School employees: cultural competency training.

Assembly Member Gipson's cultural competency training initiative would establish mandatory professional development requirements for California public school employees, creating a standardized online platform to support students of color through enhanced staff training.

The State Department of Education would develop an online cultural competency curriculum and delivery platform by July 2027, with implementation beginning in the 2027-28 school year. The training requirements would apply to all employees of school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools serving K-12 students. Current staff would complete the training during that initial school year, while new hires would need to finish within six weeks of employment, unless they can document completing equivalent training at another California school.

Local educational agencies must provide the training during paid work hours or designated professional development time, maintain completion records, and issue documentation to employees who finish the curriculum. The bill defines cultural competency as an ongoing process of self-reflection to understand cultural differences and adapt behaviors, programs, and services accordingly. If the Commission on State Mandates determines the requirements create new costs for schools, state reimbursement would be available through existing statutory mechanisms.