California adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (CA NGSS) in 2013, with the aim of improving scientific literacy and strengthening the global competitiveness of the state's workforce. But the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially disruptive for science education, which has long been a lower priority than math and English language arts. This policy brief discusses how COVID-19 derailed science education in California and how California can promote equitable investments in science education. [For the full report "The Impact of COVID-19 on Science Education: Early Evidence from California," see ED623554. For "The Impact of COVID-19 on Science Education. Technical Appendices," see ED623557.]