Senate Bill 939: Educational Equity-Neurodivergent Pupils
On September 28, 2024, Senate Bill 939 was signed into law and amended California Education Code to ensure greater awareness, visibility, and support for students who are identified as neurodivergent or perceived as neurodivergent.
California Education Code Section 234.5 expands statewide resource lists to include support for students experiencing discrimination, harassment, ntimidation, or bullying based on actual or perceived neurodiversity. The law requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to post, annually update, and notify local educational agencies (LEAs) of the availability of these resources.
This includes resources developed in partnership with the University of California and California State University Collaborative for Neurodiversity and Learning.
The CDE Bullying Prevention Training and Resources web page at https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/se/bullyres.asp contains a wealth of bullying prevention training and resources. This curated collection supports our LEAs and educators in responding to and assisting students, families, and communities impacted by bullying and discrimination—including incidents related to actual or perceived neurodiversity. These resources may be shared directly with students, families, and staff or used by LEAs to inform and strengthen local support efforts.
In alignment with these requirements, LEAs must post the Standing Together resource, which is available at https://ca-diverse-learning.org/standing-together/, in an easily accessible location on their website.
The recommended title for this resource is: “Bullying Prevention Resources for Students Who Identify or Are Perceived as Neurodivergent.”
Additional information regarding bullying prevention and related resources will be provided through a webinar hosted by the Office of School-Based Health and Safety in fall 2026. An invitation with further details will be distributed in advance.
