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THE BILL LANGUAGE:

SEC. 44. Section 51749.7 of the Education Code

(a) A local educational agency shall not allocate, or advertise the availability of, funds or credits to be spent at the discretion of a pupil’s parent, guardian, or education rights holder for educational enrichment activities that are not provided by a credentialed employee of the local educational agency for the pupil and that are paid for by the local educational agency.

‍(b) It is the intent of the Legislature that this section does not apply to expanded learning opportunities programs.

WHAT THIS MEANS

This section targets nonclassroom-based charter programs that work collaboratively with families. It threatens to eliminate a core feature of our model: the collaboration between families and credentialed teachers to approve enrichment through school-managed, vetted vendors.

Under this section:

Families would no longer be able to work with their assigned teacher to select enrichment activities unless those activities are taught by a credentialed employee of the school.
It bans teacher-guided instructional funds that are used in collaboration between credentialed teachers and families.

It exempts district-run Expanded Learning Opportunity (ELO) programs, creating an inequitable double standard.While it does not explicitly ban nonclassroom-based schools, Section 51749.7 dismantles the model by removing the structure these programs rely on to serve families. This is a quiet phase-out of a public school option that thousands depend on.

HOW OUR MODEL CURRENTLY WORKS

Nonclassroom-based charter programs already follow a strict, transparent approval process:

Collaboration: The parent/guardian works directly with the student’s assigned credentialed teacher to develop a learning plan.
Review & Approval: The teacher ensures each request is aligned to the plan, educationally sound, secular, and appropriate for the student.
School Oversight: The school’s ordering team does a second compliance review before approving and processing any orders.
No Direct Funds: Parents never receive money. All purchases are made by the school using vetted vendors, all of whom are screened. Vendors are fingerprinted and live-scanned if they work directly with students, or their interaction is overseen by the parent.

This model actively fulfills the Legislature’s stated goals of family engagement and shared decision-making. It ensures that parents are not only informed but directly involved, collaborating with credentialed teachers to shape their child’s educational plan. This aligns with priorities reflected in LCAP, LCFF, and other accountability frameworks that emphasize transparency, stakeholder input, and responsiveness to family needs.

‍KEY IMPACTS OF SECTION 51749.7

Breaks down collaboration between families and teachers. Parents would no longer be able to work with their child’s assigned credentialed teacher to shape a learning plan that includes vendor-supported enrichment.
Blocks access to approved, school-managed enrichment services. Even when vendors are vetted, compliant, and educationally sound, they would be prohibited unless they are credentialed staff.
Creates unequal treatment. District-run after-school and expanded learning programs can continue using outside vendors, while nonclassroom-based programs would be shut out.
Strips families of voice and flexibility. This section reverses years of progress encouraging parent engagement and personalized education, especially for students who need different pathways to thrive.
Applies sweeping restrictions without evidence of systemic misuse. There has been no statewide audit or legislative report demonstrating that this teacher-guided instructional model is problematic. Section 51749.7 penalizes every school and family regardless of compliance history.
Disempowers credentialed teachers. This section removes the ability of credentialed teachers to approve enrichment activities they know support student success, undermining their professional judgment and the trusted role they play in guiding instruction.

Harms students in rural and underserved areas. Many families rely on vendor-supported enrichment because qualified services may not be available nearby. This section removes critical options for students whose needs aren’t met in traditional settings.

‍TALKING POINTS FOR LEGISLATORS

Our model already ensures full accountability. All educational spending is reviewed and approved by credentialed staff. Parents never receive funds directly.
This model reflects the Legislature’s priorities. Lawmakers have emphasized the importance of parent engagement and educator oversight in public education. Our approach fulfills both.
We’re asking to continue a decades-long, proven partnership. Families and schools work together to support students who thrive in a personalized learning model, especially those with unique needs, learning differences, or circumstances that make traditional settings challenging.
Section 51749.7 undermines California’s equity goals. The state has long emphasized flexibility and individualized learning. This section forces all students into a one-size-fits-all model and eliminates personalized support that many depend on.
It creates an inequitable double standard. These restrictions apply only to one type of public school model, while traditional district-run programs are exempt.

