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AB 2158

Pupil instruction: outdoor learning.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jesse Arreguín and 7 co-sponsors

California will encourage integrating outdoor learning across subjects, with statewide guidance and a 3-year pilot to evaluate benefits and inform future policy.

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 1). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
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Bill Summary · AB 2158

AB 2158 (2025-2026) — Pupil instruction: outdoor learning

Purpose and intent

  • Encourages California K–12 public schools to incorporate outdoor learning into standards-aligned instruction across subject areas.
  • Aims to boost pupil engagement, environmental literacy, climate resilience, and academic achievement, with attention to students from historically underserved communities.
  • Seeks to develop statewide guidance on outdoor learning and establish a pilot program to test and evaluate outdoor learning strategies.

Key provisions and changes

  1. Encouragement and integration

    • Requires or encourages local educational agencies (LEAs) — school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools — to integrate outdoor learning into standards-aligned instruction across subject areas.
    • LEAs may describe in their local control and accountability plans (LCAPs) or other planning documents how outdoor learning will support engagement, environmental literacy, climate resilience, and outcomes for historically underserved students.

  2. State guidance and resources

    • The California Department of Education (CDE), under the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI), must develop and publish statewide guidance on outdoor learning.
    • The guidance development must involve consultation with county offices of education, classroom educators, tribal partners, environmental literacy experts, and relevant community organizations.
    • Subject to appropriation, CDE may provide professional learning resources to help educators deliver high-quality outdoor learning and address the needs of each LEA.

  3. Statewide Outdoor Learning Pilot Program

    • Establishes a 3-year pilot program (following an appropriation) to demonstrate the effectiveness of outdoor learning and gather statewide evidence to inform future policymaking.
    • CDE would award grants to six pilot sites representing northern, southern, and central California.
    • CDE may contract with a nonprofit organization with expertise in environmental literacy and outdoor learning to serve as an intermediary coordinator. Responsibilities include developing grant criteria and assisting in grantee selection.
    • A final report must be published by December 31 of the final year of the pilot, detailing outcomes and lessons learned.

  4. Funding and appropriation

    • The pilot program and related guidance/resources are contingent on legislative appropriation.
    • Other guidance and resources are to be developed and disseminated “on or before July 1, 2028.”

Who is affected

  • Learners: Potential benefits for students, especially those from historically underserved communities, through expanded outdoor learning experiences.
  • Educators: Opportunities for professional learning and resources to implement outdoor learning; potential changes to instructional planning.
  • LEAs (districts, county offices, and charter schools): Encouraged to integrate outdoor learning and to reflect these efforts in planning documents (LCAPs or equivalent).
  • CDE and SPI: Responsible for developing statewide guidance, coordinating the pilot, awarding grants, and publishing the final pilot report.
  • External partners: Tribal partners, environmental literacy experts, and community organizations are invited to participate in guidance development.
  • Intermediary organization (potential): If contracted, a nonprofit with expertise in environmental literacy/outdoor learning would coordinate grant processes and provide technical support.

Timeline and procedural notes

  • Guidance development: SPI/CDE to develop and publish statewide guidance on outdoor learning by July 1, 2028.
  • Pilot program: Establishes a 3-year pilot period contingent on an appropriation.
  • Grants: Six pilot sites to receive grants representing different regions of California.
  • Interim actions: The bill has moved through committees and received strong support in the Legislature, with final reporting due by the end of the pilot year.
  • Current status (as of last update): In progress; referred to the Assembly Education Committee, with subsequent action in the Senate and appropriation-related committees.

Summary of potential impact

  • Creates a structured, statewide push toward outdoor learning as a component of standard education practice.
  • Builds a framework for statewide guidance, teacher professional development, and evidence collection to evaluate effectiveness.
  • Provides a mechanism to pilot and demonstrate outdoor learning benefits across diverse regions, informing future state policy and budgeting.
  • Emphasizes equity by focusing on historically underserved student groups and by planning for tailored supports at the local level.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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