After a successful, statewide advocacy campaign led by UNITE-LA, Gov. Newsom signed AB 121, the 2025 Education Omnibus Trailer Bill, into law on June 28. AB 121 includes a no-cost extension for the Regional K-16 Education Collaborative Grant Program, recognizing the importance and impact of L.A.’s collaborative, as well as the other 12 collaboratives across the state. The extension is a victory for our educational institutions, workforce alignment efforts and career pathway development across the state.

Since 2022, the L.A. Region K-16 Collaborative has grown to become a key regional systems change initiative. Understanding the time necessary to see systems impact, UNITE-LA began advocating for an extension in 2023. Governor Newsom’s 2025 January budget draft included the extension and made concerted efforts to align the initiative with similar economic affirming work, such as the Jobs First program.

Due to a particularly difficult budget situation, UNITE-LA:

• Convened all 13 regional collaboratives to advocate for the extension in the May Revise and final budget;
• Led efforts to support advocates with letter writing, leading to more than 200 unique letters to executive and legislative representatives;
• Participated in more than a dozen legislator and staff meetings; and
• Co-led an advocacy trip to Sacramento, centered on promoting the Collaborative’s work.

Regional leaders uplifted the need to improve regional coordination between education and workforce entities, a key priority of the collaboratives. We look forward to continuing efforts through 2028, serving as a connector and convener for Los Angeles’ education and workforce systems.

For more information, please reach out to Adam Gottlieb, Director of Postsecondary Strategy & Policy, at [email protected].