CESRW Executive Summary - Legislative Report
Classified Employee Staffing Ratio Workgroup (CESRW) 2026 Legislative Executive Summary.California Department of Education Report to the Governor and the Legislature
Classified Employee Staffing Ratio Workgroup
Executive Summary
The California Department of Education (CDE) convened the Classified Employee Staffing Ratio Workgroup, in accordance with California Education Code (EC) 45118, to recommend staffing ratios for transitional kindergarten–grade 12 (TK–12) and community college classified assignments, considering factors such as environmental setting, job duties, school enrollment, specialized needs (including certifications or licensures), and other reasonable factors.
Pursuant to EC 45118, the workgroup included representatives from the Division of Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Industrial Relations, Labor Commissioner’s Office, employee organizations, and voluntary local educational agencies (LEAs), which was defined as school districts, county offices of education, community college districts, and special education local plan areas electing to participate in the workgroup. Thirty-eight workgroup representatives were selected through an open application process to support diverse and representative membership from both K–12 and community colleges, representing both management and labor.
Key Findings:
- Classified staffing ratios largely depend on the local context of school districts and the overall needs of the schools within districts.
- Classified staffing ratios must take into consideration the local collective bargaining agreements.
- The needs of the community colleges and TK–12 school settings differ, and separate considerations are necessary to address the needs of each setting.
The workgroup determined that the following groupings would be considered for staffing ratio recommendations:
- Clerical and Administrative Services
- Custodial, Maintenance, and Grounds Services
- Food and Nutrition Services
- Health and Student Services
- Information Technology Services
- Library and Media Services
- Paraprofessional Services
- Student Safety and Security Services
- Translation and Interpretation Services
- Transportation Services
- Special Considerations, which is a grouping for positions only at the Community College level.
The full report contains specific numeric recommendations based on setting and classification groupings. The recommendations within this report are specific to the current daily operations of LEAs and community colleges. However, in the event of sudden environmental changes such as a widespread health crisis, natural disaster, or other unforeseen circumstances, the responsibilities and ratios of these positions may need to shift based on the changing needs of LEAs and community colleges.
Although community college recommendations are integrated in the staff groupings, community colleges have unique needs compared to TK–12 education. The workgroup recommends that policymakers consider the number of faculty and managers that classified staff are supporting as well as student enrollment and the size of the college district’s facilities when determining appropriate classified staffing ratios. The workgroup also recommends that community college staffing ratio needs be addressed in a report focused exclusively on community colleges.
The staffing ratio recommendations within each grouping were developed based on current staffing practices in California districts, current statute, and available research.
The full report is available on the CDE Classified Employee Staffing Ratios Workgroup web page. For questions or to request a copy, please contact the CDE Teacher and Leader Policy Office at TLPO@cde.ca.gov.
Classified Employee Staffing Ratio Workgroup Report to the Governor and the Legislature (DOCX)