Literacy Professional Development Programs
Information regarding in-service professional development programs for effective means of teaching literacy.Assembly Bill 121, Section 15 (Statutes of 2025) of the Education Omnibus Trailer Bill added Section 33319.6 to the California Education Code (EC). EC Section 33319.6 directs the California State Board of Education (SBE) to approve and the California Department of Education (CDE) to post on its internet website by September 30, 2026, criteria and guidance for the selection or development of in-service professional development (PD) programs for effective means of teaching literacy in transitional kindergarten through grade five (TK‒5), with a list of in-service PD programs that have been deemed to meet those criteria.
Program Authorization
- Assembly Bill 121, Section 15 (Statutes of 2025) of the Education Omnibus Trailer Bill
- EC Section 33319.6
Eligibility and Funding
Assembly Bill 121 appropriates $200 million in funding to be allocated to local educational agencies (LEAs) from the 2026–27 to the 2029–30 fiscal years. Funding will be made available for the purposes of training certificated and classified staff who provide literacy instruction, or who support any teacher who provides literacy instruction, to pupils in grades TK‒5, using PD programs that meet the criteria and guidance approved pursuant to EC Section 33319.6. Funds will be apportioned to LEAs in an equal amount per full-time equivalent certificated staff who teach pupils in grades TK‒5.
Criteria and Guidance
EC Section 33319.6 requires the SBE and CDE to solicit interest holder input when developing the criteria, guidance, and list of PD programs. At this time, the CDE invites members of the public to provide input on the criteria and guidance via the survey below through October 17, 2025. The SBE and CDE will consider all feedback to inform potential revisions. Interest holder input may be incorporated into the criteria and guidance, as applicable, and as it supports the intent to remain in accordance with EC 33319.6. Please use the following links to access the draft criteria and guidance and provide feedback:
- Draft Criteria and Guidance for the Selection or Development of Literacy PD Programs (DOCX)
- Feedback Survey: Criteria and Guidance for the Selection and Development of Literacy PD Programs
After considering interest holder input, the CDE will present the proposed criteria to the SBE for approval at the November 2025 Board meeting.
Professional Development Programs Timeline
The CDE will announce a request for submissions of PD programs for review following SBE approval of the criteria and guidance. An estimated timeline for the PD programs list is provided below. Additional information will be added as available. Note: Timeline is subject to change.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| CDE posts draft evaluation criteria and guidance online for public review and comment | October 2025 |
SBE Meeting:
|
November 5–6, 2025 |
| CDE releases invitation to submit PD programs | November 26, 2025 |
| PD program submission period | November 2025–February 2026 |
| Technical assistance webinar for PD providers | November 2025 |
| PD provider Intent to Submit due | December 19, 2025 |
| Review Committee application period | December 2025–January 2026 |
| Technical assistance webinar for LEAs interested in using the criteria, guidance (and rubric) during the 2025–26 school year | January 2026 |
| PD programs fees due | January 30, 2026 |
| PD programs submissions due | February 13, 2026 |
| Committee review and deliberation | March–May 2026 |
| CDE posts final program recommendations online for public review | June 2026 |
| Receipt of public comment* | July 2026 |
SBE Meeting:
|
September 9–10, 2026 |
| CDE posts list of SBE-approved PD programs | By September 30, 2026 |
| Technical assistance webinar on the local guidance and list of approved PD programs for LEAs | October 2026 |
*Virtual and call-in options will be available for programs not approved to provide comment.
Reporting
LEAs receiving funds will be required to submit a report by September 1, 2029, in a form and manner determined by the CDE. Reporting will include the following information:
- Number of teachers that received professional development
- Professional development program(s) used
Additional Information
Stay informed on statewide literacy initiatives in California! Join the CDE’s Literacy listserv by sending a blank email to: join-cde-literacy@mlist.cde.ca.gov.