California & Federal Legislation

California

California Legislative Information  Legislation introduced in the California Senate and Assembly is summarized using plain language. There are numerous changes, as the bills are discussed and progress into laws, so one must check the website frequently.

Education Code – discipline is 48900 Ed Code.

AB 420  Chaptered 9/27/14 Dickinson – Pupil discipline: suspensions and expulsions: willful defiance.  This bill eliminates the authority to suspend a pupil enrolled in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 3 inclusive. It also eliminates the authority to recommend for expulsion a pupil enrolled in kindergarten through grade 12, inclusive, for disrupting school activities or otherwise willfully defying the valid authority of those school personnel engaged in the performance of their duties. The bill would make the restrictions inoperative on July 1, 2018. Ideally this will bring more attention to the restorative justice process.

AB 1014  Chaptered 9/21/16 Thurmond – Safe Neighborhoods and Schools Fund: Learning Communities for School Success Program.- A bill to pilot programs administered by the State Department of Education, that seek to identify and implement evidence-based, nonpunitive programs and practices in grade K through 12.  Passed House Vote on 6/3/15 and passed the Senate 8/24/16.  Signed by the Governor 9/21/16 as Chapter 397, Statutes of 2016.

Federal

National Coalition for Public Education  NCPE –  Articles and studies supporting monies to public schools but not private schools – strongly anti-voucher.

American Library Association – Advocates for school libraries and literacy and will tell you how to do take part.

Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities CCD – largest coalition of national organizations working together to advocate for federal public policy concerning children and adults with disabilities. Advocates for Americans with Disabilities Act  ADA.

The Federal Bills – Search bills by keyword and number. Notice the button on each page for read-aloud. Watch videos of the House and Senate, or go to your Congressperson’s website.

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Key Points of the ESSA Law – January 21, 2016 – Questions asked of David P. Cleary, chief of staff to Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee and staff director of the Senate Health Education Labor and Pension Committee, by Diane Ravitch.

ESEA Information – National Education Association’s ” ESEA 101.” At the top of the page is a pull-down menu “Issues” from which you can find out about ESEA, Charter Schools, Funding, and more.

US Department of Education – This “Laws and Guidance” page has links about the ESSA law and more.

State Level Assessments & Teacher Evaluations after ESSA – Article from THEJournal.  Has link to full document from the National Education Policy Center NEPC published July 2018.