Pupils: data reporting: American Indian and Alaska Native pupils.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mia Bonta and 2 co-sponsors

CALPADS will start collecting and reporting AIAN pupils’ tribal affiliation from 2027–28 to improve identification, programs, and resource allocation.

In committee: Referred to APPR. suspense file.

#americanindianandalaskanativepupils #pupils #datareporting

Overview

AB 1581, introduced for the 2025-2026 California legislative session, would add a new requirement to CALPADS (the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System) to collect and report the tribal affiliation of American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) pupils. The requirement would take effect beginning with the 2027–28 school year, with an initial data reporting obligation for AIAN pupils identified in the 2026–27 school year.

Main purpose and intent

Improve accuracy in identifying AIAN pupils to ensure culturally responsive programming and appropriate allocation of resources.

Address misclassification issues arising from federal race/ethnicity data collection practices (notably the two-question approach that can obscure AIAN identification when Hispanic/Latino is selected first).

Enhance data quality for better federal and state reporting and resource planning.

Key provisions and changes

Section 60900.4 added to the Education Code:

(a) Beginning with the 2027–28 school year, CALPADS must define and collect a record of the tribal affiliation for each pupil who identifies as AIAN (including AIAN when identified in addition to another race/ethnicity) who is new to a school district, county office of education, or charter school.
(b) On or before July 1, 2027, when districts/COEs/charter schools collect race/ethnicity data for CALPADS reporting, they must also collect and report the tribal affiliation for AIAN pupils enrolled in the 2026–27 school year.
(c) The Department of Education must provide technical assistance to local educational agencies implementing these provisions.

Potential state-mandated local program: The bill notes that the additional data collection duties could be a state-mandated local cost, triggering reimbursement rules if the Commission on State Mandates determines costs are mandated.

Administrative and timing details:

Technical assistance provided by the state to districts/COEs/charter schools.
Reimbursement mechanisms would follow existing state mandate procedures if applicable.

Who is affected

Local educational agencies (LEAs): school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools will be required to collect and report tribal affiliation data for AIAN pupils as part of CALPADS.

California Department of Education (CDE): responsible for defining the data, integrating it into CALPADS, and providing technical assistance.

AIAN pupils: the identification and reporting of tribal affiliation will be enhanced, contributing to more culturally tailored programs and resource allocation.

Procedural and timeline aspects

2027–28 school year: Start of mandatory collection of tribal affiliation for AIAN pupils new to LEAs and enrolled AIAN pupils identified in multiple races/ethnicities.

By July 1, 2027: LEAs must begin reporting tribal affiliation for AIAN pupils from the 2026–27 school year, when collecting race/ethnicity data for CALPADS.

Ongoing: CDE to provide technical assistance; potential reimbursement under the state-mandated local program framework if costs are deemed mandated.

Bill