Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) and celebrity advocate Paris Hilton celebrated a historic victory today as SB 373, also known as California’s Accountability for Placements in Education (CAPE) Act, was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Sponsored by Hilton’s nonprofit, 11:11 Media Impact, the bill strengthens protections for California students who are placed in out-of-state schools. This step marks a significant milestone and advances California’s commitment to ensuring the safety and dignity of its most vulnerable youth.
“With the signing of the CAPE Act, California is taking the necessary steps to ensure that every student is safe at school, especially those placed in out-of-state schools,” said Senator Shannon Grove. “Currently, there are no requirements for the local district representatives to have one on one check-ins with the students, who are away often far from their home and without a means of communication. The CAPE Act will change this by giving students more opportunities to directly express their needs or report issues to their responsible school representative.”
“I applaud Governor Newsom for his commitment to bringing our California foster students home and taking this step to provide additional protections for those vulnerable students with the signing of SB 373,” continued Senator Shannon Grove. “I am grateful for Paris Hilton, who is using her experience and platform to protect California’s children, and for the incredible advocates who have pushed for this change. Every child deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued, especially within California’s education system.”
“As someone who endured abuse in a residential facility, I know how vital it is to protect young people with disabilities from harm,” said Paris Hilton. “Senate Bill 373 establishes stronger safeguards and accountability for students placed in out-of-state schools. I am deeply grateful to Senator Grove for her leadership and partnership, and I thank Governor Newsom for signing this bill into law. I am proud of California’s commitment to creating a safer, more supportive future for our most vulnerable youth.”
Certified Nonpublic Schools (NPSs) are private institutions serving public school students with disabilities whose needs cannot be met in traditional classrooms. Funded by local school districts and overseen by the California Department of Education (CDE), these schools are certified to meet baseline standards for student care and instruction. However, concerns persist about out-of-state NPS placements, where nearly 300 California students with disabilities remain, often far from home and under limited oversight.
SB 373 addresses these gaps by establishing stronger safeguards, enhancing oversight, and ensuring accountability for out-of-state facilities. The bill responds to reports of mistreatment in some NPSs, building on California’s efforts to phase out out-of-state foster youth placements while extending similar protections to students with disabilities under the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process.
SB 373 will take effect on January 1, 2026. For more information, follow @ShannonGroveCA.