California adopts critical expulsion reform law
AB 1230, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, will support expelled students in returning to school
SACRAMENTO — On Friday, California took a milestone step toward dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline with the formal adoption of Assembly Bill 1230, which strengthens pathways back to school for expelled students. The bill, signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, ensures students aren't left in “expulsion limbo” without clear support for reentry to school and requires meaningful, individualized plans to help them return to school.
The new law, authored by Assemblymember Mia Bonta, addresses education gaps by requiring students receive clear, actionable supports tailored to their needs if expelled, provided by their school districts and county offices of education. The law also ensures that students will not be denied reentry to school because of financial or transportation barriers. Importantly, the bill mandates earlier review of readmission decisions so that students are not kept out longer than necessary.
AB 1230 was co-sponsored by the National Center for Youth Law and the Alameda County Office of Education.
“This much-needed reform is about opportunity for students, and will benefit children and youth across the state of California,” said Shakti Belway, Executive Director of the National Center for Youth Law. “Thank you to Assemblymember Bonta and the Alameda County Office of Education for championing students and helping to ensure that they receive the support and tools they need to be successful."
This law is urgently needed. In the 2023-24 school year alone, more than 4,000 California students were expelled. Data show expulsions fell hardest on Black and Native students, students with disabilities, foster youth, and those experiencing homelessness — groups already disproportionately pushed out of classrooms. Without meaningful paths to return to school, these young people face elevated risks of dropping out or entering the juvenile justice system.
AB 1230’s passage means school districts must now create support plans that do more than check a box. Plans must address the behavior that led to expulsion, identify supportive services such as counseling or academic help, and ensure that student reentry to school is timely and achievable. Expulsion data will also be collected and reviewed to track progress and inform future reforms.
“A student’s future should never be derailed because of bureaucratic barriers," added Paige Clark, a Senior Program and Policy Manager at the National Center for Youth Law, "or a flawed system that denies them a fair chance to return to school and succeed.”
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The National Center for Youth Law centers youth through research, community collaboration, impact litigation, and policy advocacy that fundamentally transforms our nation's approach to education, health, immigration, foster care, and youth justice. Our vision is a world in which every child thrives and has a full and fair opportunity to achieve the future they envision for themselves.
