Assembly Bill 130 Chapter 44 Section 157 of the 2021–22 California State Budget and AB 181 Section 138 of the 2022–23 California State Budget established the Antibias Education Grant Program. A sum of $20,000,000 was appropriated from the General Fund to the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI). The purpose of the Antibias Education Grant Program is to prevent, address, and eliminate racism and bias in all California public schools, and making all public schools inclusive and supportive of all people.
The SSPI shall award a minimum of 100 grants to local educational agencies (LEAs). A local educational agency shall not receive a grant under this subdivision of less than $75,000 and no more than $200,000. These funds are available for expenditure or encumbrance through the 2025–26 fiscal year.
The California Department of Education (CDE) is seeking applications from LEAs which demonstrate a need for additional antibias education and training. An Antibias Education Grant shall be used for training and resources to prevent and address bias or prejudice toward any group of people based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, immigration status, language, or any actual or perceived characteristic listed in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code. Emphasis shall be on preventing anti-Semitism and bias or prejudice toward groups, including, but not limited to, African Americans, Asian-Pacific Islanders, Latinos, and people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning youth.
Eligible activities for an Antibias Education Grant may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
- Professional development on topics that address hate, bigotry, racism, or any form of bias or prejudice, including, but not limited to, classroom management techniques, self-regulation, and strategies designed to increase teachers’ skills for managing pupils in academic and disciplinary settings.
- Opportunities for teachers, administrators, pupils, other school staff, and members of the governing board or body of the LEA to review policies, practices, and procedures that can promote bias, such as referrals for discipline, special education, and course placement, and to update those policies, practices, and procedures to foster in pupils a sense of belonging and connection.
- The development of a comprehensive diversity plan based on the identified needs of the LEA using its data and tied to specific outcomes, such as increasing staff diversity or more racially proportionate pupil discipline referrals.
- Curriculum that is appropriate for pupils in kindergarten or any of grades one to twelve, inclusive, on topics that address hate, bigotry, racism, or any form of bias or prejudice.
- Support of pupil-initiated efforts to combat hate, bigotry, racism, or any form of bias or prejudice.
Professional development and curriculum under this paragraph shall use evidence-based strategies.
Grant Web Pages and Timelines
The following timeline and links are for the second round of applications and are not applicable for LEAs who have already been selected for the Antibias Education Grant Program.
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Request for Application (RFA) Release | June 1, 2023 |
| Application Workshop Webinar Registration | June 12, 2023 |
| Application due to the CDE | July 20, 2023, by 4 p.m. |
| Intent to Award posted | Week of August 28, 2023 |
Last day for appeals to be received by the CDE |
Thursday, September 7, 2023, by 4 p.m. |
| Final Awards posted | November 2023 |
Timeline is subject to change.
Program Authorization
Assembly Bill 130 Chapter 44 Section 157 of the 2021–22 California State Budget
Antibias Legislative Report
2023 Antibias Legislative Report
2023 Antibias Cohort 2 Legislative Report