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Governor Gavin Newsom Signs AB 1098 To Strengthen California's Education-To-Career Pipeline

For immediate release:

SACRAMENTO, CA — Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1098, authored by Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra) and Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego), to establish the California Education Interagency Council — the state’s first coordinating body for education and workforce systems since the California Postsecondary Education Commission was defunded in 2012.

The Council will bring together ten leaders representing TK–12, higher education, and workforce development agencies to strengthen coordination and alignment across California’s education-to-career pipeline. AB 1098 addresses long-standing inefficiencies by fostering collaboration among education and labor partners. The Council will regularly develop and report on strategic plans to improve effectiveness in areas such as instructional delivery, course alignment, graduation requirements, dual enrollment, and admissions. By aligning policies, programs, funding, and agencies, the Council will ensure that California’s K–12 and higher education students are supported in securing high-paying jobs and building successful careers.

“Since becoming Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, I have made it a priority to reestablish a statewide coordinating body that puts students and workers at the center of California’s education system,” said Assemblymember Fong, Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee. “I am incredibly proud that, after years of bipartisan work and collaboration, AB 1098 has been signed into law. By creating the California Education Interagency Council, AB 1098 brings together education and workforce programs that have too often operated in silos. I want to thank Governor Newsom for his partnership and shared vision to make California’s education system more efficient, equitable, and responsive through the Master Plan for Career Education.”

The Council’s approach is designed to build transparency and coordination across California’s education and workforce systems to better meet the needs of students, workers, and employers. With AB 1098 now signed into law, California takes a major step toward creating a more connected and responsive education-to-career pipeline.

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Assemblymember Mike Fong represents the 49th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Alhambra, Arcadia, El Monte, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, South Pasadena and Temple City, and the unincorporated areas of Pasadena and San Gabriel. He serves as the Chair of the Assembly Higher Education Committee and the Chair of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus.