An invitation from Sen. Gloria Romero

June 17, 2009 at 11:49 pm · Filed under Uncategorized

Senator Gloria Romero

Capitol Office
State Capitol,
Room 2090
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4024
(916) 445-0485 fax

District Office
149 S. Mednik Ave.,
Suite 202
Los Angeles, CA 90022
(323) 881-0100
(323) 881-0101 fax

JUNE 15

Dear Educator:

As Chair of the Senate Education Committee, I am committed to keeping you up-to-date on the latest discussions on education policy in the State Capitol.

On June 17, the committee has a full agenda with 21 bills for discussion including legislation on work-based learning, parental access to student records, immigration investigations in schools and education finance, among many others.

Also critical are the budget negotiations which are already underway and will continue through the next month. One of many issues to watch is Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed elimination of the Cal Grant Program, which helps over 250,000 California students pay for college. For the latest update, click here.

Please note: “Power to the Parents: The Role of Parents as Agents of Change in California’s Public Schools ,” a hearing which was planned for June 26 in Los Angeles, has been postponed until later this summer. I will let you know as soon as the new date and agenda have been set.

Lastly, I would like to invite educators throughout California to attend “Students First: Children Speak About the Mission of Public Education ” on Tuesday, June 23 from 10am-noon at the State Capitol. A press event on the West Steps will launch this dialogue to define the mission of public education in California and will be followed by an informational hearing in room 4202 beginning at 10:30am. Both the press event and hearing are hosted in conjunction with the California Children’s Rally which will take place from noon-1:30pm on the West Steps and will conclude with student visits to Legislator offices.

As always, I encourage you to provide feedback on pending legislation and other issues pertaining to education policy by emailing me at senator.romero@sen.ca.gov. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Gloria Romero
Chair, Senate Education Committee
Chair, Senate Budget Sub-1 Committee
School Building Finance Committee
Advisory Commission on Special Education


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Latest schedule update

June 17, 2009 at 2:00 pm · Filed under 2009 Rally Updates, Schedule

Fed up that while California is the 9th largest global economy it’s 48th out of 50 states in per-pupil public school funding ($2000 below the national average)?

Because children are the only group which doesn’t have a union. . .

Join us as we take our children to the Capitol to talk directly to their legislators about what’s happening at their schools!

Please let us know you’re coming to the rally by emailing us at join@californiachildrensrally.com.

———-

2009 Schedule (subject to change)

Monday, June 22

We no longer have events scheduled for Monday until evening.  We urge families to check out the California Museum, Sutter’s Fort, the California Railroad Museum, and/or the Statehouse to get familiar with it.  You may want to hook up with other families who are staying at Camp Cool / the KOA campground / the La Quinta Inn downtown by posting comments to the “Carpool” section of this blog.

6 – 9 p.m.  Potluck Get-together

  • Campfire music, marshmallows, etc.
  • BYO whatever (choosing a designated driver, of course)
  • Camp stoves are welcome whether you’re an adventurous foodie or just a budget-busted parent heating up Chef-Boy-Ardee.

Tuesday, June 23
“California Children’s Rally”

Location: The Capitol Building, front steps

  • 10 a.m.  Kids ring school bell and get things started the Annual California Children’s Rally Kazoo Parade
  • “Students First: Children Speak About the Mission of Public Education,” a dialogue to define the mission of public education in California
  • 10:30 a.m. Informational hearing on SB604 in room 4202 with State Senator Gloria Romero
  • Parents for Public Schools (San Francisco), Parents Revolution/Parents Union (Lost Angeles), The Lemonade Initiative (Lost Angeles), other parents TBA
  • Ben Austin, Lemonade Initiative; Parents
  • State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell
  • Assemblywoman Julia Brownley introduces AB8, a bill to simplify the mysterious money-spewing “Dr. Seuss Rube Goldberg Machine”* that is California public school funding

* a giant contraption to be built live on the Capitol steps by the children, with Trash for Teaching‘s Beth Elliott!

  • 12 noon – 1 p.m. POTLUCK Picnic Lunch/Celebration
    • The Burning Moms Hammer Pants Dance
    • A final toast by Sandra Tsing Loh to ALL PUBLIC SCHOOL MOTHERS
    • The Angry Tired Teachers’ Rock ‘n’ Roll Dance Finish!
  • 1 – 4 p.m. Families may use this time to visit their legislators.  No appointments are needed (you don’t even need to knock!), but a bit of preparation will help you learn about your legislators.  You can expect to at least meet with their staff.  Here’s  a helpful  link.

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Carpool to Cool for the Monday Potluck

June 9, 2009 at 9:48 am · Filed under 2009 Rally Updates, Carpool to the Potluck at Cool, Groups staying in town

KOA “Kampers” may want to leave their RVs and carpool out to Cool for the Potluck / singalong.  Feel free to hook up with others (including rallyers staying at the La Quinta Inn downtown) by commenting below.

And please let us know you’re coming to the rally and/or Potluck by emailing us at join@californiachildrensrally.com.

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