New LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency Training Requirement & PRISM
Sacramento County Office of Education is hosting a webinar on the new LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency training requirement for all certificated staff who serve students in grades 7-12 which begins in the 2025-26 school year. This webinar will also provide information about PRISM (Providing Relevant, Inclusive, Support that Matters for LGBTQ+ Students), the new online course developed by Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) which LEAs can choose to use to meet this training requirement.
This webinar will be presented in three segments, so you can participate in only the segments that are of interest to you (times below are approximate).
1:00 – 1:15 pm Part 1 – Legislation & Requirements
1:15 – 1:45 pm Part 2 – An Overview of PRISM
1:45 – 2:00 pm Part 3 – PRISM Facilitation
If you are not able to attend this webinar, CDE has posted a recording of the webinar they hosted on July 10, 2025 which covered the exact same content. You can find that recording here:
PRISM for LGBTQ+ Students - Professional Learning (CA Dept of Education)
AB-5 (2023) changed Ed Code 218.3(c) such that beginning with the 2025–26 school year and continuing through the 2029–30 school year, all LEAs shall provide and require a minimum of one hour of LGBTQ+ cultural competency training annually over the five-year period to all certificated employees serving pupils in grades 7-12.
Further AB-5 (2023) required that California Department of Education (CDE) develop and host a free, online training curriculum that satisfies the LGBTQ+ cultural competency standards further defined in the bill. CDE contracted with LACOE, who worked with 18 other non-profit organizations who specialize in supporting LGBTQ+ or other at-risk populations, to develop PRISM (Providing Relevant, Inclusive, Support that Matters for LGBTQ+ Students).
This following correspondence from the State Superintendent of Public Education explains these new requirements.
PRISM LGBTQ+ Cultural Competency Training - Letters (CA Dept of Education)