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Assemblymembers Wicks and Muratsuchi introduce AB 1021 to increase housing for California’s education workforce

CSBA, UCLA cityLAB and TRiO Plus co-sponsor legislation to facilitate education workforce housing and reduce turnover among teachers and classified staff

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2025) – The introduction of Assembly Bill 1021, co-authored by Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance), offers a unique opportunity to increase the scope and quality of housing that school employees can afford statewide, while also aiding teacher recruitment and retention efforts that are critical to student success. The California School Boards Association (CSBA), along with cityLAB-UCLA and TRiO Plus, are sponsoring legislation to streamline the process by which school districts and county offices of education dedicate school property for the development of workforce housing.

California’s persistent housing crisis threatens the quality of TK-12 education, as high housing costs discourage potential educators from joining the profession and cause many to exit prematurely. The resulting staffing shortages and high attrition rates create instability in schools and undermine instruction and student support, particularly in high-need schools where turnover is the greatest. The resulting churn negatively impacts outcomes for California’s students and reduces prosperity for the state as a whole.

“California’s longstanding housing crisis is now affecting our education system, as the cost of housing keeps school districts from attracting and maintaining staff,” said Wicks. “AB 1021 addresses this issue head on, by cutting the red tape that keeps school districts from providing housing for teachers and other employees. And, because at least 30 percent of the housing is for lower-income households, this bill ensures that those most in need are the ones who most benefit.”

Every county in California has school-owned land suitable for education workforce housing and, collectively, local educational agencies (LEAs) own 10,900 properties on more than 150,000 acres of land, roughly half of which could support workforce housing projects for school employees. Crucially, 61 percent of these properties are located where entry-level teachers face housing affordability challenges, but regulations and red tape are preventing or slowing efforts to convert unused or underutilized property for education workforce housing.

“Too many teachers and school staff cannot afford to live near the schools where they work,” said Muratsuchi, Chair of the Assembly Education Committee. “LEAs have a unique advantage in developing housing because they already own land in the communities they serve. AB 1021 makes it easier to use underutilized LEA land to build affordable housing for the education workforce.”

By easing the administrative and bureaucratic hurdles, AB 1021 will help LEAs more readily construct housing to address the educator shortage crisis and better serve California’s students. Specifically, AB 1021 would build upon landmark educator workforce legislation AB 2295 (Bloom, Chapter 652, Statutes of 2022) to ensure that small and rural school districts and county offices of education can take advantage of this opportunity, provide TK-12 schools with the same California Environmental Quality Act exemptions already granted to affordable housing projects, and incentivize the development of workforce housing close to transit. At least 30 percent of the new housing would be affordable to lower-income households, and another 20 percent to moderate-income households.

“Good teachers and school support staff have an incredible impact on both the student experience and the post-scholastic outcomes for our children,” said CSBA President Dr. Bettye Lusk. “So, if we have the means to retain more high-quality employees — and change lives — by better utilizing assets we already control, it only makes sense for the state to facilitate this approach. Education workforce housing is a ‘win-win,’ and our research shows school districts and county offices of education across California are eager to make workforce housing for school staff a reality in their communities.”

“Research shows that the fate of schools and housing are frequently intertwined and that investment in one often reinforces growth in the other,” said cityLAB Director Dr. Dana Cuff. “By partnering with communities on thoughtful solutions for workforce housing needs, school districts can strengthen and enhance the culture and lived environment for students and staff, and elevate surrounding neighborhoods.”

“California schools are wracked by chronic recruitment and retention challenges, and it's our kids who pay the price. Housing for educators is the solution,” said Kyra Mungia, former teacher and CEO of TRiO Plus, a nonprofit dedicated to housing affordability for educators. “The number one reason teachers leave Oakland — and many districts across California — is that they simply can’t afford to live there. AB 1021 removes barriers to workforce housing, helping schools recruit employees and ensuring students have the teachers they deserve. Because stable housing for educators leads to stronger schools, TRiO Plus is proud to co-sponsor this critical bill.”