With roughly half a million LGBTQ+ students served by the state’s public schools, the Equality California Institute’s 2026 Safe & Supportive Schools Report Card offers a glimpse at school climate, policy, curriculum adoption and other measures as well as recommendations for improving conditions for this student population.
The LGBTQ+ civil rights organization based its report, released in August, on survey responses from 109 California-based unified school districts. The survey was conducted in 2025.
“Research continues to demonstrate that LGBTQ+ students who face discrimination and lack support in school are at higher risk for mental health issues, absenteeism, and lower academic performance,” according to the report. “Conversely, supportive school environments that implement protective and affirming policies can significantly improve the mental health and academic outcomes of LGBTQ+ students. Schools with comprehensive anti-bullying policies, LGBTQ+- inclusive curricula, and visible support from staff report significantly lower rates of depression and suicidality among LGBTQ+ students.”
Among key findings were that 84 percent of participating districts require schools to track complaints regarding anti-bullying or hate-motivated behavior policy violations, however, just 53 percent have a policy that incorporates the nine recommended protections. These are “the elements that determine whether a student experiencing bullying can get help and resolution,” the report explains. The most missed protections deal with student transfer rights, provisions on resources for victims and confidential complaint tracking.
Additionally, “93 percent of districts confirmed their sexual health curriculum includes diverse body types and same-sex relationships, reflecting near-universal adoption of LGBTQ+- inclusive instructional content,” according to the report.
Ninety-six percent of districts allowed the formation of Gender and Sexuality Alliance or similar affinity clubs for students; 88 percent enforced a gender-neutral dress code that applies to all students no matter their gender; 78 percent have at minimum one easily accessible all-gender/non-gendered bathroom; and 65 percent said that they recognize events such as Pride Month.
Fifty-three percent of respondents indicated that their district had adopted instructional materials aligned with the state’s FAIR Education Act at all three levels. According to the report, the act “mandates the inclusion of the historical contributions of LGBTQ+ Americans and other marginalized groups in school curricula, particularly within social sciences.”
The survey also found that that “only 49 percent of districts have all three recommended privacy protections for transgender students in place: official records updating, unofficial records updating, and segregation of birth name records. Eight percent have no protections at all.”
Of the districts surveyed, 81 percent have a suicide prevention policy including the four required components, which are prevention, intervention, postvention and procedures for parental notification. In 72 percent of districts, a policy exists that specifically addresses the needs of LGBTQ+ youth.
Staff-level supports and considerations are also included in the report along with data breakdowns by district size and region. The Equality California Institute details 18 suggestions to address gaps in policy, compliance and supports for LGBTQ+ students and school communities as well. Some recommendations include:
- Prioritizing review of the district’s anti-bullying policy with attention to commonly absent protections
- Ensuring SAFETY Act compliance (the measure that forbids policies mandating disclosure of a student’s gender identity without their consent, according to the report)
- Promoting inclusive curriculum adoption
- Moving toward districtwide coordination for better consistency and reach across school sites
- Forming affinity groups for LBGTQ+ educators
