California to Launch Student Cancer Education Week — SEL Member Behind the Push

California will officially recognize an annual Student Cancer Education, Detection, and Prevention Week each October following the passage of a resolution carried by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi in May 2026. The resolution was drafted and pitched by SEL Member Kaitlyn Lee, whose vision was to create a dedicated statewide moment for cancer literacy in schools — covering early detection, prevention habits, and how students can engage in advocacy.

Kaitlyn developed the proposal after identifying that California had no formal mechanism for bringing structured cancer education into K-12 and community college settings on a recurring basis. She drafted the resolution with support from ACS CAN policy staff and brought it to Assemblymember Muratsuchi's office, where it moved forward through the legislature.

The Contra Costa County ACS SEL chapter contributed to the resolution's momentum by mobilizing constituent support across the district. Members submitted testimony letters, connected with local school board contacts, and worked to demonstrate that demand for cancer education programming exists at the school level — not just in policy circles. The chapter's engagement helped reinforce the case that a statewide awareness week would have real, on-the-ground impact.

With the resolution now passed, the chapter is actively planning programming for October 2026 — including school tabling events, classroom presentations, and a social media campaign targeting Contra Costa County students — to make the inaugural Student Cancer Education Week as visible as possible locally.