Some of the biggest changes coming to California classrooms in 2026

California classrooms will look and feel different in 2026 — with new limits on cellphones, expanded protections for immigrant families, gender-neutral bathrooms and healthier school meals rolling out statewide as a slate of new education laws takes effect for the state’s 5.8 million K-12 students.

The changes come after a turbulent stretch for California schools, as districts juggled declining enrollment, chronic absenteeism and stagnant test scores. At the same time, mounting pressure...