AB-291 • 2026

Teachers: credentialed educator apprenticeship programs.

Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Gipson (A) , Muratsuchi
Last action: 2025-08-29
Official status: In committee: Held under submission.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official summary and digest text do not provide specific details about funding for the apprenticeship programs or participation by all local educational agencies.

Teacher Apprenticeship Programs

This law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to work together to create, approve, and monitor teacher apprenticeship programs in California.

What This Bill Does

It mandates that the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards collaborate to disseminate, approve, and monitor credentialed educator apprenticeship programs.
It allows the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to issue certificates or permits to individuals enrolled in approved apprenticeship programs who do not yet have teaching credentials.
It authorizes the Commission and the Division to enter into agreements for information sharing, application review, and data collection related to these apprenticeship programs.
It requires applicants seeking new or expanded teacher apprenticeship programs to submit specific documentation to the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

Who It Names or Affects

The Commission on Teacher Credentialing
The Division of Apprenticeship Standards
Local educational agencies

Terms To Know

Credential: A document that shows someone has the skills or qualifications needed for a job, like teaching.
Apprenticeship Program: A program where people learn a skill by working and studying at the same time.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify funding details for these apprenticeship programs.
It is unclear whether all local educational agencies will participate in these programs.
Exact rules for approving and running teacher apprenticeships are left to be determined by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

Bill History

2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
In committee: Held under submission.
2025-08-18 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-07-09 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 5. Noes 0.) (July 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on L., P.E. & R. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on L., P.E. & R.
2025-06-24 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on ED.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on ED. and L., P.E. & R.
2025-06-04 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-06-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 79. Noes 0. Page 1968.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (May 23).
2025-05-07 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.
2025-04-24 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on L. & E.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on L. & E. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 9).
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
(Pending re-refer to Com. on L. & E.)
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
Assembly Rule 56 suspended. (Page 1102.)
2025-03-25 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on ED.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ED. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-24 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on ED. and L. & E.
2025-01-23 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee February 22.
2025-01-22 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 291, as amended, Gipson.
Teachers: credentialed educator apprenticeship programs.
Under existing law, it is the public policy of this state to encourage the utilization of apprenticeship as a form of on-the-job training, when such training is cost effective in developing skills needed to perform public services. Existing law requires state and local public agencies to make a diligent effort to establish apprenticeship programs for apprenticeable occupations in their respective workforces.
Existing law requires the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to, among other duties, establish standards for the issuance and renewal of credentials. Existing law requires, as a minimum requirement for a preliminary multiple-subject, single-subject, or education specialist teaching credential, the satisfactory completion of a program of professional preparation, as specified.
This bill would
require the commission and the Division of Apprenticeship Standards to partner in the dissemination, approval, and monitoring of credentialed educator apprenticeship programs in California, and to communicate apprenticeship requirements to professional preparation programs, local educational agencies, and other potential sponsors of educator apprenticeship programs. The bill, notwithstanding any other law, would authorize the commission to issue apprenticeship certificates or permits to educator candidates without a credential who are
enrolled in professional preparation programs associated with approved credentialed educator apprenticeship programs,
employed by local educational agencies and participating in approved credentialed educator apprenticeship programs,
as specified.
The bill would authorize the commission and the division to enter into a memorandum of understanding to establish processes and procedures for information sharing, application review, and data collection and reporting, and would authorize the Chief of the Division of Apprenticeship Standards, in consultation with the commission, to issue rules and regulations that govern credentialed educator apprenticeship programs, including the approval and denial of programs, registration of agreements, program administration and procedures, evaluations, working conditions, and minimum standards, as specified. The bill would require an applicant for a new credentialed educator apprenticeship program or for the expansion of an existing credentialed educator apprenticeship program into a new geographic or credential area to submit specified documentation to the chief. The bill would require the division to present the apprenticeship program application to the commission for its review,
as provided, and would require the commission, if it is satisfied that specified conditions have been met, to provide written notice of that fact to the chief.

Current Bill Text

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