Here is an initial summary of the major K-12 education proposals from the Governor, courtesy of our lobbying partner, Capitol Advisors. Some portions of the K-12 Trailer Bill will require additional clarity.
Educator Shortage: Recruitment and Retention
Proposed changes to the definition of “teacher vacancy” would expand reporting requirements to include positions filled by improperly credentialed teachers.
The impact of this change on reporting to state agencies is still being assessed.
Loan Repayment for Teachers in Priority Schools
$150 million investment to repay student loans (up to $20,000) for educators in schools with at least 55% unduplicated pupils.
Payments would be made in $5,000 increments over four years, with service before July 1, 2025, ineligible.
A County Office of Education (COE) or consortium would administer the program.
NBPTS Certification Incentive Grant
Extension of grant program funding to June 30, 2031, with an additional $100 million investment.
$10 million allocated for first-time National Board certification fees; remaining funds support $25,000 grants for certified teachers in high-priority schools.
K-2 Reading Difficulties Risk Screener
$40 million in 2025-26 for Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to implement literacy screenings for kindergarten through 2nd grade.
Funding would support procurement of screening tools and educator training, excluding transitional kindergarten (TK) students.
IEP Digitization
$1 million (one-time) in 2025-26 for the California Collaborative for Education Excellence (CCEE) to digitize the state’s standardized Individualized Education Plan (IEP) template.
A contracted vendor will develop a dynamic software platform with features for drafting IEPs, managing data, tracking services, and generating reports.
A public-facing interactive digital IEP template will be made available by June 30, 2026.
An additional $1 million is proposed for a County Office of Education (COE) to translate the digitized IEP into the ten most commonly spoken languages in California (excluding English).
Out of Home Care Formula Expansion
Beginning in the 2024-25 fiscal year, community treatment facilities will be included in the Out of Home Care funding formula.
These facilities provide mental health treatment in a residential group setting with secure containment capacity.
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