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Bills

AB 2324: Vocational education: youth caregivers.

  • Session Year: 2025-2026
  • House: Assembly
  • Latest Version Date: 2026-04-20

Current Status:

In Progress

(2026-04-20: Read second time and amended.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

Existing law authorizes school districts that maintain high schools to establish work experience programs for the purpose of providing pupils with instruction in skills, attitudes, and understandings necessary for success in employment. Existing law requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction to coordinate the development, on a cyclical basis, of model curriculum standards for required courses of study, including a career technical education course of study for pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, as specified.

This bill would, at the next revision of the California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards, require the State Department of Education to consider adding content on the role of youth caregivers within the Personal Care and Services career pathway, as provided. The bill would require, by July 1, 2028, the department to provide guidance for the implementation of the Personal Care and Services career pathway, and would explicitly authorize certain types of guidance, including (1) a focus on skills specific to Personal Care and Services occupations, including, but not limited to, in-home caregiving for youth caregivers supporting household family members, and (2) eligibility for youth caregivers caring for a family member in the family members home for credits through work experience education programs, as provided.

Existing law establishes the State Board of Education to provide guidance and support to local educational agencies and other entities that operate schools and preschool programs. The board is also designated as the sole state agency responsible for the administration or supervision of the state vocational education program, as required by provisions of the acts of Congress for the promotion of vocational education, and it is given all necessary power and authority to carry out those provisions of federal law. Existing law establishes the California Workforce pathway Joint Advisory Committee (CWPJAC) in recognition of the need for coordinated delivery of vocational education and training in California, as provided.This bill would require, on or before July 1, 2027, the Governors Council for Career Education to assess the challenges and needs of the states youth caregivers and recommend workplace learning strategies to the CWPJAC for developing a Youth Caregivers Career Pathway program under the education, child development, and family services industry sector for the direct support profession as an extension of the family and human services career pathway. The bill would require the CWPJAC to appoint, on or before July 1, 2028, an advisory group of subject matter experts to create and establish that Youth Caregivers Career Pathway program, as provided. The bill would require the program to include, among other elements, a focus on in-home caregiving for youth caregivers supporting household family members, a curriculum for youth caregivers caring for a family member in the family members home to be eligible for credits for providing that care toward graduation from high school, and preparation for direct support professional careers for youth enrolled in grades 9 to 12, inclusive.

News Coverage:

AB 2324: Vocational education: youth caregivers. | Digital Democracy