A new training requirement is now in place for teachers and other certificated staff in grades 7–12. Assembly Bill 5 (The Safe and Supportive Schools Act) took effect on July 1, 2025, and added Education Code Section 218.3(b)(1), which directs the California Department of Education (CDE) to provide free online LGBTQ+ cultural competency training for teachers and other certificated employees.

School safety is a layered effort. While comprehensive emergency planning is essential, the California Education Code (Ed. Code) also includes requirements, such as interior classroom locks, that directly impact how quickly staff and students can secure themselves in a crisis.

A recent federal court ruling on January 9, 2025, vacated the 2024 Title IX Regulations nationwide. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has confirmed that schools must revert to the 2020 Title IX Regulations, as outlined in their Title IX and Sex Discrimination Overview.

This toolkit implements recommendations from the DOE’s May 2023 report, Artificial Intelligence in the Future of Teaching and Learning, offering crucial guidance for the effective use of AI in educational settings. It addresses essential topics including; privacy, civil rights, accessibility, and strategies for planning AI integration.

Did you know that there's a free toolkit  that could help you strengthen your school's safety reporting program? Check it out!

The next phase of the CA SMARTER PLAN is mitigation in schools which will focus on long-term prevention and preservation of safe in-person schooling. 

Recently signed by Governor Newsom, SB 722 requires a school district or charter school to have at least one adult with a valid certification of CPR training to be present throughout the duration of a non-interscholastic event.

TikTok trends have impacted school districts across the nation, leaving many school administrators frustrated. It's important to be aware of the potential for these incidents before they occur.