FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          

March 27, 2025                                                                                                

Contact: Chris Jonsmyr

Chris Jonsmyr@asm.ca.gov                                                                                                                                                        

(619) 800-2080

Assemblymember Alvarez’s AB 833 to address teacher shortages in CA
passed the Assembly Education Committee

Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember David Alvarez (D-San Diego) announced yesterday that Assembly Bill 833 – The Cross-Border Teacher Exchange Expansion and Accountability Act- which seeks to address California’s shortage of educators by expanding teacher exchange programs, passed the Assembly Education Committee.

“AB 833 is a vital step toward addressing California’s bilingual teacher shortage while strengthening educational ties with Mexico,” said Assemblymember David Alvarez. “By expanding teacher exchange programs, we can bring experienced educators into our classrooms to enrich students’ learning, and fill an important gap in our schools.

“California students deserve to have more teachers who reflect their culture, language, and customs,” said Jason Hammond, President of International Alliance Group. “Likewise, California schools deserve to have choice when selecting a visa partner to recruit and support them through the process. This commonsense bill provides for both”

In the 2022-2023 school year, California was home to over 1.1 million English Learner (EL) students, making up approximately 19% of the total K-12 student population. According to the Learning Policy Institute, districts across the state report difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified bilingual teachers, particularly in high-demand subjects like math, science, and special education. This shortage underscores the urgent need for policies like AB 833 to expand opportunities for bilingual educators, including international teachers from Mexico, to support California’s diverse student population.

California is currently experiencing a significant shortage of teachers, with a particular emphasis on the urgent need for bilingual educators. This gap in qualified teachers affects classrooms across the state, making it challenging to meet the diverse linguistic and cultural needs of students. AB 833 enjoys support from the California Association for Bilingual Education and the San Diego County of Office of Education. The bill will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee in the next few months.

‍