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AB 1121

Early literacy: professional development: instructional materials.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Ben Allen and 2 co-sponsors

AB 1121 would require CA to create and mandate participation in state-approved professional development for literacy and to adopt and use ELA/ELD/basic reading materials aligned to

From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.
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Bill Summary · AB 1121

AB 1121 — Early literacy: professional development: instructional materials

Author: Blanca Rubio
Status: Re-referred to Assembly Committee on Education (Apr 3, 2025)
Introduced: Feb 20, 2025

Purpose

AB 1121 responds to identified literacy gaps in California by strengthening (1) professional development (PD) for educators on evidence-based literacy instruction and (2) the state adoption and local use of instructional materials for English language arts (ELA), English language development (ELD), and reading for transitional kindergarten (TK) through grade 8.

Key provisions

  • Professional development list

    • Requires the State Department of Education (CDE), by August 31, 2026, to develop a list of recommended PD and training programs that meet specified requirements related to effective literacy teaching and evidence‑based foundational reading skills.
    • CDE must submit the list to the State Board of Education (SBE) for approval.
    • SBE must approve the list by January 1, 2027.
    • CDE must publish the approved list on its website and update it as necessary.
    • Beginning September 1, 2027, school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools must ensure participation in—and applicable personnel must satisfactorily complete by August 31, 2029—an approved PD/training program from the CDE list (with limited exceptions as specified in the bill).

  • Instructional materials adoption and local use

    • Requires SBE, by January 1, 2027, to adopt basic instructional materials (as defined by the bill) for TK–8 in ELA, ELD, and reading.
    • Adopted materials must align to the most recently adopted academic content standards and curriculum frameworks and adhere to effective and evidence‑based means of teaching literacy and foundational reading skills.
    • CDE must publish the complete SBE-adopted list on its website and distribute it to local educational agencies (LEAs).
    • Upon SBE adoption, LEAs (school districts, county offices, charter schools) must ensure their locally adopted ELA/ELD/reading basic instructional materials meet specified evaluation criteria and may not adopt materials not adopted by SBE unless granted a waiver by SBE.
    • By December 31, 2028, each LEA must provide to CDE a current list of its adopted basic ELA/ELD/reading instructional materials; CDE will maintain and annually update a publicly accessible statewide list.

Who is affected

  • Local educational agencies (school districts, county offices of education, charter schools)
  • Educators and instructional leaders (and other “applicable personnel” required to complete PD)
  • CDE and SBE (new responsibilities for lists, approvals, publishing, and oversight)
  • Potential indirect effect on publishers and PD providers (must meet criteria to be listed/adopted)

Implementation, timeline, and fiscal aspects

  • Major deadlines:
    • CDE PD list developed: by Aug 31, 2026
    • SBE approval of PD list and adoption of instructional materials: by Jan 1, 2027
    • LEA obligation to begin ensuring PD participation: Sept 1, 2027
    • PD completion by personnel: by Aug 31, 2029
    • LEA reporting of adopted materials: by Dec 31, 2028
  • The bill imposes new duties on LEAs (state‑mandated local program). If the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill contains reimbursable state mandates, reimbursement procedures in existing law will apply.
  • No appropriation is included in the digest; the fiscal committee review is required.

Legislative findings

The bill includes findings that California faces a literacy crisis, with persistent proficiency gaps—especially for low‑income students, Black and Latino students, and English learners—justifying state action to standardize evidence‑based instruction and materials.

Legislative status (recent actions)

  • 2025-02-20: Introduced and printed
  • 2025-03-10: Referred to Assembly Committee on Education
  • 2025-04-02: Amended and re-referred to Committee on Education
  • 2025-04-03: Re-referred to Committee on Education

This summary captures the bill’s core requirements and timeline; readers may consult the full bill text for definitions, waiver procedures, and detailed criteria for PD and instructional materials.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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