Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/669580
S TAT E B OA R D O F E D U C AT I O N R E V E R S E S LO C A L B OA R D D E C I S I O N S AG A I N S T R O C K E T S H I P The State Board of Education voted in March to overturn two local decisions barring Rocketship Education from opening another charter institution in the Contra Costa area. The action reverses two unanimous votes by the Mount Diablo Unified and Contra Costa County boards of education to reject Rocketship's application to open a school in a low-income neighborhood. More than two dozen parents, community members, teachers and education support professionals attended the meeting in Sacramento to urge the State Board to support the local decisions. During the meeting, a number of Contra Costa representatives, includ- ing Mt. Diablo Education Association President Guy Moore, testified against the appeal. Contra Costa parents and community members have criticized Rocketship schools for not meeting students' needs, using unqualified and noncredentialed teachers, and substituting computer "work time" for classroom instruction. They argued that a Rocketship charter would siphon off resources and support from traditional public schools in the area that are already struggling. "Rocketship is neither needed nor wanted by our community," said Moore, a teacher at Northgate High School. I N I T I AT I V E G I V E S S T U D E N T S , E D U C ATO R S T H E E D.G . E . This November, CTA members and other voters will have a chance to help every student compete more effectively in the global economy. Approval of the California Education for a Global Economy (Ed.G.E.) Initiative will expand students' access to multilingual education, and give teachers, parents and schools the power to help kids better com- pete for tomorrow's jobs. At the urging of Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gar- dens), CTA, and other pro-education groups, the Legislature approved and Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 1174 in 2014, the legislation that put the issue on this November's ballot. The measure would reverse years of bad state policy and help all children secure a high-quality edu- cation, including international skills. It would overturn Prop. 227 (passed in 1998), which mandated English-only education. The Cal Ed.G.E. Initiative will allow students access to high-quality, innovative, research-based language instruction programs. Specifically, it will: • Allow parents, teachers, and schools to determine which language instruction and acquisition meth- ods should be used. In so doing, teachers will be able to be creative and use all of their skills as they see fit to best serve their students. • Let parents request school districts to provide mul- tilingual programs. • Eliminate a costly and wasteful waiver requirement created by Prop. 227. Legislative Update By LEN FELDMAN Voter Guide Be an informed voter! California's presiden- tial primary election is on June 7. Check out cta.org/campaign2016 for background and updates in election recommendations, and see your personalized voter guide. A L I V I N G WAG E California is the first state in the nation to approve a $15 minimum wage. The Legislature passed the measure, Senate Bill 3, on March 31 — not coincidentally, Cesar Chavez Day. Gov. Jerry Brown signed it into law April 4. "Just as we believe all students deserve a quality education regardless of their ZIP code, all Californians should be able to earn a living wage and provide for their families, regardless of where they live," says CTA President Eric Heins. The statewide minimum wage, currently $10 per hour, becomes $10.50 next January, then $11 in January 2018. It then increases by $1 every year until it reaches $15 in 2022. 30 cta.org CTA Board member Terri Jackson (right), MDEA President Guy Moore (third from right), and Contra Costa stakeholders attend a State Board of Education meeting where two local rejections of charter school petitions are overturned.