School Update

Mission Viejo PALs (Parents Advocate League) leader Julie Collier has been raising awareness about the negative impacts of AB 5. If passed, it would change the way public school teachers are evaluated. On Aug. 31, AB 5 was withdrawn, causing great disappointment for teachers unions.

Hillel Aron’s Aug. 31 article, “LA School Report,” describes the action: “After much-last minute scrambling, Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes decided to withdraw AB 5, the controversial bill to overhaul how public school teachers are evaluated in California. Fuentes (pictured) issued a statement Thursday evening, reading in part: ‘I could not in good conscious [sic] allow the proposed amendments to be voted on without a full public hearing… I believe this issue is too important to be decided at the last minute and in the dark of night.’ Read his full statement here. Read the press release, Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes statement on A.B. 5 withdrawal

From Julie’s update last week before the bill was withdrawn.

Dear PALs,

I returned from Sacramento last night after spending a total of 6 days over the last two weeks fighting for all students of California in opposition to AB 5. I took time away from my own children in the last weeks of summer because I strongly believe this bill will weaken California's already weak public education system. If you think you are at a school that is safe, please be advised, if AB 5 passes ALL publicly educated students in California, regardless of your zip code, will feel the negative effects of this bill.

While in Sacramento, I joined forces with other concerned parents as well as several education reform groups that are in opposition to AB5. The only group that supports AB 5 is the California Teachers Association (the teachers' union) and State Superintendent Torlakson. There have been opinion pieces opposing AB 5 in all the major newspapers including LA Times, San Diego Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee, and The Wall Street Journal. Unfortunately, nothing has been printed by OC Register regarding this issue.

AB 5 is going to the Rules Committee and potentially to the Senate Floor for a final vote by Friday [Aug. 31]. Please take time to call the Senators listed below and ask them to vote NO on AB 5. Ask your family, friends, and neighbors to do the same, especially if you know people in Burbank/Glendale (Sen. Liu), Palo Alto/Silicon Valley (Sen. Simitian), Covina/Duarte (Sen. Hernandez), and San Diego (Sen. Vargas).

Many parents and education reform groups in California see AB 5 as protecting under-performing teachers at the expense of OUR CHILDREN. It is a bait and switch piece of legislation that pretends to have the best interest of students. In fact, it is clear to parents and countless education groups that have joined force to oppose AB 5 that the only interest being protected in AB 5 is CTA.

AB 5 does not ensure that its evaluation system will be consistent across districts. Instead, AB 5 requires each district to collectively bargain the amount of student growth taken into account. This leads to greater inconsistencies throughout our state at a time when we are already ranked 47th in achievement in the United States.

Our children need a teacher evaluation system where ALL teachers, regardless of tenure, are evaluated EVERY YEAR to ensure that they are effective in the classroom. Parents expect tough decisions to be made in the very best interest of ALL students, regardless of zip code. If you agree, please take time to contact the Senators listed below NOW. Let them know you are a parent and voter that opposes AB 5.

The only good news about AB 5 is that it seems to have woken up sleeping parents to what is wrong with public education in California. Parents, like you, finally understand that you have a voice and you are willing to make a choice this November and the Novembers to come. As our Senators consider AB 5, they need to be keenly aware that parents across this state are watching each and every one of them and taking note of who casts student-focused votes. Parents see through the facade of AB 5. Parents know that when Senators vote yes for AB 5 they are voting for a less effective public school system in our state that will potentially risk the academic needs of all publicly educated students in California.