Legislatively Speaking…

By Robyn Ambler, VP of Legislative Advocacy, CHS PTSA

The San Ramon Valley Council of PTA’s Legislative committee is active in supporting legislation that affects education in the San Ramon Valley, the State of California, and the Nation.

This month “California State PTA members across the state who dedicate themselves to grass-roots efforts, PTA commissioners who study the issues, and PTA advocates who walk the halls of the State Capitol have several reasons to be proud of their work. Despite a rancorous legislative session, numerous PTA-supported bills were signed into law that will make a real difference in the lives of children and families”.

The PTA-supported bill SB 19 (Simitian) was passed. This legislation enables California to clear one critically important hurdle to eligibility for the "Race to the Top" federal education reform funds, by allowing student data to be used as one input for evaluating teachers. The bill also makes changes needed to support continued development of the state's K-12 education data system, the California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS).

 For more information on this and other laws passed this month, please go to www.srvcouncilpta.org to view the CAPTA Legislative Alert newsletter.

This year the focus of our Legislative committee will include, but not be limited to:

·       Support of SCA 6 (Simitian)- a senate constitutional amendment to change the threshold for local school funding measures to a 55% supermajority.

·       The State Budget Crisis

·       “Race to the Top”- Federal education reform funds

·       Equalization in Funding

·       Education Finance Reform

We look forward to working on issues that affect all children—here in the valley, in our state, and across the nation.

If you are interested in volunteering for our Legislative activities, please contact me, robynambler@gmail.com

An important Legislative Information Alert from the California State PTA on Race to the Top activities.  California State PTA is taking a very active role in the application process.  Legislation Director Debbie Look testified in today’s Assembly special session on the data component of Race to the Top and there have been many other hearings and written responses as well.  

Race to the Top promises to be important both for the federal funding opportunities and because its regulations are likely be the blueprint for the replacement of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).  

If you have not already signed up for legislation alerts from California State PTA, it is easy to do (then you will get this early and in a better format).  Just go to http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin/ea?v=001QSVz3SN0NaoWiQODPkxe6g%3D%3D and follow the directions.