HOSP and NSTA Beat Back Proposed California Bill to Restrict Dissection in the Classroom
August 27, 2024
Author: Alex Molinich, President, Aldon Corporation; Chair, Hands on Science Partnership (HOSP)
This summer the Hands on Science Partnership (HOSP), working closely with NSTA, was instrumental in stopping a California bill that would have limited hands-on dissection in the classroom.
The bill, California AB2640, was first voted out of the California Assembly in May. In June, the California Senate considered and passed the bi-partisan legislation, which would pressure science teachers to eliminate hands-on dissection investigations by 2028 and actively discourage dissection by adding administrative burdens. The proposed legislation, which was co-sponsored by various entities, including People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), would also require California schools to pursue alternatives to dissection and require educators to engage in a complicated series of notifications to parents and students.
HOSP, joined by NSTA, argued that existing California law (California Education Code EDC § 32255.1) already provided appropriate avenues for students to opt-out of dissection activities in favor of alternatives while respecting the expertise of K-12 science educators. HOSP also argued that the bill would move the state away from next generation science standards that California adopted in 2013, threatening future workforce development in the state, and it would create equity issues for underserved communities.
After a series of meetings with lawmakers, HOSP provided testimony before the Senate in July, and in mid-August the bill was held in committee by submission, effectively ending chances of passage this year.
We are proud of our efforts to keep hands on dissection in California classrooms and ensuring that ALL students get the same opportunity to experience hands on science. Special thanks to the HOSP subcommittee -- Jim Parish and Mark Meszaros at Carolina, Peter Reinthal at Ranaco, Nate Ripple at Wards – who were able to make calls and meet to strategize about the bill with little or no notice.
The next HOSP meeting we will be discussing our strategy and other legislation we believe is harmful to science and STEM education; if you are interested in joining us for this meeting, please contact James Brown at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.