Bill Text: CA AB857 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 857

Introduced

Bill Title: School employees: cultural competency training.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-20 - From printer. May be heard in committee March 22. [AB857 Detail]

Download: California-2025-AB857-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 857

Introduced by Assembly Member Gipson

February 19, 2025

An act to add Article 1 (commencing with Section 44675) to Chapter 3.1 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code, relating to school employees.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 857, as introduced, Gipson. School employees: cultural competency training.

Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and secondary schools in this state and authorizes local educational agencies throughout the state to operate schools and provide instruction to pupils in kindergarten and grades 1 to 12, inclusive. Existing law authorizes local educational agencies to employ personnel to provide services in schools pursuant to that system.

This bill would require the State Department of Education to, on or before July 1, 2027, develop an online cultural competency training delivery platform and online cultural competency training curriculum for school employees to support pupils of color. The bill would, commencing with the 2027–28 school year, require a school district, county office of education, or charter school serving pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, to provide that training to all school employees, as provided. The bill would also require local educational agencies to provide a proof of completion to school employees that complete the training and to ensure that all school employees complete the required training on paid time during the employees’ regular work hours or designated professional development hours, as provided. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Article 1 (commencing with Section 44675) is added to Chapter 3.1 of Part 25 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Education Code, to read:

Article 1. Cultural Competency Training

44675.

(a) On or before July 1, 2027, the department shall develop an online cultural competency training delivery platform and online cultural competency training curriculum for school employees to support pupils of color.

(b) Local educational agencies shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide the training developed by the department pursuant to subdivision (a) to all school employees as follows:

(A) For all current school employees, within the 2027–28 school year.

(B) (i) Except as provided in clause (ii), for all school employees hired during or after the 2027–28 school year, within six weeks of commencing employment.

(ii) Employees may provide a proof of completion for a cultural competency training completed while employed at another local educational agency to satisfy the requirement of this subparagraph.

(2) Provide a proof of completion to school employees that complete the training and maintain records documenting the date that each employee satisfied the requirements of this section.

(3) Ensure that all school employees complete the training required by this section on paid time during the employees’ regular work hours or designated professional development hours unless otherwise negotiated and mutually agreed upon with the employees’ exclusive representative.

(1) “Cultural competency” means the active engagement in an ongoing process of self-reflection that informs deeper understanding and respect of cultural differences where an increase in cultural competency can lead to behaviors, programs, policies, practices, and services that are more culturally appropriate.

(2) “Local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school serving pupils in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive.

SEC. 2.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.