In the last legislative session, Gov. Gavin Newsom approved two bills that impact training for CSBA members. This blog post summarizes the bills.
Assembly Bill 640 – Board member training on public school finance laws
On Oct. 11, 2025, the Governor signed Assembly Bill 640 (Muratsuchi) into law. The bill requires school district and county governing board members to receive training on “K-12 public education school finance laws.” It is important to note that board members who have successfully completed CSBA’s Masters in Governance® (MIG) program and provide proof of completion of the program to their local educational agency are exempt from this requirement. Board members who do not complete MIG may receive the training through other options as discussed below.
This training applies to all board members of school district and county boards of education. It does not apply to administrators, including county superintendents, other employees or student board members. LEA board members in service as of April 1, 2027, must receive the training by April 1, 2028, unless their term of office ends, and they leave office, before April 1, 2028. Board members who commence service after April 1, 2027, must receive the training within one year from their first day of initial service or subsequent nonconsecutive term.
The bill encourages new board members to begin the training before their first board meeting after their election or appointment. This training is only required one time and need not be received during a board member’s subsequent, consecutive terms. If a board member leaves office and is then re-elected or reappointed, it appears that member will be required to retake the training within one year of taking office.
AB 640 defines “K-12 public education school finance laws,” the required subject matter of the training, as:
- Laws related to the creation and approval of an LEA budget to support pupil learning and achievement; and
- Laws related to fiscal penalties for noncompliance set forth in various parts of the Education Code.
The bill charges the County Office Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) with developing curriculum for the topics identified for training, in consultation with the California Department of Education (CDE). This curriculum must be completed by Oct. 1, 2026 and posted to FCMAT’s and CDE’s websites. This curriculum will be updated periodically to reflect statutory changes. Importantly, any training offered must use the curriculum developed by FCMAT, making the training, other than MIG, unavailable until after the curriculum is released.
The training may be taken at home, in person or online and must be no longer than four hours. LEAs may provide training to board members through a number of methods, as follows:
- Through offering the training courses using LEA employees or contracted legal counsel with demonstrable experience in the applicable topic for which they will provide training, and in supporting school districts and county offices of education with technical assistance and expertise.
- Through arranging for training through an entity that meets all of the following requirements:
- One of the entity’s primary functions is supporting LEAs with technical assistance and expertise in the applicable topic for which it will provide training
- The entity has demonstrable experience supporting LEAs with technical assistance and expertise; and
- The entity has trainers that each possess demonstrable experience in the applicable topic for which it will provide training
- Through FCMAT
- Through a nonprofit statewide education association led by officials who govern school districts and county offices of education and that has experience in supporting school districts and county offices of education with technical assistance and expertise (e.g., CSBA); or
- Through offering self-study materials of their own or through an entity that meets the requirements above.
LEAs must provide information to their board members, at least annually, regarding training available to meet the requirements of the bill. LEAs must also maintain records that show the dates on which each board member satisfied the training requirements and the entity that provided the training. These records are public records subject to disclosure and must be maintained for at least five years after the board member receives the training .
CSBA is authorized to offer the training under the terms of the bill and is awaiting FCMAT’s curriculum on or before Oct. 1, 2026, to assess training options. We will notify CSBA members of any offered training. In the meantime, as noted, those who complete MIG will be exempt from the requirements above. Registration for MIG is available now.
Senate Bill 827 – Revisions to ethics training requirements
Another bill of note is SB 827, which expands requirements for ethics training for LEAs. (Note, however, that the fiscal training required by SB 827 does not apply to LEAs. Rather, LEAs must follow AB 640, summarized above.) SB 827 specifically requires that county superintendents and district superintendents receive ethics training. Most LEAs have required superintendents and county superintendents to receive ethics training, but this bill squarely requires it. SB 827 also requires LEAs to post “clear instructions and contact information” on their websites to assist requestors who are seeking records of ethics training completion from LEAs.
Learn about CSBA’s Ethics Assembly Bill 2158 training and upcoming dates here.
LEAs that have questions about the applicability of AB 640 and SB 827 should consult CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services or their own legal counsel.
