Brandman webinar
– Ralph Gómez Porras
Students not served in new Vergara ruling
The California Supreme Court , by a vote of 4-3 , declined to hear an appeal of a ruling in Vergara v . California . The result of the Supreme Court ’ s decision is that existing teacher tenure and layoff rules remain intact , continuing policies that make it difficult to ensure all students have the best possible teacher .
“ We had hoped the highest court in our state would have prioritized the rights of students above the interests of adults , but they chose not to do so ,” said ACSA Executive Director Wesley Smith . “ ACSA , however , will continue to champion the rights of California ’ s 6.2 million students .”
The Vergara lawsuit was brought by plaintiffs Students Matter , representing student interests and challenging the tenets of
Urge lawmakers to vote ‘ No ’ on orientation bill
ACSA is requesting members send an email or call their local legislators and request a “ No ” vote on Assembly Bill 2835 , Cooper , D-Elk Grove . The bill would require districts to provide a 30-minute inperson employee orientation for each new employee within four months of hire . An exclusive representative of each union would be given 30-minutes within the first half of the orientation to address their members .
The objection is not to employee orientation , which many districts already provide to new hires . The objection is that the bill is overly prescriptive in how the orientations would be conducted , and requires the orientation take place during the employee ’ s workday . Removing employees to meet with the exclusive rep from each union during
Brandman webinar
ACSA Partner4Purpose Brandman Univer sity is scheduled to present a free onehour webinar , Sept . 20 at 2:30 p . m .
Assistant Vice Chancellor Barbara Bartels will discuss the advantages of joining Brandman ’ s doctorate in education , organizational leadership program , which aims to build visionary leaders and change agents through collaboration , innovation , positive influence , strategic thinking , and commitment to lifelong learning .
This is an interdisciplinary degree requiring 57 total credits , with coursework complete in two years . The next cohort begins August of 2017 . Webinar registration can be accessed at https :// goo . gl / V2kkFM .
ACSA Accountability Webinar Series
Free Four-part Series Provides Updates on the New Accountability System teacher tenure and last-in-first-out layoff policies as being unconstitutional in failing to provide low-income and underserved students an equitable education .
Those tenets had been struck down in a 2014 ruling by the lower court , in which Superior Court Judge Rolf Treu said the impact of the policies on students ’ lives “ shock the conscience .” A subsequent appellate court decision overturned Treu ’ s ruling , and the case went to the Supreme Court .
Even in making its ruling , the appellate court noted that the effect of tenure and layoff rules on California ’ s poor and minority students had a “ deleterious impact ,” but ruled the trial court erred in showing state statutes were entirely to blame .
Plaintiffs are now regrouping and
the workday could have an adverse effect on learning and the safety of students .
ACSA and other education and local government employers have consistently met with the unions to seek a compromise to the bill . While the bill has been amended quite a bit , it is far from workable for school employers . AB 2835 was on the Senate Floor waiting to be heard at press time .
The deadline for passage of legislation in this session is Aug . 31 . If this legislation makes it to Gov . Jerry Brown ’ s desk , ACSA members have an opportunity to encourage the governor to veto AB 2835 .
The bill covers all public employers , which makes it challenging for educational groups to note the unique effects on schools . First , it makes no allowance if there is only exploring their options , which could include another suit filed in the state courts . In fact , when appellate court judges overturned Treu ’ s ruling , they noted the plaintiffs could have sued over how layoffs and tenure are administered by school districts , but chose not to do so .
“ We are very disappointed ,” said ACSA Legislative Advocate Laura Preston . “ We had filed an amicus brief in support of the plaintiffs at the appellate level and an amicus letter urging the Supreme Court to hear the case . ACSA is not anti-teacher in our stance . Rather , we are pro-student , and would like to see that every student has access to a high-quality teacher – without fail .”
For the latest in policy and legislative news , visit www . acsa . org / advocacy .
one new hire or dozens . Each new hire would require the district to schedule a 30-minute orientation for labor unions to make their pitch . This could create tremendous challenges in larger districts that have continuous cycles of hiring for classified staff . The Department of Finance has stated in an analysis this new mandate would cost schools upward of $ 280 million a year .
AB 2835 takes a “ one size fits all ” approach to all public employers that fails to take into account the differing situations of each , collective bargaining agreement already in place , and the job responsibilities of the employees .
For more information on how to reach your legislator plus a sample letter , please go to www . acsa . org / advocacy .
Meaningful Employee Evaluations to Build Capacity , Increase Student Achievement , Due Process Documentation and File Building
n October 14 , 2016 Sacramento | ACSA Office , 1029 J Street , 3rd Floor n January 11 , 2017 Ontario You | ACSA will Office learn , 3602 Inland to … Empire Blvd ., Ste A230 n February 2 , 2017 Burlingame | ACSA Office , 1575 Bayshore Highway , 2nd Floor n February 8 , 2017 Lancaster | East Side Union SD , 45006 30th Street East
More information at http :// www . acsa . org / Trainings
August 29 , 2016 EDCAL 3
ACSA ’ s singular focus remains supporting the success of California ’ s 6.2 million public school students . It is our mission as educators to advocate for our students and prioritize their needs . Accomplishing this singular focus requires leadership on behalf of all of us who stand to create educational opportunities for students and close achievement gaps .
That ’ s why last week ’ s decision by the California Supreme Court to not hear an appeal in the Vergara vs . California case is so troublesome . This decision makes it much more difficult for student advocates to find and support the best possible teachers . This is another example of the judicial system prioritizing adult interests over student needs . We ’ ve seen it before , and we must increase our efforts to stop this trend . I think it falls at our feet to make real systematic change in the way student needs are addressed .
Certainly as evidenced in my many recent region visits , educators statewide are accelerating their conversations about equity as a core part of their work in public education . ACSA ’ s far-reaching equity campaign has a lot to do with it . More than ever , there is a real movement among all our members to create and further develop systems that provide low-income and underserved students with an equitable education . However , our work cannot end with talk – there must be action !
It ’ s now our responsibility to persuade our state lawmakers to advocate for students . They must understand what is at stake for the future of our society . The existing teacher effectiveness policies will move across their desks , and insufficient action on our part could be the difference between real systemic change and the unacceptable status quo .
Folks , it must be more than an email ! It is a critical time for us to pick up the telephone or meet personally with our elected officials . There must be a sense of urgency on our part . We have to make it personal as well as professional . We have powerful stories that accentuate the many good things happening at our schools . I have been honored to hear many of them . We also have stories to tell about the impact that ineffective teachers and their tenure have on all of our students . Our lawmakers must hear these stories .
Alas , our judicial system clearly doesn ’ t feel the Vergara case meets the threshold for change , but it is clear from every court viewpoint that the current system of teacher tenure and last-in-first-out layoffs is just bad policy . We know the statutes that currently stand are not in the best interest of students , and our discussions about Vergara and LIFO have thus far resulted in no change . Here is our opportunity to respond to the courts and legislators and help ensure that our students are priority No . 1 .
I am so very proud of the work that we do on behalf of students , and look forward to meeting these challenges head-on … together .
– Ralph Gómez Porras