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By Molly Gibbs | mgibbs@bayareanewsgroup. com | Bay Area News Group California classrooms will look and feel different in 2026 -- with new limits on cellphones, expanded protections for immigrant families, gender-neutral bathrooms and healthier school meals rolling out statewide as a slate of new education laws takes effect for the state's 5.

Aimee Picchi is the associate managing editor for CBS MoneyWatch, where she covers business and personal finance. She previously worked at Bloomberg News and has written for national news outlets including USA Today and Consumer Reports.