Remember CA Assembly Bill 165?

The very real, and very scary, piece of legislation that says schools cannot ask a student to pay for anything, because their education should be free? From the written law itself….“This bill would prohibit a school district, school, or other entity…from imposing a pupil fee, as defined, for participation in educational activities…” Get caught up with this earlier blog.

Here’s what has been happening in our state government with CA Assembly Bill 165:

• PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 1, 2011
• PASSED THE ASSEMBLY SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

There is more recent action from this last fall’s session

• BILL NUMBER: AB 165  – VETOED DATE: 10/08/2011 

A note from Governor Brown:

To the Members of the California State Assembly: I am returning Assembly Bill 165 without my signature. This bill responds to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU against the state, alleging that some local school districts are denying students their right to a free public education by charging improper fees for classes and extracurricular activities. Local district compliance with this right is essential, and those who fail should be held accountable. But this bill takes the wrong approach to getting there. The bill would mandate that every single classroom in California post a detailed notice and that all 1,042 school districts and over 1,200 charter schools follow specific complaint, hearing and audit procedures, even where there have been no complaints, let alone evidence of any violation. This goes too far.      Sincerely,
Edmund G. Brown Jr.

CA AB165 was VETOED!

I am a bit shocked. The spirit of this bill is excellent, and in line with educators everywhere, as well as the existing CA Education Code 35335. Students should all have an equal right to a good education, regardless of their financial status. Forcing this legislative bill (with all of it’s required notices, restrictions, phrasing, audits, and complaint processes) to support the spirit of a free education was an out of control train barreling down the tracks headed right at the schools and students it was trying to help. Sans tights, Governor Brown played Superman and saved the day by vetoeing the bill.  

A sincere thanks for supporting our schools, Mr. Governor, and not automatically thinking that more rules can solve our problems.

If you would like to see a good source for updates on the California legislation process, head over to aroundthecapitol.com, and their CA AB165 page.

Want to learn how to fundraise for your school? Check these ideas out!

At High Trails Outdoor Science School, we literally force our instructors to write about elementary outdoor education, teaching outside, learning outside, our dirty classroom (the forest…gosh), environmental science, outdoor science, and all other tree hugging student and kid loving things that keep us engaged, passionate, driven, loving our job, digging our life, and spreading the word to anyone whose attention we can hold for long enough to actually make it through reading this entire sentence. Whew…. www.dirtyclassroom.com