AB 1078 would strip school boards’ authority over curriculum



Dear John,


A showdown is coming over parental rights in California. Instead of heeding parent concerns, school administrators and teachers unions are stepping up their campaign to sideline parents. 

Nowhere is that more apparent than AB 1078, a bill introduced by newly-elected Assemblyman Corey Jackson (D-Riverside) that would strip local school boards of their authority over the curriculum taught in their school district. 

AB 1078 would require school boards to receive approval from the state board of education before removing any instructional materials or books from classrooms and school libraries or "ceasing to teach any curriculum.” 

The bill is an attack on parents and school boards pushing back against the teacher unions’ drive to teach Critical Race Theory and inappropriate sexualized curricula in K-12 schools. Jackson introduced the bill as part of his “anti-racism bill package.” 

“This is a slap in the face to parents who voted for a new direction in school districts across the state,” tweeted Assemblyman Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) about the bill.

It’s also the middle finger to our state education system that has always been based on local control so parents, not state bureaucrats, have the final say when it comes to their children’s education.  

Would it surprise you if we told you that one of Jackson’s top five largest campaign contributors is the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) PAC?

Or that ACSA's PAC paid $35,000 to the LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual & Transgender) Caucus Leadership Fund, which also happens to be one of Jackson’s top five largest campaign contributors?

Jackson is also backed by Equality California PAC, one of the most powerful LGBTQ lobby groups in the state. The organization’s largest contributor last year was the aforementioned LGBT Caucus Leadership Fund, which gave $305,000 to Equality California PAC.

You see how political donations work in Sacramento? I scratch your back, you scratch mine … which brings us back to AB 1078. 

Instead of local school boards having the final say over what is taught in their districts — where they can be accountable to the people most closely affected by these decisions — Jackson’s bill will give all the power to the California Board of Education, where no doubt a committee of union-backed radicals will rubber-stamp text books and lesson plans written by union-favored authors that teach every topic through the lens of race and sexual orientation — and now gender identity. 

Jackson’s bill expands on current law that requires curricula “portray the cultural and racial diversity of our society” including “contributions of both men and women" — and already specifically lists "LGBT Americans" — by replacing "men and women" with “people of all gender expressions.”  

If AB 1078 becomes law, insulated and unaccountable Sacramento bureaucrats will report to union lobbyists, not parents; and when parents do speak out, local school boards will claim their hands are tied because the authority over curriculum now lies with the state.

“This is all part of the unions’ phony ‘book banning’ campaign,” said Lance Christensen, Vice President of Education Policy and Government Affairs at California Policy Center. 

“Parents have been successfully exposing the inappropriate content being pushed in our schools to indoctrinate kids,” Christensen explained. “The Left is trying to deflect attention away from their propaganda by painting parents as fascist book burners.”

“It’s not going to stop until every concerned citizen says enough is enough,” Christensen said.

The good news? This week, California Congressman and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) held a press conference with House Republicans announcing the introduction of the “Parents Bill of Rights Act,” which outlines basic rights of parents when it comes to their children’s education; number one is “The right to know what’s being taught in schools and see reading materials.”

There is a reason why local school boards, not the state, should stay in charge of school curriculum. 

TAKE ACTION: Californians who do not live in Assemblyman Jackson’s district should connect with their respective legislators in the Senate and the Assembly and remind them why parent voices matter in our schools. Those who want to go one step further, and respectfully express their views, may contact Asm. Jackson's legislative director here because Jackson does not receive communication from non-constituents via his office website.

While you’re at it, take a minute to check out who is on the board of directors at the Association of California School Administrators here. If your local school administrator is on the board, we’re sure they’d love to hear from you on AB 1078.

SUPPORT CPC
New Podcast

Radio Free California #266: Free Money for Everyone, but Especially Organized Crime!


Julie Su was running Gov. Newsom’s Labor Department when it handed out $33 billion in unemployment funds to global crime fraudsters. Now, she’s Biden’s nominee to run the federal Labor Department. CPC president Will Swaim and CPC board member David Bahnsen break it down on this week's podcast. Listen now.
More from CPC

New Bill Would Change Superintendent of Public Instruction to Appointed Position

Lance Christensen's high-profile campaign for State Superintendent of Public Instruction last year has Democrats worried. A new bill would amend the state constitution to change the job from an elected office to one appointed by the governor. Christensen's response: “Does the Assemblyman hate democracy?” Read the Sacramento Bee article. 

Barnstorming California on Education Reform

CPC's Lance Christensen is launching a series of regional townhalls on the future of K-12 education in California and wants to hear from you! Christensen says he intends to "put all options for reform on the table" and discuss them vigorously with those who care about our children and are ready to "take on the institution that has failed us for far too long." Learn more here

Quote of the Week

"We want the parents to be empowered. And that's what we're doing today — that you have a say in your kids' education, not government." — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy on the introduction of The Parents Bill of Rights Act
 
SUPPORT CPC

ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA POLICY CENTER


The California Policy Center promotes prosperity for all Californians through limited government and individual liberty.


Learn more at CaliforniaPolicyCenter.org.

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Copyright © 2023 California Policy Center, All rights reserved.
We send periodic updates to those who opted in on californiapolicycenter.org

Our mailing address is:
California Policy Center
18002 Irvine Blvd Ste 108
Tustin, CA 92780-3321

Add us to your address book


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp