Dear Fans of Marching Band, JROTC, Cheerleading, Drill Team, Color Guard and California Cadet Corps,
I am sorry to report that the President Pro Tem of the Senate, Darryl Steinberg, has decided not to allow AB 1569 to move forward in the Senate. Although he agrees that we have been badly treated in the Assembly by Assembly Members Brownley and Torlakson in the Assembly Committee on Education, the Speaker of the Assembly, Karen Bass, does not want it returned to the Assembly or heard in the Senate. Lately she has been having a difficult time, so this should not come as a surprise. For more insight see this L.A. Times article.
For now San Diego Unified is going to regroup and reassess as there remains reason to be concerned. Last month the Commission on Teacher Credentialing issued guidance that they updated a few days ago. The original guidance was troubling because it seems to suggest that instructors in these programs must have not one, but two teaching credentials. One in the content area and another in physical education if PE credit is awarded to the student. (See original CTC Guidance above.) However, they reissued the memo and it seems to weaken the authority of the CDE slightly in this process, so we are not sure what that means just yet. (See second paragraph in CTC Amended above.) However, in a hearing before the State Board of Education, Riverside Unified, was essentially told that there was no need for a waiver regarding our programs and not to worry. Finally, the FIT Kids Act which seeks to amend No Child Left Behind, remains a concern since it seems to track much of what we have been fighting against. In a nutshell, all of this seems somewhat confusing and cause for some lingering concern.
On the brighter side, we have had a number of victories and went further than we have ever gone before. 1) After many months of requests and demands, the California Department of Education finally issued guidance due to pressure from AB 351. (See attached.) The State Board of Education also amended its PE Frameworks in response to our concerns. (See also attached.) Finally and perhaps most importantly, we have shined a light on this entire subject, such that our arguments have been organized, heard and we hope will be remembered. In short, we have more organized arguments and more documentation from more regulatory agencies than ever before to support those arguments.
So in the meantime, we reassess and take a break for the summer.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the support you have given these two bills and all of the work you have done. We have all learned a lot and our opponents are learning that we are not taking any of this lying down. We have gathered a number of supporters in Sacramento and beyond. Once we have reassessed, we may call on them again. There is always the next legislative session.
Have a great summer before band camp, cheer camp, drill team camp, color guard camp…and JROTC camp? Take pictures and in this particular instance ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS… let them see you sweat. ;o)
Katherine Nakamura
Trustee, Board of Education
San Diego Unified School District