On Monday afternoon, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Law AB 1078, with the purpose of prohibiting the banning and censorship of textbooks in the more than 10,000 schools in California.
AB 1078, sponsored by Assemblyman Dr. Corey Jackson of the Moreno Valley District, also prohibits the censorship of educational materials and strengthens the California law that requires schools to provide all students with access to textbooks that teach on the various communities of the state.
?From Temecula to Tallahassee, fringe ideologues across the country are attempting to whitewash history and ban the books from schools. With this new law, we are cementing California's role as the true state of freedom: a place where families, not political fanatics, have the freedom to decide what is right for them? Newsom noted after the signing.
For her part, the first Californian member, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, stated that the book ban harms all children and young people, decreases community empathy and contributes to further engendering intolerance and division throughout society.
"We Californians believe that all children should have the freedom to learn about the world around them and this new law is a fundamental step to protect this right," he said.
At the time, the promoter of this law, Assemblyman Dr. Corey Jackson, stressed that "It is the responsibility of each generation to continue the fight for civil and human rights against those who seek to take them away from us."
AB 1078 gives the Superintendent of Public Instruction the authority to purchase textbooks for students in a school district, recover costs, and assess a financial penalty if a school board intentionally chooses not to provide sufficient standards-aligned educational materials for students.
In turn, the law also prohibits school boards from banning educational materials or library books on the basis that they provide inclusive and diverse perspectives in accordance with state law.
?This law will serve as a model for the nation that California recognizes and understands the moment we are in, and while some want to roll back progress, we are doubling down. Instead of limiting access to education and outright banning books like in other states, we are embracing and expanding opportunities for knowledge and education, because that's the California way,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond.
California provides instruction and support services to approximately 5.9 million students in transitional kindergarten through 12th grade in more than 1,000 districts and more than 10,000 schools statewide.
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