October 12, 2007
State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell Announces Governor Signs
Key Legislation to Help Students Pass High School Exit Exam
Governor Also Signs Other Bills Sponsored by O'Connell to Improve Public Education
SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today praised Governor Schwarzenegger for signing legislation sponsored by O'Connell to help students pass the high school exit exam. The measure, AB 347, by Assemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara), ensures that students who complete all other graduation requirements yet fail to pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) may receive an additional two years of academic assistance from their school districts. This new law enacts terms of a settlement agreement in the case of Valenzuela v. O'Connell et al., a lawsuit challenging the California High School Exit Exam.
"The California High School Exit Exam is an important tool to ensure that students who graduate have mastered critical basic skills they will need to succeed in college or the workforce," O'Connell said. "With the court's approval of a settlement in Valenzuela v. O'Connell, a powerful message was sent: the exit exam is here to stay. I thank Assemblymember Nava for carrying the legislation to ensure that students who don't pass the exam before the end of their traditional senior year can receive the instruction and support they need so that they can master the skills and knowledge measured on the test. And, I deeply appreciate Governor Schwarzenegger's approval of AB 347 to uphold the settlement agreement and for his support through the budget process for programs to help students pass the Exam. I now strongly urge our school districts to reach out to students in the classes of 2006 and 2007 who have not passed the CAHSEE so they can benefit from additional education services as soon as possible."
The 2007-08 state budget includes $312.3 million for after-school, summer school, and other supplemental instruction to help students pass the CAHSEE. AB 347 implements the proposed settlement agreement in the Valenzuela v. O'Connell lawsuit by requiring school districts that receive funding to provide an additional two years of intensive instruction and services to pupils who have not passed the exam by the end of twelfth grade.
"I thank the Governor for signing this important bill," said Nava."The high school exit exam graduation requirement means that we now expect more from our students. Now, a high school diploma signifies that students have mastered the critical reading and math skills they will need to succeed in life. AB 347 will ensure that students are provided the extra assistance they need to meet this higher bar."
Other bills sponsored by O'Connell that have been signed into law recently by Governor Schwarzenegger include:
AB 485 by Assemblymember Jose Solorio (D-Anaheim), which prohibits a nonpublic, nonsectarian school, or agency whose certification has been revoked from being eligible to apply for recertification for two years from the revocation date.
"I authored AB 485 to help ensure that every child with special needs receives the quality education that they deserve," Solorio said. "Under current law, there is a loophole in the state's certification process of nonpublic, nonsectarian schools, and agencies that allows underperforming schools to continue to teach children with special needs. Superintendent O'Connell and I have now closed that loophole."
AB 1663 by Assemblymember Noreen Evans (D-Santa Rosa) makes various revisions conforming state law to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act regulatory policy compliance.
"Special education programs are an important component of California's education system," Evans said. "This bill will ensure that California continues to receive more than $1 billion annually from the federal government to serve our students with special needs."
SB 733 by Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) reauthorized the Instructional Materials Funding Realignment Program for six years.
SB 734, also by Senator Torlakson, reauthorizes the follow-up adoption review by the California Department of Education and fee charged to publishers, as well as places in statute the review for social content compliance and fees charged to publishers.
"It's vital that our children have the very best curriculum materials we can possibly provide," Torlakson said. "These two measures will make sure we continue to keep our classrooms up to date as we explore new avenues for learning that take advantage of innovative technologies and teaching techniques."
Other bills sponsored by O'Connell this year that were signed into law earlier in the legislative session are:
AB 647 by Assembly Member Mary Salas (D-Chula Vista) changed the method of allocating Tobacco Use and Prevention Education (TUPE) funds to a single competitive grant.
"Tobacco use continues to take a terrible toll physically, emotionally, and financially on people and families throughout California," Salas said. "Tobacco companies target our children by misleading them to believe that if you smoke, you look cool, or promising young women they will loose weight. Ensuring that TUPE is properly funded is the least we can do for our children. I am proud to have worked with Jack O' Connell on this very important issue."
AB 685 by Assemblymember Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach) is a special education technical federal conformity bill.
"The federal changes to special education programs are timely, necessary, and welcome," Karnette said. "As a former teacher, I'm excited about working with Superintendent Jack O'Connell to incorporate federal special education improvements into California law."
Finally, O'Connell also praised Governor Schwarzenegger for signing SB 1061 by Assemblymember Gene Mullin (D-South San Francisco). This measure revises the items that must be reported by school districts on the School Accountability Report Card (SARC) for each school in the district.
"With the Governor's signature on AB 1061 we have made a great start toward improving the SARC by narrowing the amount of information it includes. This is an issue I have been working on for several years and my staff has done a great job of working with the Schwarzenegger Administration to revise the SARC template. The next critical step is to make the SARC more readable and parent friendly. I look forward to continuing to work with the Governor, parents, and the education community to make this parent-empowerment tool truly effective."
