AB 2056
Teachers: exchange programs: local educational agencies.
Vote required
Majority
Fiscal committee
No
Appropriation
No
Current location
In Floor Process
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill modifies California’s teacher exchange program with other countries, primarily Mexico and Spain. It removes the requirement for the State Board of Education to create regulations and administer the program, and expands the eligible institutions to include county offices of education and charter schools. The program now allows for exchanges of up to one year, and requires visa sponsors to be designated by the U.S. Department of State to facilitate cultural exchange and bilingual education opportunities.
Key provisions
- Removes the requirement for the State Board of Education to adopt regulations.
- Expands eligible institutions to include county offices of education and charter schools.
- Allows exchanges with Mexico and Spain.
- Eliminates the one-year time limit on exchanges.
- Requires visa sponsors designated by the U.S. Department of State to facilitate exchanges.
- Authorizes J-1 visa sponsors to sponsor teachers from Mexico and Spain.
- Promotes cultural exchange and bilingual education.
- Supports diverse language learning opportunities.
Who is affected
- California school districts
- County offices of education
- Charter schools
- Teachers in California
- Teachers in Mexico and Spain
Notable changes
- Eliminates the need for the State Board of Education to create and manage regulations.
- Expands the scope of participating educational institutions.
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
No arguments in favor have been submitted.
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AB2056:v98#DOCUMENT
Bill Start
| Amended IN Senate June 09, 2026 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 2056
| Introduced by Assembly Member Alvarez (Coauthors: Assembly Members Garcia, Jeff Gonzalez, Solache, and Ahrens) |
| February 18, 2026 |
An act to amend Section 44612 of the Education Code, relating to teachers.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2056, as amended, Alvarez. Teachers: exchange programs: local educational agencies.
Existing law, the World Language Teacher Exchange and Recruitment Law of 1963, requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules and regulations under which teachers employed by California school districts may exchange positions with teachers in schools in other countries for a period of one year or less. Existing law requires the arrangements for the exchanges to be made through the State Department of Education and in cooperation with the teacher exchange programs administered by agencies of the federal government.
This bill would revise and recast those provisions by, among other things, (1) no longer requiring the state board to adopt regulations, (2) no longer requiring the department to administer the program or take actions necessary to carry out the program, (3) expressly providing for exchanges with Mexico, Mexico and Spain, (4) expanding the authorized exchanges to include county offices of education and charter schools, (5) eliminating the one-year time limit on the exchanges, and (6), if regulations are adopted, requiring those regulations to authorize specified visa sponsors designated by the United States Department of State to sponsor teachers from other countries, including Mexico and Spain, for placement in California school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to promote cultural exchange for specified purposes.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO
Bill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 44612 of the Education Code is amended to read:
44612.
(a) (1) The state board may adopt rules and regulations under which teachers employed by California local educational agencies may exchange positions with teachers in schools in other countries, including Mexico. Mexico and Spain. The arrangements for the exchanges shall be made in cooperation with the teacher exchange programs administered by agencies of the federal government.
(2) Any rules and regulations adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) shall authorize J-1 visa sponsors designated by the United States Department of State to sponsor teachers from other countries, including Mexico and Spain, for placement in California local educational agencies to promote cultural exchange for both of the following purposes:
(A) To foster cross-cultural understanding by allowing Mexican teachers from other countries, including Mexico and Spain, to share their knowledge, traditions, and teaching methodologies with pupils and educators in California.
(B) To provide participating teachers with firsthand experience in the United States education system, strengthening international collaboration and encouraging mutual appreciation of diverse educational approaches and cultural perspectives.
(C) To provide ensure California pupils with access to can engage in bilingual instruction and assist the state’s local educational agencies in meeting their bilingual education needs. supporting diverse language learning opportunities.
(b) Grants from the federal government or any department or agency thereof may be accepted by the state, its agencies, and local educational agencies to be expended pursuant to the programs and plans enumerated in this article.
(c) For purposes of this section, “local educational agency” means a school district, county office of education, or charter school.