Culver City School District Faces Key Policy Deadlines in 2026

The Culver City Unified School District is navigating a series of policy changes this year, with several key deadlines approaching that will directly affect students, families and taxpayers. From a state-mandated cell phone policy to a potential ballot measure on school funding, the district’s decisions in 2026 will shape the educational landscape for years to come.

Phone-Free Schools and Safe Spaces

One of the most immediate changes comes from California’s AB 3216, the Phone-Free Schools Act, which requires all school districts to establish a cell phone policy by July 1, 2026. CCUSD must comply with this deadline, meaning students and parents will see new rules in place for the upcoming school year limiting or prohibiting cell phone use during instructional time.

Separately, the district has already taken steps to create inclusive environments. On December 17, 2024, the CCUSD Board passed Resolution 21, which establishes educational safe spaces and explicitly guarantees free public education regardless of immigration status or LGBTQIA+ identity, while also prohibiting the collection of such data. The resolution is already in effect, reinforcing the district’s commitment to protecting all students.

Funding and the June 2026 Ballot

Financial decisions are also on the horizon. In October 2024, the City of Culver City agreed to provide a $2.5 million one-time contribution to CCUSD, but with a condition: the district must place a new progressive parcel tax measure on the June 2026 ballot to support school funding. If approved by voters, the tax would provide ongoing revenue for the district. For residents, this means a direct vote on their property tax bills later this year.

The district’s earlier policy changes continue to shape classroom experiences. Starting in the 2022-2023 school year, CCUSD eliminated 9th and 10th-grade Honors English classes, replacing them with uniform courses aimed at promoting racial equity and ensuring equal rigor for all students. That change remains in place.

In January 2023, the CCUSD Board unanimously passed a new Inter-District Attendance Transfer Permit policy, which safeguards out-of-district students’ access to academic, social and emotional supports as long as they remain in the district. This policy ensures stability for families who choose to send their children to Culver City schools from outside the district.

For Culver City residents, the combined effect of these policies means clearer rules on phone use in schools, continued protections for vulnerable students, and a critical funding decision at the ballot box in June. The district’s actions over the coming months will determine how these changes play out in classrooms and communities.