 10, 13)
• Residency and age can be verified using multiple documents unrelated to immigration status. (pgs. 8, 9, 11)
• LEAs may request only the last four SSN digits, and only when required for federal benefits. (pgs. 12, 14)
• Families must be told that an SSN is not required for enrollment or eligibility. (pg. 12)

2. Sharing Information Regarding Students, Their Families, and Employees

• Personal information may be released only with a valid warrant, subpoena, or court order. (pgs. 16, 22)
• Staff must verify officer identity, document requests, and consult legal counsel before releasing information. (pg. 24)
• LEAs must have written policies, train staff, and log all information requests. (pgs. 21, 22)
• By Mar. 1, 2026, LEAs must update policies, train staff, and publicly post the AG’s Know Your Educational Rights checklist in all available languages. (pgs. 5, 6, 56)
• Families must receive annual notice of privacy policies, record access rights, disclosure conditions, and record retention. (pgs. 18, 20, 23)
• Notices must be provided in families’ primary languages when at least 15% of students share a non-English primary language. (pg. 18)

3. Responding to Requests for Access to School Sites for Immigration Enforcement Purposes

• LEAs must deny immigration enforcement access to nonpublic areas without a valid warrant, subpoena, or court order. (pgs. 4, 24, 30)
• Staff must verify ID, document the interaction, and notify administrators and legal counsel immediately. (pgs. 31, 32)
• By Mar. 1, 2026, LEAs must update policies and train all staff on responding to enforcement requests. (pgs. 5, 10, 13)

4. Responding to the Detention or Deportation of a Student’s Family Member

• LEAs must have procedures to support students affected by detention or deportation, including updated emergency contacts, temporary caregiver identification, staff training, and referrals to community resources. (pgs. 33, 34, 35, 26)



5. Responding to Hate Crimes and Bullying Related to National Origin or Ethnicity

• LEAs must promptly investigate incidents, protect affected students, and enforce anti-discrimination laws. (pgs. 37, 39, 40) 
• LEAs must educate students on the harms of bullying based on immigration status or religious beliefs. (pg. 37)

Find the Know Your Educational Rights checklist and additional resources in the links below.

Useful Resources: 
AG's Guidance and Model Policies to Assist California's TK-12 Schools - English

Know Your Educational Rights - Spanish

Quick Reference for School Officials - English

Quick Reference for School Officials - Spanish

Thank you for taking the time to review these updates and for your continued leadership. If you have any questions regarding the upcoming changes, please do not hesitate to reach out to San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Communications and Intergovernmental Relations at IGR@sbcss.net.

Best regards,


James Fields, Senior Manager

Communications and Intergovernmental Relations

San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

601 North E Street, San Bernardino, CA 92415-0020

Email: IGR@sbcss.net

Phone: 909.386.2413