Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/812811
Sen. Tony Mendoza, at right, listens to parents and educators discuss the challenges facing teachers working in for-profit charter schools, at a lobby day in 2015. SB 808: LOCAL CONTROL AT CHARTER SCHOOLS SB 808, authored by Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia), requires that all petitions to estab- lish charter schools must be approved by the school board of the school district in which they are located. School boards are elected to make deci- sions in the best interest of the communities they serve. By summarily overruling rigorous evaluations of charter petitions by local school boards, county and state education officers are undermining the practice of local control, where districts develop priorities and plans with input from all stakeholders including parents, stu- dents, teachers and community members. The local school board is best equipped to make decisions regarding education programs and needs within its jurisdiction. Local school districts should have the authority to authorize locally controlled charter schools, as well as hold them accountable. AB 1478: ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY AT CHARTER SCHOOLS AB 1478, authored by Assembly Member Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), expressly states that charter schools and the entities managing charter schools are subject to the Brown Act (open meetings), the Public Records Act (open books), and two laws preventing conflicts of interest, the Political Reform Act of 1974 and Government Code Section 1090. This bill would require charter school governing boards to comply with laws promoting transparency and account- ability to parents and the public in the operation of public schools and expenditure of public funds. It does not ask more from charter schools than is asked of traditional public schools. More than $80 million of waste, fraud, and abuse of tax dollars has been documented in California's charter school environment, which has ultimately hurt our students and communities. Too much is at risk when our students are counting on sound financial decisions that will ensure they get the quality public education they need and deserve. AB 1478 prohibits charter school board members and their immediate families from financially benefiting from their schools. Public schools' conflict of interest laws and disclosure regulations should apply to charter schools that receive public funds. CTA-supported legislation AB 410 by Assembly Member Sabrina Cervantes (D-Corona) prohibits school districts from charging new teachers for induction programs that provide addi- tional training, mentoring and other support. Current law lets districts charge up to $3,500 such programs. [Note: On April 5, referred to suspense file; may come back later.] AB 424 by Assembly Member Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) eliminates the option for school dis- tricts to authorize select staff members to possess firearms within a school zone. SB 562 by Senators Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) creates a single-payer health care system that would pay for coverage for everyone in the state. For other legislation co-sponsored by CTA, see next page. 29 April 2017