Educational equity: sex-segregated school and athletic programs and activities: use of facilities.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not specify enforcement mechanisms or consequences for students who disagree with the rule.

Equality in Education: Sex-Separated Programs

This law changes how students can join single-sex school programs and use facilities, requiring participation to be based on biological sex instead of gender identity.

What This Bill Does

• Changes the rule that lets students join single-sex school activities and use related facilities based on their gender identity.
• Requires schools to let students join these activities and use facilities based on their biological sex.
• Applies this new rule to public and private colleges in California, including bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, overnight stays, and student housing.

Who It Names or Affects

• Students who want to join single-sex school programs or use related facilities.
• Schools and colleges in California that have single-sex programs or activities.

Terms To Know

Gender identity

How a person sees their own gender, which might be different from what is listed on official records.

Biological sex

The physical characteristics that determine if someone is male or female at birth.

Limits and Unknowns

• It's not clear how schools will enforce this rule.
• There are no details on what happens if a student disagrees with the new rules.

Official Summary Text

AB 844, as introduced, Essayli.
Educational equity: sex-segregated school and athletic programs and activities: use of facilities.
(1) Existing law requires that a pupil be permitted to participate in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use facilities consistent with the pupil’s gender identity, irrespective of the gender listed on the pupil’s records.
This bill would require that a pupil’s participation in sex-segregated school programs and activities, including athletic teams and competitions, and use of facilities, including bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, and overnight accommodations instead be based upon the pupil’s sex, as defined.
(2) The Donahoe Higher Education Act sets forth, among other things, the missions and functions of California’s public and independent segments of higher education and their respective institutions
of higher education. A provision of the act applies to the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, act to make the provision applicable.
A portion of the Donahoe Higher Education Act, known as the Equity in Higher Education Act, provides, among other things, that all students have the right to participate fully in the educational process, free from discrimination and harassment, and that California’s postsecondary educational institutions have an affirmative obligation to combat racism, sexism, and other forms of bias, and a responsibility to provide equal educational opportunity.
This bill, notwithstanding any other law, would require that a student’s participation in sex-segregated athletic programs and activities and use of facilities, including bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, overnight accommodations, and student housing at a
postsecondary institution be based upon the student’s sex.

Current Bill Text

Download Bill PDF