Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/859531
e f o r e t h e s t a t e L e g i s l a t u r e recessed for the summer, the Sen- ate Education Committee took action on several key education bills. CTA-co-sponsored AB 699 by Assem- bly Member Patrick O'Donnell (D-Long Beach) unanimously passed the Senate Education Committee and is currently in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill prohibits discrimination based on a student's immigration status or reli- gious beliefs and provides protections. CTA-co-sponsored AB 45 by Assembly Member Tony urmond (D-Richmond) a l s o c l e a r e d t h e S e n a t e E d u c a t i o n Committee and is in the Senate Appro- priations Committee. e bill focuses on providing affordable rental housing for educators in qualifying school districts. AB 1220 by Assembly Member Shir- ley Weber (D-San Diego) and AB 1164 by Assembly Member Thurmond, both p e r t a i n i n g t o p r o b a t i o n p e r i o d s f o r educators, were made two-year bills. is action will allow the parties to negotiate within a longer time period. CTA opposes AB 1220, which extends the probationary period from two years to three years, does not provide due process, and does not include support in years one or two of the probationary period, but only in year three. It also calls for setting up an Individualized Improvement Plan for educators, an unproven process in school districts, even though the Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) program already exists in state law and has been working in many districts. CTA supports AB 1164, which extends the probationary period to three years while ensuring that: • Due process protections are added to the third year while allowing the union and employer to bargain an alternative process • e employer provides written notice to the employee with specific reasons on what needs improvement in the third year. • e employer refers the employee to a PAR program that has been collec- tively bargained, for coaching and professional development. anks to the voices of educators lob- bying lawmakers in the Capitol and on social media, Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) withdrew CTA-opposed SB 765, which would require that before a school district sells or leases surplus property, it must first offer the surplus property to a charter school below mar- ket rate. e Legislature reconvenes Aug. 21. For more about these bills and other educa- tion legislation, see cta.org/legislation. Legislative Update Action on Key Education Bills CTA educators lobby lawmakers in July. At left, Linda Ortega, who teaches at El Monte Elementary in Concord, tells Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Antelope Valley) how her district's PAR program offers professional development through modeling lessons, observing instruction and feedback. (Photos: Seth Bramble) B 54 cta.org Advocacy L E G I S L A T I V E U P D A T E Charles Shannon, teacher at Glorietta Elementary in Orinda and chair of CTA State Council's Civil Rights in Education Committee, speaks of the need for due process with Assembly Member Tony Thurmond. When he began teaching, Shannon was confronted by his administration for sharing with students that there are all kinds of nontraditional family structures.