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State legislature votes on a plethora of K-12 legislation

State legislature votes on a plethora of K-12 legislation

by | Sep 29, 2021 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue

Both the state Senate and Assembly were in session on Sept. 28 and acted on the following K-12 legislation:

Passed Both Houses, Headed to the Governor

Senate Bill 373 – This bill requires DPI to create a school district financial information portal, in a format that allows the public to download, sort, search, and access the information at no cost. The bill also creates an advisory committee (including a WASB appointee) to advise the DPI on the portal. Passed, 20-11 (Senate); Voice Vote (Assembly). (more…)

Assembly looks to approve K-12 bills including reading assessments, race & gender stereotypes, new mandates on posting learning materials

Assembly looks to approve K-12 bills including reading assessments, race & gender stereotypes, new mandates on posting learning materials

by | Sep 22, 2021 | Legislative Update Blog, State Issue

The proposed calendar for the Sept. 28 Assembly floor calendar includes a number of K-12 bills including a bevy of new unfunded state mandates (some of which are very proscriptive) relating to early literacy assessments, posting of curriculum/learning materials, cursive writing instruction, and reporting information relating to credit recovery courses. 

There are also bills on providing school financial information in a more user-friendly format, civics instruction and directing federal stimulus dollars to mental health efforts (click on the bill number for more information). (more…)

Second Emergency Connectivity Fund Program Application Window to Open Soon

by | Sep 21, 2021 | Federal Issue, Legislative Update Blog

Next week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will open a second Emergency Connectivity Fund Program application filing window for schools and libraries to request funding for connected devices (e.g., laptops and tablets) and broadband connections (e.g., WiFi hotspots) for off-campus use by students, school staff, and library patrons for the current 2021-22 school year. The second application filing window will open next Tuesday, September 28, 2021 and close on October 13, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. ET. (more…)

Late additions receive hearing this week

Late additions receive hearing this week

by | Sep 17, 2021 | Legislative Update Blog, State Budget

As an addendum to our previous post, the following bills also received a public hearing in the Assembly education committee on Thursday, Sept. 17.  

AB 562 This bill requires each school board of a school district and each operator of an independent charter school, before providing any program related to sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression to a pupil in the school district or attending the charter school, to give notice of the program to the pupil’s parents or guardians. This notice is required with respect to a pupil in any grade before such a program is provided to the pupil. A “program” is defined to include instruction and materials as well as any test, survey, questionnaire, or other activity. (more…)

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