CALIFORNIA WORKING
LEARNER WEEK

October 5-9, 2026

Working learners know what they want. It’s time the system helped them get there.

Imagine a California where every learner has a pathway to pursue their goals and the support to succeed. Where learning is valued no matter where it happens. Where credentials lead to real opportunity and upward mobility. And where every California learner has the agency to author their own life.

Working learners are already powering California’s economy and shaping its future. Their experiences can show us what it takes to make that vision a reality—and where postsecondary education needs to change.

What is California Working Learner Week?

California Working Learner Week brings working learners’ perspectives to the center of conversations about the future of postsecondary education. From October 5–9, organizations across California will share research, stories, events, and ideas—and invite us to listen to working learners and learn from their experiences.