California Climate Education Bills Pass Assembly and Senate Education Committees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 9, 2026

CONTACT:
Camille Soliva, Communications Specialist

California Climate Education Bills Pass Assembly and Senate Education Committees

SACRAMENTO, CA – The Outdoor Learning and Environmental Literacy Act (AB 2158) and the State Seal of Climate Literacy (SB 1048) have passed their respective Assembly and Senate Education Committees, marking an important step forward in expanding outdoor education and climate learning opportunities statewide.

AB 2158, introduced by Assemblyman Hoover (AD-07), formally recognizes outdoor learning as an effective instructional approach and directs the California Superintendent of Public Instruction to develop statewide guidance for its safe and equitable implementation. As expressed in yesterday’s education committee hearing, research consistently shows that outdoor learning improves focus, strengthens social-emotional development, reduces stress, and raises academic performance. The bill preserves local control, provides districts with a framework for using schoolyards, gardens, parks, and community spaces as classrooms, and establishes a three-year pilot program to evaluate student outcomes, prioritizing underserved communities and those most burdened by environmental harms.

“Outdoor education is not an enrichment; it’s an evidence-based strategy that improves student outcomes. AB 2158 helps ensure that more students, especially in underserved communities, can benefit from learning experiences that reduce stress, increase engagement, and support academic achievement,” said Karen Cowe, Founding CEO of Ten Strands, the bill’s sponsor. 

“When children have the opportunity to learn outdoors, they play, move, observe, breathe fresh air, and learn in community”, said Dr. Nooshin Razani, Pediatrician and Director, Center for Nature and Health at University of California, San Francisco. “The result is measurable improvements in attention, mood, stress physiology, and overall health and learning. AB 2158 gives educators the support they need to use California’s outdoor spaces as powerful classrooms.”

SB 1048, introduced by Senator Josh Becker (SD-13), creates a voluntary climate literacy diploma endorsement for high school students who complete relevant coursework and a hands-on community project. California students lost at least 55,000 hours of instructional time last fall due to extreme weather, and 98% of young people surveyed in a recent UN study said climate education should be taught at every level of schooling. The Seal recognizes students prepared to engage with climate challenges across careers, higher education, and their communities.

Extreme heat, major wildfires, and severe flooding are reshaping the communities where California students live and learn,” said Jonathan Klein, CEO and Co-Founder of UndauntedK12. “Students need more than awareness — they need practical skills and real-world experiences that prepare them for careers in a climate-impacted economy. The Seal of Climate Literacy recognizes students who apply critical thinking, problem-solving, and civic leadership to real challenges in their communities. We’re grateful to Senator Becker for championing a forward-looking approach that prepares California students for the jobs and opportunities of the future.”

“California’s students and families are living through the impacts of climate change — from wildfires to flooding to extreme heat — and they deserve an education that equips them to respond,” said Heather Ippolito, president of the California State PTA. “The California State PTA supports climate and energy literacy that connects classroom learning to real-life situations and empowers students to be part of the solution in their own communities. This legislation does exactly that, and we encourage schools, families, and communities to embrace it.”

California students are facing rising absenteeism, increasing anxiety and depression, and record screen time, all while confronting the growing impacts of climate change. Together, these bills offer a direct and timely response.

AB 2158 and SB 1048 collectively received sign-on support from over 1,000 organizations and individuals across California, including the California Federation of Teachers, California State PTA, Natural Resources Defense Council, California Academy of Sciences, San Joaquin County Office of Education, Los Angeles County Offices of Education, and many others, reflecting wide support and growing momentum. 

As a proud sponsor of both bills, Ten Strands would like to extend gratitude to all who signed on in support of these efforts and looks forward to the continued progress through the Legislature. 

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