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Gov. Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation will require schools to assess the math capabilities of students in kindergarten through second grade.
Senate Bill 1067 is intended to prevent achievement gaps in the subject. Assessments will begin in the 2028-29 school year. The law also requires districts to provide additional support in math, possibly including group tutoring for students and coaching for elementary teachers.
“This is a fundamental shift in how our state supports young students struggling in math,” Marshall Tuck, CEO of EdVoice, which sponsored the measure, said in a statement. “Leaving children far behind is no longer an option.”
Only 19.4% of California students scored as “advanced” on the 2025 Smarter Balanced Assessments, while 17.9% were proficient. Nearly two thirds, meanwhile, scored as “developing” or “minimal.”
“Too often, we wait until a child is already struggling before we step in to help,” said Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson, D-San Diego, who authored the bill, in a statement.
“SB 1067 is about changing that. By assessing students early, we can identify where they need support and make sure they receive the right help at the right time. Every child deserves the opportunity to build a strong foundation in math, and this law gives educators and families another important tool to help make that possible.”
The Association Of California School Administrators, the California Mathematics Council and the California Teachers Association were among the bill’s opponents.
They argued in a letter issued Aug. 12 that the effort would be premature as the state has not yet invested in additional support for students and teacher training.
This story was originally published by EdSource.