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Committee advances bill requiring annual cultural‑competency training for K–12 staff
Summary
AB 857 would require at least one hour per year of cultural‑competency training for K–12 school employees for five years and a legislative report; the Education Committee advanced the bill to appropriations after the author accepted committee amendments.
The Assembly Education Committee voted to advance AB 857, which would require a minimum of one hour per year of cultural‑competency training for school employees for five years, create limited exemptions for staff who completed similar training within the prior 10 years, and require a report to the Legislature after the training period.
Assemblymember Mike Gibson, the bill’s author, framed the measure as part of the California Legislative Black Caucus’ “road to repair” package and said the bill responds to longstanding disparities faced by African American students. Gibson told the committee the training stems from research and recommendations by the California Reparations Task Force and that the bill aims to strengthen educator practice and trust between school staff, students and families.
Tristan Brown of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) testified in support, saying culturally responsive practice builds trust and strengthens educator‑student relationships. Several education and labor organizations offered supportive testimony, including the California School Employees Association (CSEA), Teach Plus California, and the California Association for Bilingual Education.
The author told the committee he would accept committee amendments that add structure to the training schedule, exempt employees who have comparable recent training, and require a legislative report following the five‑year period. With those amendments the committee voted to pass the bill as amended to appropriations; the roll call was recorded as passing with five yes votes in the reading.
Outcome and next steps: AB 857 was advanced to appropriations. The author and supporters said they would work with stakeholders to finalize training content and implementation mechanisms, including limiting duplicative requirements for employees who recently completed similar training.
