PRISM for LGBTQ+ Students
PRISM: Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus (LGBTQ+) Students is a six-course online training for certificated educators that provides resources to support LGBTQ+ youth.“Parents and guardians have a federal constitutional right to be informed if their public school student child expresses gender incongruence. Teachers and school staff have a federal constitutional right to accurately inform the parent or guardian of their student when the student expresses gender incongruence. These federal constitutional rights are superior to any state or local laws, state or local regulations, or state or local policies to the contrary.”
Publication of this statement was compelled by the Order Granting Plaintiffs’ Motion for Class-Wide Permanent Injunction issued by U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California in Mirabelli v. Olson, No: 3-23-cv-00768. The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed a stay of that injunction with respect to public school employee plaintiffs to remain in effect until the case is resolved on appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The full statement required under the injunction is posted here until the district court provides further clarification otherwise.
This notice was added on March 4, 2026.
California Education Code (EC) Section 218.3(b)(1) requires the California Department of Education (CDE) to finalize the development of online training curriculum to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) cultural competency training for teachers and other certificated employees on or before July 1, 2025. In addition, the CDE is required to develop an online training delivery platform to host the training content.
California EC Section 218.3(c) states that beginning with the 2025–26 school year, and continuing through the 2029–30 school year, a local educational agency (LEA) shall provide and require a minimum of one hour of LGBTQ+ cultural competency training annually to all teachers and other certificated employees serving pupils in grades seven to twelve over the five-year period.
PRISM: Providing Relevant, Inclusive Support that Matters for LGBTQ+ Students
CDE contracted with the Los Angeles County Office of Education to develop the Providing Relevant Inclusive Support that Matters for LGBTQ+ Students (PRISM) program. PRISM is a six-course online training with content targeted to certificated educators to provide resources to bolster support for LGBTQ+ youth in California. These courses are available for free, and hosted in a learning management system, starting July 1, 2025. Visit the PRISM
website to learn more. For technical assistance navigating the learning management system, see the below section, Learning Management System Support.
Communication from the CDE
On September 26, 2024, the CDE published a letter from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to all County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators, describing LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency Training Requirements and Resources.
On July 1, 2025, the CDE published a letter from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction to all County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators, announcing the availability of PRISM courses for district account managers, a role initially assigned to all superintendents of schools that serve students in grades seven through twelve.
Learning Management System Support
To access the learning management system, PRISM, first an account must be created for each User by the Account Manager of the district or Local Education Agency. Each User needs to log into their account and complete the training. A different course should be completed per fiscal year. As an Account Manager or User, if technical assistance is needed, please see the following links.
PRISM Account Manager Tips (DOCX)
PRISM How to Bulk Add Users (DOCX)
PRISM How to Create an Account Manager (DOCX)
Statewide Informational Webinar
This statewide webinar was held on June 10, 2025, and provided essential information about the PRISM training content and learning management system, as well as guidance about implementation and participation tracking.
Statewide Informational Webinar Recording
(Video; 39:54)
Related Content
California EC Section 218, Chapter 220, Statutes of 2023 (Assembly Bill 5, Chapter 220, Section 218
)
Frequently Asked Questions
For additional Information about the LGBTQ+ cultural competency training please visit Frequently Asked Questions.
Timeline for Training Implementation
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| CDE hosts a statewide webinar on June 10, 1 to 2:30 p.m. to share guidance and resources for a successful LGBTQ+ cultural competency training implementation. | June 2025 |
| CDE finalizes the development of an online training delivery platform and online training curriculum to support LGBTQ+ cultural competency training. Superintendents of schools that serve students in grades seven through twelve are emailed as the initial account manager for their district. | July 2025 |
| CDE hosts office hours to support Account Managers as they learn how to better manage the PRISM Learning Management System for the LEA. Sessions are held every Tuesday at 11 a.m. Email PRISM@cde.ca.gov for the zoom link. | August - September 2025 |
| LEAs shall provide and require at least an hour of training annually to all teachers and other certificated employees serving grades seven through twelve. | 2025–2026 school year |
CDE hosts office hours to support Account Managers as they learn how to better manage the PRISM Learning Management System for the LEA. Email PRISM@cde.ca.gov for the zoom registration. Sessions are held:
|
August - September 2026 |
| Annual training shall continue through the 2029–30 school year. | 2029–2030 school year |
| Statute becomes inoperative. | July 2031 |