Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/436829
S B 1 1 7 4 , a measure that aims to give par- ents, students and teachers the flexibility to use students' native languages to help them master English, was signed into law. The bill, put forth by state Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) with the support of CTA, puts on the November 2016 ballot the California Multilingual Education Act. The ini- tiative would repeal many elements of Prop. 227, the CTA-opposed ballot measure voters approved in 1998. The new initiative, if approved by voters, would allow schools to use culturally appropriate and research-driven methods other than just "English-only immer- sion" to help students who speak limited English become language-proficient. The initiative capitalizes on the growing recognition among California voters that helping students gain fluency in two or more languages is important to supporting their success in an increasingly diverse nation and world. "Given the diversity of Cal- ifornia, the vast body of research on the benefits of language-immersion programs, and the growing popularity of multicultural programs, clearly public perception has changed on the value of these programs," Sen. Lara said. Despite this changing climate, opponents of the ballot measure are pledging to work against its passage. Ron K. Unz, the entrepreneur who under- wrote and pushed voters to approve Prop. 227, is adamant that the current law remain unchanged. While CTA supported SB 1174, CTA's State Council of Education will review and vote on whether to support the California Multilingual Education Act. Here are some key issues the Legislature will be dealing with beginning in January: • The funding and oversight of adult education programs. • The rights of charter school employees to organize and to have a voice in educational quality issues. • Transparency and fiscal and academic accountability at charter schools. • Long-term funding for public education and other vital public services. Next session's priorities Restore multilingual education on 2016 ballot? The new procedure preserves educators' due process rights while providing quicker resolution to charges. Students, teachers, and the community benefit from the changed process. At the same time, CTA and its supporters secured approval for legislation to strengthen penalties for administrators who fail to take steps to protect students. These penalties can include criminal prosecution for district officials who fail to take steps already required by law. CTA's efforts in the state Capitol also helped set aside the requirement that stu- dents take outmoded state tests not aligned to the new curriculum standards. As a result, schools have been field-testing and implementing new comput- er-assisted evaluations of student learning that are tied to the Common Core State Standards. Equally important, CTA's efforts in the state Cap- itol blocked the passage of a number of onerous and punitive proposals aimed at educators in particular and working women and men in general, including attempts to eliminate due process and making student test scores the driving force in teacher evaluations. Chances are some of these attacks will resurface in the coming session. With the same resolve and commitment, we can together, once again, preserve the integrity of our professional rights, provide students with the one-on-one interaction they need to succeed, and ensure every student a caring, qualified and committed educator. Assembly Member Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo), right, talks to a team of CTA members about efforts to secure passage of CTA-backed legislation during a 2014 member lobby day. Advocacy 31 V O L U M E 1 9 I S S U E 5