Signed Bills
California Bill AB 753 (Garcia)
Childcare: facility licensure: teacher requirements
AB 753 was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 1, 2025. Effective immediately, this landmark legislation will help California build a stronger early childhood education (ECE) workforce and expand access to high-quality child care for families across the state. Read our statement.
Note: Assembly Bill (AB) 753 was introduced on February 18, 2025 and amended on September 5, 2025 by Assemblymember Robert Garcia.
Early Edge is proud to co-sponsor AB 753 (Garcia) to provide a pathway for Early Childhood Education (ECE) Teachers. Quality early learning and care (ELC) opportunities provide a nurturing environment where young children engage in educational and social experiences that support their cognitive, emotional, and social development. Without these opportunities, they may miss out on critical learning experiences that prepare them for school and life. In addition, when families cannot access ELC programs, their economic mobility is often limited.
ELC providers are currently struggling to hire a sufficient number of qualified teachers to keep all classrooms fully staffed and open. Furthermore, the lack of care available for infants and toddlers is acute across the state. This bill will help strengthen the early learning workforce and expand access to care overall—but will be especially impactful in addressing the critical shortage of infant and toddler care. The demand for new child care slots is apparent–according to the California Budget and Policy Center, only 19% of eligible infants and toddlers currently have access to ECE programs–as close to 2 million children are waiting to receive care. However, child care programs do not have a sufficient number of teachers to staff current classrooms, let alone new classrooms, and are therefore disincentivized from applying for these new contracts.
In a report released in 2022 by Child Care Resource Center, 88% of programs reported having staff leave the field for better wages and benefits. Programs also reported a range of 20%-52% decline in staffing, with one program closing an entire location due to insufficient staff. It has been widely acknowledged that the current situation is not sustainable for providers and for families.
Specifically, this bill would:
- Authorize the Commission on Teacher Credentialing to issue an assistant teacher permit to individuals with at least 6 units that authorizes the permitholder to assist in the supervision of children for no more than 120 minutes per day while the supervising employee leaves the classroom for purposes of offering flexibility for classroom support, during breaks, or escorting children outside of the classroom. Teachers can hold this permit for up to two years while they work to meet the 12 units required for an Associate Teacher Permit.
