Advocacy Resources

• Public School Investment and Accountability Act [pdf]
  
• School Funding Initiative Filed
  On Friday afternoon, December 19, 2008, CTA filed a school funding initiative which increases the sales tax by one cent generating approximately $5 - $6 billion dollars annually for schools and community colleges beginning in 2010. They hope to qualify the initiative, the Public School Investment and Accountability Act, for a possible special election in 2009.
• Algebra I Tentative Ruling: Cautious Optimism that Judge Will Rule in Plaintiffs Favor
  Superior Court Judge Shelleyanne Chang handed down a "tentative ruling" on December 17 finding in favor of all the arguments presented by ACSA, CSBA, CTA and the State Superintendent in the case of CSBA, ET Al v.s. the California State Board of Education challenging the recent Algebra I testing mandate for all 8th grade students.
• Judge Rebukes SBE's Claim of Authority to Mandate Algebra I Testing
  In a swift rebuke on both counts brought by ACSA and CSBA (later joined by CTA and Superintendent O'Connell) Superior Court Judge Sheelyanne Chang issued a Preliminary Injunction last Friday against the State Board of Education requiring they cease action associated with the July vote to mandate all 8th graders take the Algebra I CST.
• CTC El Advisory Panel
  Please click the link to view a copy of a letter, along with an application, that we received from the CTC requesting applications for EL Commission Advisory Panel members. Please note that applications must be submitted to the Commission by December 15, 2008.
• Linda Darling-Hammond Heading up Education Policy for Obama Team
  Californian and Stanford University education professor Linda Darling-Hammond has officially accepted the role to head up President-elect Barack Obama’s education policy for the transition team.
• Summary of 2008 CAHSEE Results from HumRRO [pdf]
  Please find attached a summary of some of the data presented by HumRRO the independent evaluator for CAHSEE. The data shows trends resulting from the 2008 passing rates, the 2008 failure rates and some of the assumptions and expectations students have regarding graduation. For a full copy of the report you can go to www.cde.ca.gov, click on State Board of Education meeting agendas November 5-6, then click on SBE agenda item #24.
• Insulin injection lawsuit
  Sacramento Superior Court Judge ruled that it is unlawful to use unlicensed personnel to administer insulin to school children in California schools.
• CA Educators Seek IDEA Funding Increase [pdf]
  California is facing an unprecedented fiscal situation and the Governor is proposing that school agencies be cut by more than $2.2 billion. At the same time, the federal government has failed to meets its commitment to fund federal special education mandates at its 40% authorized levels, contributing to a $3 billion shortfall in funding for special education in California. The combination of these factors has exacerbated the financial burden on every school agency in the state, some to the brink of fiscal insolvency. As an economic stimulus package is developed in late 2008 and early 2009, ACSA and other statewide associations we call on Congress to consider the following: Fund IDEA Now, Fund Federal Preschool Programs and Eliminate Unnecessary Mandates.
• Principles: Building a Statewide Longitudinal Education Data System [pdf]
  The statewide Education Coalition formed a work group to develop principles around a longitudinal data system that would guide the work of the Coalition members. The priority for ACSA and the Education Coalition is teaching and learning and the infrastructure and training needed to make the system effective.
• Worker's Compensation Rate Update
  The Workers' Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) had notified Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, that a rate increase was going to be needed in order to cover the increases in medical treatment and claims adjustment costs.
• Educators Oppose Further Cuts
  The Education Coalition stands firm against cuts to schools as the governor projects an additional $2-4 billion slashed from education.
• 2008 Legislative Year End Report [pdf]
  Attached you will find the legislative highlights of the recently concluded 2008 legislative session. The year was dominated by declining state revenues, the implications of this situation on the state budget for 2008 – 09 and in particular on the education budget.
• New Education Statutes - 2008
  Following is a summary of all statutes now in effect from the 2007 legislative year. Every year the Assembly Education Committee staff prepares a summary of all bills that were introduced with a concise summary. Following are only those bills that have been chaptered and are now law by subject. If you wish to view the entire statute for each bill visit www.assembly.ca.gov for Assembly bills and www.senate.ca.gov for Senate bills.