Legis
Education
AB 1829, Chapter 550, Statutes of 2026 · Sunday 27 September 2026

Community colleges: CalWORKs Recipients Education Program: services

Community colleges may use CalWORKs program funds for students’ basic needs aid and can waive employers’ work-study cost share when jobs are preserved.

The law broadens support for CalWORKs students pursuing community-college education, linking services to both long-term self-sufficiency and economic mobility.

What the law does ​

  • Adds direct aid for basic-needs services and resources to allowable CalWORKs Recipients Education Program spending.
  • Requires coordinated special services to support CalWORKs students and former recipients in achieving long-term self-sufficiency and economic mobility.
  • Allows programs to waive the required 25% employer contribution for work-study wages if on- and off-campus work-study positions do not decrease.
  • Retains funding limits to current recipients through their initial educational objectives and former recipients for up to two years, subject to existing conditions.

Who it affects ​

  • CalWORKs recipients attending California community colleges.
  • Former CalWORKs recipients transitioning off assistance.
  • Community college districts, work-study employers, and campus CalWORKs programs.