SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California education officials have taken the first step toward complying with a law requiring public schools to include prominent gay people and gay rights' milestones in the curriculum.

The California Board of Education this week unanimously approved new standards stating that books, handouts and other classroom materials must avoid "pejorative descriptions" based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The criteria also encourage teachers to include the contributions of prominent gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in their lessons when it would be historically accurate to do so.

In 2011, the state Legislature passed and Gov. Jerry Brown signed the first-in-nation bill requiring public schools to teach the contributions of gay, lesbian and disabled people in social studies lessons.

The legislation also prohibited the adoption of any materials that reflect adversely on gays or particular religions.