Two Bills Propose to Repeal GATE

If you have a child in the GATE program, you might be interested in the following:

from an Urgent Action bulletin being circulated around LAUSD:

Assembly Democratic staff have unveiled a proposal for the consolidation of various major categorical education programs, including gifted and talented education (GATE), the school improvement program, instructional materials, the art and music block grant, and beginning teacher support and assessment (BTSA), among others. Assembly Democrats and Republicans have both now introduced major proposals for categorical consolidation. The Republican proposal has been amended into AB 2890 (Duvall). The Democratic proposal is included in AB 2933 (Committee on Education).

Both bills were amended earlier this week and are scheduled for consideration by the Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday, April 16. Although it is not unusual for Republican legislators to propose block grants, the proposal sponsored by the Democratic members of the Assembly Education Committee is serious cause for alarm. Given the Democratic majority in the Legislature, AB 2933 must be considered a very real threat to the continued existence of the GATE program.

Among other provisions, AB 2933 would create a “Pupil support block grant” that would include funding previously allocated under the following major programs: instructional materials, school libraries, the School Improvement Program (SIP), the arts and music block grant, and GATE. The funds could then be used by a school district to “provide pupil support services to pupils in kindergarten through grades 12, inclusive, to increase academic achievement and enrich their overall education.” In other words, the funds could be used for virtually anything the school district wants. The bill then REPEALS the programs that are included in the block grant, including the Gifted and Talented Education program.

The Republican bill, AB 2890, calls its block grant the “Supplemental Academic Support Block Grant” and includes more programs (notably the new school counseling program), but has the same effect of repealing GATE and making the funds available for virtually any use.

IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
Call the members of the Assembly Education Committee between now and next Tuesday to strongly oppose these two bills. In particular, CAG (California Association for the Gifted) members need to strongly oppose AB 2933, because that bill is the Democratic proposal and thus has the best chance of becoming law.

Key arguments are:
1. Districts already have the flexibility to define the program they want to offer under GATE. The only reason to include these funds in the block grant is to allow those funds to be moved away from services to gifted and talented students.

2. Contrary to common myth, there are many GATE children from poor and limited-English families whose parents cannot protect their interests in school. Given the almost total focus of school accountability on helping low-performing students, the proposed block grant does NOT provide a fair local debate—it puts all the emphasis on low-performing students and the needs of gifted and talented students will be overlooked in many districts.

A list of the members of the Assembly Education Committee is attached. CAG members are urged to call ALL members of the Committee. First priority should be calling those legislators who represent your community or a community near you.

Everyone needs to contact their legislators, but if your assembly person happens to be listed below as a member of the Assembly Education Committee, it is imperative that you contact them immediately and encourage all those around you to do the same. We need everyone to join together to save our gifted programs.

Party, Member
Capitol Office
Phone #
Communities Represented

D - Mullin, Gene - (Chair)
State Capitol, Room 2163
Sacramento, CA 95814
916-319-2019
South San Francisco, Brulingame, San Mateo, Half Moon Bay

D - Brownley, Julia
State Capitol, Room 6011
916-319-2041
Oxnard to Santa Monica, along coast

D - Eng, Mike
State Capitol, Room 6025
916-319-2049
San Gabriel, Alhambra, El Monte, Monterey Park

D - Coto, Joe
State Capitol, Room 2013
916-319-2023
San Jose, Alum Rock

D - Hancock, Loni
State Capitol, Room 4126
916-319-2014
Richmond, Berkeley, Orinda, Lafayette

D - Karnette, Betty
State Capitol, Room 2136
916-319-2054 Palos Verdes, Long Beach

D - Solorio, Jose
State Capitol, Room 2196
916-319-2069
Santa Ana, Anaheim, Garden Grove

R - Huff, Bob
State Capitol, Room 4098
916-319-2060
Diamond Bar, Walnut

R - Nakanishi, Alan
State Capitol, Room 5175
916-319-2010
Lodi, Stockton, Elk Grove

R - Garrick,
Martin State Capitol, Room 2016
916-319-2074
Carlsbad, Oceanside

To find contact information for your local Assembly Member, visit http://www.assembly.ca.gov/.