Teachers: exchange programs: local educational agencies: sponsors.

The amendment date was updated from March 17, 2025 to May 29, 2025, with the earlier date retained as a secondary reference.

The legislative counsel's digest had a minor wording adjustment adding the word 'sponsors' at the end of the first line of the digest summary.

Line numbering and formatting were reflowed throughout the bill text with no change to substantive language.

A subsection numbering change appears near the end of Section 44612, where the definition of 'local educational agency' shifts from subsection (d) to what appears to be a renumbered (c), possibly correcting a prior numbering error.

Removed the requirement for the State Department of Education to report annually (starting December 31, 2026) to the Legislature's relevant policy and fiscal committees on the teacher exchange program, including data on number of participating teachers disaggregated by home country, grade level, subject matter, and hosting local educational agency.

The program now applies to 'local educational agencies' (school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools) instead of only 'California school districts,' expanding which entities can host or send exchange teachers.

New paragraph (a)(2) authorizes J-1 visa sponsors designated by the US Department of State, in addition to the California Department of Education, to sponsor teachers from Mexico for placement in California local educational agencies.

The new visa sponsor provision specifies two purposes: fostering cross-cultural understanding by allowing Mexican teachers to share knowledge and traditions, and providing participating teachers with firsthand experience in the US education system to strengthen international collaboration.

New subsection (d) defines 'local educational agency' as a school district, county office of education, or charter school.