July 23, 2026
The Colorado Alliance for Caregiving Youth (CACY) applauds California’s passage of AB 2324, groundbreaking legislation that formally recognizes youth caregivers within the state’s education system.
Signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom on July 16, 2026, the legislation establishes a definition for “youth caregiver” in the California Education Code and encourages the inclusion of caregiving youth within the state’s Career Technical Education (CTE) curriculum.
The new law acknowledges that many young people provide regular care for family members living with chronic illness, disability, aging-related needs, or mental health conditions, responsibilities that often go unnoticed while they balance school, extracurricular activities, and family life.
As California updates its Career Technical Education standards, the law encourages consideration of:
- Education on family caregiving and direct support occupations
- Training related to caring for older adults and individuals with disabilities or mental health conditions
- Recognition of the emotional, educational, and social impacts caregiving can have on young people
- Work-based learning opportunities that may include caregiving provided in the family home
- Potential pathways for students to receive educational credit through existing work experience programs
While AB 2324 does not establish a comprehensive statewide support system for caregiving youth, it represents an important step toward recognizing their contributions and ensuring they are considered within educational policy.
Why This Matters
Across the country, caregiving youth remain one of the most overlooked student populations.
Here in Colorado, statewide data show that approximately 20.4% of middle school students and 12.5% of high school students help care for a family member at home, with rates reaching 31% in some school districts.
CACY believes every caregiving youth deserves to be visible, valued, and supported. Through education, advocacy, collaboration, and community partnerships, CACY works to help schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations better identify and support these young caregivers.
California’s action demonstrates that states are beginning to recognize what caregiving youth advocates have long understood: these young people deserve acknowledgement, resources, and opportunities that help them succeed both at home and in school.
As momentum continues to build nationwide, CACY remains committed to advancing awareness and support for caregiving youth throughout Colorado while collaborating with partners across the country to strengthen recognition of this often-hidden population.
CACY congratulates Assemblymember Jeff Gonzalez and the organizations that championed AB 2324 for helping move this important issue forward.
Read the full text of California AB 2324:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2324
