Legislative Updates

Congratulations are in order! AB 2514

November 21, 2018 by Claudia Vizcarra

For the past eight years we have worked closely with Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Instruction and have accomplished so much for English Learners and biliteracy for all students in California. We are thrilled to now have the opportunity to work with a dedicated leader who has championed the fight for a quality and equitable education for all California students, Superintendent-elect Tony Thurmond. His election brings energy and a vision of bilingualism and biliteracy for all students in California.

As an Assembly Member, Tony authored AB 2514 creating grants to consortia of districts to initiate or expand dual immersion or developmental bilingual programs pre K – 12th grade. He supported the appropriation of $5 million for grants to increase the bilingual teacher pool and knows that this is just the beginning of what is needed to staff the expanding demand for bilingual teachers across California. We look forward to working closely with our new State Superintendent of Instruction and to move forward with a positive and progressive agenda for English Learners.

As one of his first appointments, we are very pleased that Lupita Cortez Alcalá will be returning to the California Department of Education as the Chief Deputy Superintendent, serving as the leader of all Divisions in the California Department of Education. Prior to her leaving the Department she served as the Deputy Superintendent Teaching and Learning Support Branch which included the Division of English Learner and Migrant Education. Under her leadership, she supported and led the development of the English Language Development Standards, the formation of a Division for English Learners and Migrant Education, supported the creation and implementation of the Seal of Biliteracy, the development of the English Language Arts/ English Language Development Framework and was a clear voice for bilingualism and biliteracy for all students.

Californians Together offers our services and support to these two great leaders. We look forward to working with them and continuing to promote high-quality programs and instruction for English Learners.

AB 2735 (O’Donnell) is signed into law, ensuring access to a full curriculum for English Learners

September 11, 2018 by Claudia Vizcarra

When all of our voices are heard, English Learners and their families win. Friday, September 7, 2018, Governor Brown signed AB 2735 (O’Donnell) into law prohibiting English Learner students from being denied enrollment in core curriculum courses, courses required for high school graduation or courses for purposes of recognition for college admission, such as advanced placement or honors courses.

With the Governor’s signature, we’ve reached an important step in ensuring all English Learners have access to a full curriculum. The law takes effect on January 1, 2019. We will keep you posted as to how information on these new requirements will be disseminated. Thank you for taking the time to respond to our Action Alerts.

Another Victory for Accountability for English Learners

September 7, 2018 by Claudia Vizcarra

The State Board of Education voted unanimously yesterday to include the State Seal of Biliteracy to qualify for the Career and College Indicator without the additional criteria of scoring “met standards” on the SBAC math assessment. Now students will not only be recognized by the state for their proficiency in English and another language but also as College and Career ready.

Your advocacy by sending a letter to Dr. Michael Kirst, SBE President and Tom Torlakson, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, made all the difference. Hearing from educators and EL advocates across the state was critical. Thank you for taking the time to send a letter and securing the votes needed to promote good state policy.

Our Latest – California Budget Update

June 18, 2018 by Claudia Vizcarra

We want to thank all of you who sent emails, wrote letters, influenced others to write letters and shared our Action Alerts with colleagues and family. There is much to be thankful for in the state budget that went to the governor on June 15, 2018.

Great News – The Budget

Maintains $2 million in federal Title III funding to be allocated to the 11 regional county offices of education, as currently allocated. Adopted Budget Bill Language requiring the 11 county offices of education to meet specified metrics in order to be held accountable for improving performance for English learners within their respective regions
Includes $5 million for Licensed Child Care Teacher Professional Development targeted for Bilingual Teachers working with Dual Language Learners in Preschool
Provides $437,000 in one-time federal Title III carryover funding to develop a tool/metric for teachers to use when giving input to reclassify a student.
Includes $75 million one-time Proposition 98 for the Teacher Residency Grant Program. It specifies that $50 million is set aside for special education and $25 million for other teacher shortage areas, including Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and Bilingual Education.

To Watch:

Approves $300 million in one-time Proposition 98 funding to allocate for low- performing students.
Includes funding for the redesign of the Local Control Accountability Plan template and for the development of a budget summary for parents to improve transparency of LCFF funds.

Concern:
The language attached to maintaining the Title III funds with the 11 Regional County Offices which requires evaluation attached to improved performance for English Learners. No other project or entity is attached to the development of a metric tied to improved English Learner performance. We will ALL need to be involved in defining what that means.

Disappointment:

Does not include $5 million for year two funding of the Bilingual Teacher Professional Development Grants.
Does not include funding for AB 2514 (Thurmond) for new and expanding dual immersion and developmental bilingual programs.

Ongoing work:

We will continue to move AB 2514 (Thurmond) through the legislature and hope to get the Governor’s signature. Next year we will seek funding in the budget for this program.
Work on the interpretation of Title III language.

We are committed to working with all of you to move all the items forward and to be involved in the implementation of any new and continuing initiatives. Our advocacy saved the Title III money and won the $5 million dollars for the state preschool and Dual Language Learners.

Stay tuned for future Action Alerts, we need you to respond quickly and share them with others.

New Regulations for growing Multilingual Programs are now available

May 22, 2018 by Claudia Vizcarra

In November 2016 California voters overwhelmingly (73.5%) supported the passage of Proposition 58 (also known as California for a Global Economy Initiative, or CA Ed.G.E) to promote and encourage multilingual programs for all students.

The final implementation regulations have been released. You can find them here. You can find the education code that authorizes them here. .

Call on the Budget Conference Committee to ensure funds for ELD and Bilingual Teacher Shortage are included

June 2, 2016 by Claudia Vizcarra

Budget Item 6110-125-0890 Issue: 816

It’s that time again! The legislative Budget Conference Committee is at work reconciling differences in actions taken by the Assembly and the Senate Budget Committees specific to the May Revision State Budget 2016-17.

Your help is needed NOW!! Please call and click on the link that say “Click here to Email Legislator” at the bottom of this action alert to send the letter Senate Members on the Budget Conference Committee to:

Support the Assembly version of allocating $1.246 million of Federal Title III carryover funds to the California Department of Education for the development of professional development video series specific to: ELD (integrated and designated) across content areas & designing courses for the middle and high school grades that are also ELA courses that would allow EL pupils to accrue credit toward graduation.

Include addressing the bilingual teacher shortage in the budget trailer bill specific to the proposed Center on Teaching Careers language.

These requests are made in order to provide to teachers and school districts critically necessary resources so that EL pupils can be given quality ELD instruction and the opportunity to graduate and graduate on time!!

Call or fax:

Senator Mark Leno, Vice-Chair; State Capitol, Room 5100;

Sacto CA 95814. Capitol Office: 916-651-4011 Fax: 916-651-4911

Senator Ricardo Lara, Member; State Capitol, Room 5050;

Sacto CA 95814.Capitol Office: 916-651-4033 Fax: 916-651-4933

Senator Loni Hancock, Member; State Capitol Room 2082

Sacto CA 95814. Capitol Office: 916-651-4009 Fax: 916651-4909

For those of you who prefer to fax a letter, attached is a sample letter. PLEASE CONTACT THEM NOW!!