Why California's AB 84 Has Me Deeply Concerned for Our Kids

What We Stand to Lose

I work alongside families, kids, and colleagues who are doing their best to make education work for every kind of learner. This is why I feel compelled to speak up about Assembly Bill 84 (AB 84), a proposal making its way through Sacramento right now. I believe this bill could do real harm to the diverse educational opportunities so many have worked so hard to build in California—especially for our most vulnerable students.

This isn’t political chatter. This is about real kids, in real classrooms, with real futures.

I've seen firsthand how different educational models can reach students who might otherwise struggle. That's why I feel compelled to speak out about AB 84, because from my perspective, this bill appears more like a significant step backward for California's diverse educational landscape than “progress.”

Assembly Bill 84 (AB 84) was authored by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi. The bill proposes sweeping changes that would impact non-classroom-based (NCB) programs such as flex and homeschool, virtual, and personalized learning models. Supporters of AB 84 claim the bill is designed to increase oversight and accountability, which sounds like a great thing until you look at the bill itself. Supporters argue that increased regulation is necessary to ensure public funds are used responsibly and that all schools meet consistent standards.

Let me explain why this legislation is so problematic and show what it is that we stand to lose.

Money Diverted From Where It Matters Most: The Classroom

Imagine if your child's school suddenly lost a chunk of its budget, not because of wasteful spending, but because the state of California decided to redirect those funds to more administrative layers. That's precisely what AB 84 threatens to do. It specifically targets funding for non-classroom-based (NCB) and flexible charter models, which are often lifelines for students with unique needs.

This will directly affect money that currently goes to paying our dedicated teachers, providing crucial student support services, and buying the instructional resources that kids need to learn. Under AB 84, some schools could see their oversight fees triple, jumping from 1% to 3% of their revenue. That may sound like nothing, but even for a school like Guajome Charter Public Schools in North County San Diego, this could mean nearly half a million dollars ($499,383.69) will be diverted away from classrooms and spent elsewhere. That's money that won't be invested in teacher salaries, student supports, or instructional resources. This fundamentally shifts precious resources away from direct student benefit and into what critics are calling a "bloated bureaucracy." Tragically, this is more of the same when it comes to California politics.

Our Most Vulnerable Students Will Pay the Price Through Steep Cuts and Restrictive Caps

This part of AB 84 is particularly distressing. The bill could slash per-student funding by up to 30% for many NCB charters. These schools frequently serve California's most at-risk (or as we say now, “at-promise”) youth. These are students with complex medical needs who require specialized support, and also for those who thrive in personalized or alternative learning environments that traditional schools just can't offer.

For example, these programs often serve students facing learning challenges, personal hardships, and/or safety concerns. Some reports indicate that 88% of students in personalized learning programs succeed, either graduating, returning to traditional schools, or pursuing college/careers, with 16% re-engaging strongly in traditional settings after time in a personalized program first. These cuts could dismantle programs that are vital for these students' academic engagement and success.

Additionally, the proposed enrollment caps that are tied to traditional district attendance will directly limit access for families seeking homeschool or hybrid options through charter schools. This restricts the ability for parents to choose the best educational path for their children's individual needs and learning styles. It pushes families towards a "one-size-fits-all" approach, despite the proven success of diverse models for specific student populations. For a state that is all about diversity, this is going in the opposite direction!

Less Innovation, With Fewer Options

A fundamental strength of the charter school movement is its capacity for innovation and its ability to offer diverse educational approaches. AB 84, however, threatens to stifle that. By restricting vendor-led instruction and mandating that all service personnel hold state credentials, the bill could severely limit valuable enrichment opportunities, real-world learning experiences, and important partnerships with community educators who bring specialized expertise into the learning environment. This could impact specialized programs in areas like nature studies, STEM labs, arts, and vocational training, which often rely on the flexibility charter schools currently have.

Studies from organizations like Stanford's Center for Research on Education Outcomes (CREDO) https://ncss3.stanford.edu/insights/ show that charter schools are indeed bright spots for innovation. A 2023 CREDO study found that charter school students gained the equivalent of an “additional six days of learning per year in math and 16 days in reading.” For students in poverty, these gains were even more significant with “23 extra days in reading and 17 in math.” That’s incredible! This demonstrates that charter schools are not just offering school choice, but are often achieving superior outcomes too! AB 84 risks stifling these success stories and opts instead for the status quo.

More Red Tape With No Real Accountability

While the bill's supporters might talk about accountability, from my perspective, AB 84 seems to primarily create more bureaucracy without genuinely addressing fraud or waste. For instance, the bill makes changes to charter school audits, teacher qualifications, and teacher salary requirements. With nearly 1,300 charter schools in the state, even a modest increase of $500 per year per school for auditing could create $650,000 in new costs statewide, purely for administrative compliance with zero direct student benefit.

Instead, the bill risks imposing unnecessary administrative burdens and increased costs on well-managed schools. It complicates the process for opening new charter schools and introduces arbitrary criteria for compelling schools to change authorizers. Instead of focusing on the quality of oversight itself, this just adds layers of complexity without a clear pathway to genuinely improved oversight or a tangible reduction in wrongdoing. Critics argue it's a "power grab wrapped in red tape." It’s about control.

AB 84 ThreatenS Educational Freedom

For many families and educators familiar with the bill, AB 84 is perceived as a politically driven assault on school choice. They view it as a direct threat to educational freedom, potentially leading to the closure of schools that provide essential alternatives for students who do not thrive in traditional settings. These charter schools often represent a critical option for students who might otherwise struggle academically or disengage entirely. As one concerned parent put it, "It tells parents like me: 'You found something that worked and was outside the traditional system—but now your child will get less.'" Limiting these options for political reasons is, in my view, unacceptable and undermines a fundamental right of parents to choose the best educational path for their children.

What Can You Do? Contact Your Representative ASAP!!

This legislation is not yet finalized, but time is of the essence. As an educator, I'm urging you, as concerned citizens, parents, and community members, to make your voice heard. Our state legislators need to fully understand the real-world implications AB 84 will have on our students and schools across California, including right here in Escondido.

Here's how you can make a difference and protect our students' futures:

• Find Your Legislators: Type in your address on the official California State Legislature website to identify your representatives.

• Contact Them Immediately: A concise, respectful, and clear message is most effective. Explain that you oppose AB 84 because it diverts essential funding from classrooms, harms vulnerable students, restricts educational choice, and increases bureaucracy without meaningful accountability improvements. Reference the specific potential impacts and statistics I've shared if you want. Phone calls are often impactful, but emails are also important.

• Share This Information: Talk about concerns you have about this education bill with your friends, family, and neighbors. Help raise awareness about why this bill is so problematic. Use the hashtag #KillBillAB84 on social media if you post online.

Let's collectively impress upon our representatives that genuine accountability means investing in our students and fostering diverse educational options, not strangling them with bureaucracy and funding cuts.

The future of California’s education depends on it.