It dismantles a compliant, effective system. Section 51749.7 would not address misuse, it would eliminate an entire structure that has successfully supported thousands of California students.

‍CALL TO ACTION

Ask your Senator and the Senate Education Committee to request the removal of Section 51749.7 from AB 84. Here's how you can take action:

Submit an official opposition letter
Use the Senate Education Committee’s public portal as an individual:
https://sedn.senate.ca.gov/committeehome
Contact your own State Senator
Let them know how this bill would impact your family: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov
Email the Senate Education Committee directly
SEDN.committee@senate.ca.gov
Reach out to individual Senate Education Committee members
Ask them to work with the bill’s authors to remove Section 51749.7 from AB 84:
https://sedn.senate.ca.gov/members

Every message counts, let them know why this matters to your family!

You can also download and share this opposition one-pager as a PDF with legislative staffers who are reviewing AB 84, or attach it to your follow-up email after contacting your senator.

SAMPLE CALL SCRIPT (Vendor)

Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m an approved vendor serving families through a non-classroom-based charter school. I’m calling to ask [Senator/Assemblymember NAME] to help remove Section 51749.7 from AB 84.

This section would eliminate the funding model that allows schools to contract with small businesses like mine. All services I provide are approved by credentialed teachers and paid directly by the school.

If this section moves forward, thousands of students will lose access to the enrichment programs I offer, and it will devastate the local vendor economy that supports student learning across California.

Please work with the authors of AB 84 to remove Section 51749.7 and preserve educational access and local business partnerships.

SAMPLE CALL SCRIPT (School Staff)

Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I work at a nonclassroom-based charter school that supports families through personalized learning. I’m calling to ask [Senator/Assemblymember NAME] to help remove Section 51749.7 from AB 84.

This section would take away our ability to approve learning plans that include vetted vendors, many of whom are small businesses. Our credentialed teachers and school compliance team already review every request.

Section 51749.7 removes flexibility and cuts off access to enrichment that many students depend on. Please work with the authors of AB 84 to remove this harmful provision.

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SAMPLE EMAIL / LETTER (Vendor)

Subject: Remove Section 51749.7 from AB 84 - Protect Educational Access and Small Business Vendors

Dear [Senator/Assemblymember LAST NAME],

My name is [Your Name], and I’m an approved vendor providing [type of service] to students enrolled in non-classroom-based charter schools.

I’m writing to urge you to work with the authors of AB 84 to remove Section 51749.7. This section would effectively eliminate the funding structure that allows schools to provide approved enrichment services like mine to thousands of students, especially those with learning differences, rural limitations, or unique educational needs.

These programs don’t give funds to parents. All services are reviewed and approved by credentialed teachers and processed directly by the school through vetted vendors. If this model is dismantled, families lose access, and small businesses like mine lose the ability to serve.

Section 51749.7 would devastate the local vendor economy that supports student enrichment across California. Please help remove this provision from AB 84.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Business Name, if applicable]

[County or Region]

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SAMPLE EMAIL / LETTER (School Staff)

Subject: Remove Section 51749.7 from AB 84 - Protect Students and School Flexibility

Dear [Senator/Assemblymember LAST NAME],

My name is [Your Name], and I am a [position] at a non-classroom-based charter school that supports families across [County/Region].

I am writing to urge you to help remove Section 51749.7 from AB 84.

This section would prevent credentialed teachers like me from working with families to approve enrichment activities provided by vetted vendors, services that are often essential for students with specialized needs, rural limitations, or non-traditional learning paths.

Our program already includes multiple levels of review:

Teachers only approve requests that are secular, aligned to the student’s learning plan, and educationally appropriate.
The school completes a second compliance check before any order is processed.
All vendors are screened, and if working directly with students, are fingerprinted and Live Scanned.

If this model is eliminated, students lose access to valuable services, and the local vendor economy supporting student enrichment is irreparably harmed. Please work with the authors to remove Section 51749.7 and preserve this vital structure.