Headlines

​​More than 1 in 4 school districts are asking local voters to approve a record $39 billion in school construction bonds on the Nov. 5 ballot. Those that pass will jockey for some of the $10 billion in matching state funding that Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature are asking voters to approve by passing Proposition 2.​ 

Proposition 32 on the Nov. 5 ballot would help by giving the state’s lowest-paid workers a modest raise. The measure would increase the state’s $16-an-hour minimum wage — which is set to rise to $16.50 on Jan. 1 under current law — to $18 on Jan. 1 for companies with 26 or more workers, and $17 for companies with 25 or fewer workers, which would have until 2026 to start paying $18. Under current law, the minimum wage, which rises with inflation, would reach $18.20 in 2029; Proposition 32 would increase it to an estimated $19.30 that year. This is a reasonable and narrow measure focused on the workers who are most in need of a boost, and California voters should support it.

​​Proposition 5 is not the flashiest measure Californians will see in November, but both opponents and supporters say its impact shouldn’t be understated. Right now, most bond measures need a two-thirds supermajority, or 66.67%, of voter approval to pass. Proposition 5 would lower that threshold to 55% for bond measures that are earmarked for affordable housing and public infrastructure projects. Proponents argue money unlocked through Proposition 5 could launch local governments into a future of fiscal agency, with voters able to approve funding more easily for much-needed affordable housing and public infrastructure projects.​ 

As climate change intensifies heat waves, California schools are unprepared to protect their students from extreme heat. Some schools don’t have air conditioning at all because they were built before hotter climates made it a necessity. Others have old systems pushed to their limits, with school districts struggling to keep up with repairs or replacements with limited staff and funding.

Teacher candidates have many choices, including the California Classified School Employee Teacher Credentialing Program, which offers financial assistance and academic guidance to school staff who want to complete an undergraduate degree and earn a teaching credential. 

​​California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill into law Friday barring employers from holding mandatory anti-union meetings in the workplace. The legislation makes California the latest and largest state to outlaw what are known as “captive audience” meetings. At least eight other states, all Democratic-leaning, have passed similar bans with the support of labor unions.​ 

​​A court-commissioned task force, formed in the aftermath of a massive fraud by an online charter school network, issued recommendations Wednesday to thwart the recurrence of similar operations. State Controller Malia Cohen, who chaired the task force, said that the 20 recommendations for reforming the system for auditing schools should apply not only to charter schools but also school districts and county offices of education.​ 

California has taken a major step toward ensuring there is clear guidance on how to implement active shooter drills in schools as Governor Newsom signed AB 1858: The Safe and Prepared Schools Act into law.​

“Given the alarming rise in school shootings, it is imperative that we equip our schools with the tools and protocols necessary to safeguard our children and school staff, and Assembly Bill 1858 provides a crucial step in that direction by establishing standardized guidelines for school shooter drills,” said Adam Weinberger, Association President of the California School Employee Association. “We want to thank Assemblymember Chris Ward for his leadership in authoring Assembly Bill 1858 and the Governor for signing it into law. By ensuring consistency and clarity in school shooter drills, we can help prepare our students and staff for potential emergencies while minimizing the potential negative psychological impact of such training.”