CARLSBAD — Local fifth graders recently visited the State Capitol to propose a bill that would make playgrounds more accessible to children of all abilities.
La Costa Heights Elementary School, which is located in Carlsbad but falls under the jurisdiction of the Encinitas Union School District, recently took its fifth-grade students to Sacramento for an educational civics trip.
Not only did students get to observe legislative sessions – they also had the unique opportunity to present their own bill proposal to California Secretary of State Shirley Weber, State Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) and State Sen. Catherine Blakespear (D-Encinitas).
With help from teachers and a parent volunteer, each fifth grader had the chance to collaborate on the draft California Inclusive Playgrounds Act (CIPA), which seeks to make playgrounds more inclusive for children of all abilities by incorporating features such as sensory play structures, ramps, adaptive swings and quiet spaces.
The goal for students is to ensure that new and renovated playgrounds not only meet accessibility needs, but also foster a more inclusive environment where all children can play together.
“The opportunity for our students to travel to Sacramento and present the California Inclusive Playgrounds Act was more than just a civics lesson – it was a transformative experience,” said teachers Natalie Christ, Sean Murphy and Katie Andan. “This journey fostered student advocacy, empathy and inclusion for the greater good, empowering our fifth-grade student leaders beyond the classroom as engaged global citizens.”
The idea for the bill emerged from classroom lessons on leading with empathy and celebrating differences. Students conducted surveys at their school to assess its accessibility, and their focus quickly turned to playgrounds.
While writing the bill, students consulted with experts, including Elise Gout, a senior policy advisor at the White House, who shared her experience with passing large-scale legislation. They also worked with Brittany Dougherty, a pediatric physical therapist, who educated them on accessibility, and La Costa Heights parent Jamie Cruz, who taught them about augmentative and alternative communication devices for nonverbal students.
Additionally, students conducted field research by visiting an inclusive playground in San Diego, and met with the Magical Bridge Foundation, a California nonprofit dedicated to building inclusive playgrounds.
In their presentation to state leaders, students shared their vision for an inclusive future.
“We hope we inspire and empower you to continue to make it your business to celebrate, engage in, and defend the importance of choosing to include for the greater good of our community,” they said.
The students also wore matching “Choose to Include” t-shirts from the EUSD Special Education Parent Council to demonstrate their commitment to inclusivity.
Students even bumped into a fellow San Diegan on one elevator ride, Patricia Karlin from the San Diego County Office of Education, with whom they readily shared their bill proposal. Patricia later praised the students for their impressive elevator pitch in an email to EUSD administrators.
According to La Costa Heights teachers, students weren’t shy when it came to promoting their cause.
“This project is a perfect example of the learning experiences we are striving to create for all learners. Throughout the process the students were in charge of the work, they were excited and engaged because it was connected to their passions and their community, and it was based on what they wanted to achieve,” said EUSD Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Amy Illingworth. “This was a real, authentic problem about something that is not inclusive and equitable in their lives, and they personalized their problem-solving approach to create a solution that can impact not just their school, but all schools and parks in California.”
The next step for the bill is to secure a legislator who will sponsor it for a vote in the 2026 legislative docket. In the meantime, students will meet with the executive director of the California Building Standards Commission and the state architect to continue discussions on inclusive playgrounds.
District administrators have committed to using the students’ research as guidance to ensure future playgrounds are built inclusively.
