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AB 2324

Vocational education: youth caregivers.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Gonzalez

AB 2324 creates a formal Youth Caregivers Career Pathway in California's vocational education, integrating in-home caregiving and credits toward graduation and direct-support caree

In Assembly. Ordered to Engrossing and Enrolling.
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Bill Summary · AB 2324

Summary of AB 2324 (2025-2026) — Vocational Education: Youth Caregivers

Purpose and Intent

AB 2324, introduced by Assembly Member Jeff Gonzalez, seeks to recognize and support youth caregivers within California’s vocational education framework. The bill establishes a pathway and guidance to help students who are youth caregivers prepare for in-home caregiving and direct-support professional careers, while integrating their experiences into the State’s Career Technical Education (CTE) standards and work-based learning opportunities.

Key aims:
- Acknowledges the role and needs of youth caregivers.
- Integrates youth caregiving content into the Personal Care and Services career pathway.
- Creates a formal Youth Caregivers Career Pathway program linked to the education, child development, and family services sector.
- Uses work-based learning and course credits to support graduation pathways.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Section 12053.5 added to the Education Code defining “youth caregiver.”

    • A youth caregiver is a student in grades 9–12 who provides care to a person with ongoing health problems or chronic illness, or to someone who is elderly, frail, disabled, or mentally ill.

  • Development and implementation timeline:

    • By July 1, 2027: Governor’s Council for Career Education must assess challenges and needs of youth caregivers and recommend workplace learning strategies to the California Workforce Pathways Joint Advisory Committee (CWPJAC) for creating a Youth Caregivers Career Pathway within the education, child development, and family services sector, as an extension of the family and human services pathway.
    • By July 1, 2028: CWPJAC must appoint an advisory group of subject-matter experts to create and establish the Youth Caregivers Career Pathway program.

  • Program components and content:

    • By the next revision of the California Career Technical Education Model Curriculum Standards, the California Department of Education (CDE) must consider adding content about youth caregivers within the Personal Care and Services pathway.
    • By July 1, 2028: CDE, in consultation with standards committees and relevant partners, must provide guidance for implementing the Personal Care and Services pathway. This may include:
    • Focus on skills specific to Personal Care and Services occupations, including in-home caregiving for youth caregivers supporting family members.
    • Development of a curriculum for youth caregivers caring for a family member at home, eligible for graduation credits through work experience education.
    • Credits and preparation for direct-support professional careers for students in grades 9–12.
    • Training content for direct-support professions relevant to caring for people with developmental, mental health, or physical disabilities, and older adults.
    • Student monitoring and referrals to address risk factors (mental health, academic attainment, physical health, etc.).
    • Work-based learning opportunities that may allow the family home to count as a viable learning site.

  • Advisory and collaboration:

    • CWPJAC must consult with individuals with lived caregiving experience and collaborate with state departments (e.g., Developmental Services, Social Services, Aging, Rehabilitation) and stakeholder organizations to align workforce training and career ladder information.

  • Eligibility for credits:

    • Youth caregivers caring for a family member at home may be eligible for credits toward high school graduation through work experience education, under specified provisions.

Who Is Affected

  • Students in grades 9–12 who are youth caregivers.
  • Local education agencies and school districts operating high schools (through inclusion in CTE standards and work-based learning).
  • The California Department of Education (CDOE) and its Standards Development Committees (Healthcare and Human Services cluster).
  • The Governor’s Council for Career Education and the California Workforce Pathways Joint Advisory Committee (CWPJAC).
  • State agencies and organizations involved in aging, disability services, and caregiving supports (for advisory input and program development).

Procedures and Timeline Highlights

  • Introduction and amendments in 2026; amendments and committee referrals in spring 2026.
  • By July 1, 2027: Assessment and recommendations to CWPJAC.
  • By July 1, 2028: Appointment of advisory group; establishment of Youth Caregivers Career Pathway; guidance for Personal Care and Services pathway implementation.
  • By the same July 1, 2028 deadline: Curriculum content and credit eligibility to support graduation goals and direct-care career preparation.

Bottom Line

AB 2324 lays the groundwork for a formal Youth Caregivers Career Pathway within California’s vocational education system, incorporating in-home caregiving, eligibility for graduation credits, and preparation for direct-support professions, while ensuring stakeholder collaboration and alignment with broader career education strategies.

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

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