California schools should be places where students learn to think critically, engage with diverse perspectives, and build understanding across differences. But AB 715 would do the opposite — censoring teachers, undermining academic freedom, chilling critical, constitutionally protected classroom discussion, and threatening freedom of speech in our public schools.
We all agree that antisemitism and all forms of discrimination must be addressed in schools. But AB 715 goes far beyond protecting students from harassment or violence. Instead, it polices what can be said in classrooms, subjects legitimate academic frameworks to overly broad censorship, and risks undermining conversations about history, identity, and human rights.
AB 715’s provisions will dangerously:
- Censor inclusive and historically relevant curricula.
- Create a chilling effect on educators and students engaged in constitutionally protected expression.
AB 715 is a dangerous bill that risks infringing important constitutional free speech, and opens up the State to costly litigation over the bill’s implementation.
Principal Bill Author:
Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur (D-Los Angeles)
Bill Co-Sponsors:
Jewish Public Affairs Committee of CA