Elementary and secondary education: omnibus.

The California Assembly Committee on Education proposes modifications to state preschool programs, smartphone policies, and physical education requirements through legislation that clarifies eligibility criteria and updates administrative procedures across multiple education programs.

The bill revises California state preschool program eligibility requirements, maintaining income-based qualifications while ensuring at least 5% of enrollment serves children with exceptional needs. Programs must certify family eligibility within 120 days before the school year starts, with eligibility extending through the following program year. The legislation requires programs unable to meet the exceptional needs enrollment threshold to conduct targeted community outreach.

For K-12 education, the measure requires school districts, county education boards, and charter schools to establish smartphone usage policies by July 1, 2026. These policies must incorporate stakeholder input while preserving exceptions for emergencies, medical needs, and individualized education programs. The bill explicitly prohibits monitoring students' online activities.

The legislation also updates physical education requirements, allowing districts to implement alternative schedules provided students receive specified instructional minutes - 3,600 minutes annually for sixth grade and 7,200 minutes for grades 7-12. Districts must maintain program alignment with state frameworks and prepare students for mandated performance testing. The measure establishes a formal complaint process for physical education requirement violations, with appeals decided within 60 days.