Sacramento Lawmakers Advance Bill to Reintroduce Race-Based Decisions in K-12 and Higher Education, Setting Up 2028 Ballot Measure
California lawmakers in Sacramento have successfully advanced Assembly Constitutional Amendment 7 (ACA 7), authored by Assemblyman Corey Jackson, which seeks to reintroduce race-based considerations in K-12 public schools and certain aspects of higher education. This measure, now certified for the November 7, 2028 ballot, aims to modify Proposition 209, a 1996 constitutional amendment that prohibited discrimination and preferential treatment based on race in public employment, education, and contracting. ACA 7 specifically targets public education, proposing to remove Proposition 209's protections for K-12 schools entirely and for most non-admissions/enrollment decisions in higher education. This means K-12 schools could use race in decisions like gifted and talented program placement, while higher education institutions could consider race for financial aid, scholarships, and internships. The bill passed the Senate on August 27 with a 30-10 vote and the Assembly on August 30 with a 59-19 vote, with both v...