Newsom Signs Law Requiring Early Grade Math Tests
Senate Bill 1067 mandates annual math assessments for kindergarten through second grade students across California.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Primary Education
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Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 1067 in October 2026, requiring annual math assessments for kindergarten through second grade students. The law follows a 2023 bill that mandated yearly literacy testing for the same grades.
Why it matters
Only 37% of California students perform at grade level in math, and Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson said too many students fall behind early. The measure aims to identify struggling students sooner across the state's schools.
Only 37% of California students perform at grade level in math. Senate Bill 1067 does not include funding for intervention, though school districts may apply for state reimbursement.
The players
Gavin Newsom
Gavin Newsom is the Governor of California who signed Senate Bill 1067 into law.
Akilah Weber Pierson
Akilah Weber Pierson is a California state senator representing San Diego who authored Senate Bill 1067.
EdVoice
EdVoice is an education advocacy organization in California that helped lead support for the bill.
The details
Senate Bill 1067, authored by Sen. Akilah Weber Pierson (D-San Diego), requires school districts to provide evidence-based support to students found to be struggling starting in the 2028-29 school year. Districts decide which kinds of assessments students receive.
Timeline
2023: California enacted a yearly literacy testing mandate for early grades.
October 2026: Newsom signed Senate Bill 1067 into law.
2028-29 school year: District intervention requirements for struggling math students begin.
Legal Context
Senate Bill 1067 extends the 2023 California mandate for yearly literacy testing in kindergarten through second grade to math. Together, the two laws apply the same annual early-grade assessment model to two core subjects.
Parents of kindergarten through second grade students in California can expect annual math assessments once districts implement the law. Support requirements for struggling students begin in the 2028-29 school year.
The takeaway
Catching math gaps in kindergarten through second grade gives schools a chance to help students before the gaps widen. Parents can ask their child's school how early math progress is measured and what support is available.
Further reading
Explore more on Primary Education to see how early-grade learning standards are shaping classrooms.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Times of San Diego.
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