AB-821 • 2026

Pupil instruction: high school graduation requirements: career technical education.

Education

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Gipson
Last action: 2025-10-11
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 622, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not specify the exact date when the bill will take effect, only that it extends indefinitely without a deadline.

High School Graduation Requirements: Career Technical Education

This law extends indefinitely the authorization for career technical education (CTE) courses to count toward high school graduation requirements.

What This Bill Does

Extends indefinitely the authorization for career technical education (CTE) to count toward high school graduation requirements.
Makes conforming changes to align with existing laws and regulations.

Who It Names or Affects

High school students in grades 9 to 12 who need to complete certain coursework for a diploma.
Local educational agencies that must implement the changes.

Terms To Know

Career Technical Education (CTE): Courses that prepare students for careers and provide skills needed in specific industries or trades.
State-mandated local program: A program where the state requires local agencies to do something, which may come with extra costs for those agencies.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify when it will take effect.
Local educational agencies might need more funding if they have to make changes because of this law.

Bill History

2025-10-11 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 622, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-11 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 76. Noes 0. Page 2936.).
2025-09-04 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-03 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 40. Noes 0. Page 2453.).
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-28 California Legislative Information
Action rescinded whereby the bill was read third time, passed, and to Assembly.
2025-08-19 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Held at Desk.
2025-08-18 California Legislative Information
Ordered to the Senate.
2025-08-18 California Legislative Information
Withdrawn from Engrossing and Enrolling.
2025-07-17 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
2025-07-17 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 35. Noes 0. Page 2137.).
2025-07-15 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-07-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Be ordered to second reading file pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8 and ordered to Consent Calendar.
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (July 2). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-06-18 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on ED.
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 1982.)
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).
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
2025-04-10 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. with recommendation: To Consent Calendar. (Ayes 9. Noes 0.) (April 9). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-04-02 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on ED.
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on ED. Read second time and amended.
2025-03-25 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 Com. on ED.
2025-02-20 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 22.
2025-02-19 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 821, Gipson.
Pupil instruction: high school graduation requirements: career technical education.
Existing law requires a pupil to complete designated coursework while in grades 9 to 12, inclusive, in order to receive a diploma of graduation from high school. The coursework requirements include, among others, the completion of one course in visual or performing arts, foreign language, or career technical education. Existing law eliminates the authorization for career technical education to count toward that graduation requirement on July 1, 2027, or upon the occurrence of a specified event relating to career technical education requirements of the University of California and the California State University, whichever occurs earlier, as specified.
This bill would indefinitely extend the authorization for career technical education to count toward that graduation requirement. To the extent this bill would impose additional duties on local
educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill also would make conforming changes.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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