Protecting Education
Since my election to the Assembly in 2008, I have traveled all across the 15th district; from Walnut Creek to Livermore, from Oakley and Brentwood to Elk Grove and Galt, meeting with parents, educators, administrators and students to hear their stories about the impacts of recent education cuts. These informal “Classroom Cabinet” meetings keep me well informed about the issues and guide many of the education related bills I introduce and support.
As a mother, a former school board member and your Assemblymember, I am fully committed to fighting for our schools.
Buchanan Says ‘No’ to Education Cuts in State Budget
Sacramento, CA—Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) today made the following comments on her opposition to education cuts in the state budget.
“I cannot vote to suspend Prop 98. Nor can I vote for additional cuts in funding for K-12 education,” said Assemblymember Buchanan. “I am disappointed that the final budget brought to the floor today does both. Because of my strong commitment to funding for our schools, I cast NO votes on both of these measures.”
Continued Assemblymember Buchanan: “I understand the realities of California’s budget, and education has had to share the pain the past two years. We cannot allow class sizes to continue to increase or additional programs to be cut and expect our children to become our future workers and leaders. A well-educated workforce is the key to long-term economic growth. Without a quality education system, we lose our ability to create and retain businesses in California. My opposition to these further cuts underscores my ongoing commitment to education in California.”
Pension reform and job retention also were important bills passed by the Assembly today and supported by Assemblymember Buchanan. The pension formulas for how retirements are calculated will be rolled back to pre-1999 pension benefit levels as this budget bill repeals SB 400, a bill passed in 1999 that lowered the retirement age and increased benefits. Additionally, the budget provides funding to help spur new private sector jobs in small businesses throughout the state. The budget also will put a measure on the ballot to require a rainy day fund.
“This is not a perfect budget, but it maintains the important safety net, helps small businesses, and takes steps in the right direction on pension and budget reform,” said Assemblymember Buchanan. “We must strive to work together to put California back on track.”
ontact: Michelle Henry (916) 319-2015
Important step toward ensuring quality learning environments for pre-schoolers and securing federal funds
SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Joan Buchanan’s (D-Alamo) bill, AB 2592, creating an Early Learning Quality Rating Scale (QRS) pilot to assess quality and support programs in early learning environments passed the Assembly today.
“A quality rating scale is a necessary tool to improve California’s early learning programs” stated Buchanan. “Research has demonstrated that children who attend high-quality early education programs are less likely to drop out of high school, be held back a grade, or placed in special education and they are more likely to score better on reading and math achievement tests.”
As 2009 moves toward a close, school districts in the Tri-Valley area are watching and waiting to learn whether they will qualify for some of the approximately $4.35 billion in federal funds promised by the Obama Administration under its Race to the Top program.
“We’re watching anxiously,” said Superintendent Brenda Miller of Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District. There is little else the district can do. The funds will be awarded competitively. The U.S. Department of Education has circulated a tentative set of guidelines for the competition. However, no firm criteria are expected until the end of the year.
Not every state will even qualify to apply, according to information made public to date. For example, states will be dis- qualified for having a “firewall” that prevents linking student performance data to evaluations of teachers and principals. California could have been disqualified on that basis alone. However, legislation signed last month by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger eliminated the firewall.
Lammersville School District Superintendent Dale Hansen (right) leads a group of dignitaries during today’s ground-breaking ceremony for Questa School in Mountain House.
The kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school will be the third elementary school in the new community and ground construction is already under way at the site on Montebello Street.
SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) participated today in the first hearing of the Fifth Extraordinary Session on Education to address the legislation needed for California to be eligible for federal Race to the Top funds. Buchanan was appointed by Speaker Karen Bass (D-LosAngeles) and Assembly Education Committee Chair Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica) to serve on the Committee on September 15, 2009. The Fifth Extraordinary Session was called by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on August 20.
Race to the Top is President Obama's education reform initiative that asks states to develop innovative solutions to increase academic achievement among all students. The President has allocated more than $4 billion nationwide to this effort.
SACRAMENTO - The California State Assembly’s Education Committee (5th Extraordinary Session) today began a series of hearings on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Race to the Top competitive grant program. The hearing at the state capitol brought together people from government, education and the public to discuss the best way to insure California will receive its share of more than $4-billion in federal stimulus money set aside to improve education nationwide.
Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) – who sits on the Assembly Education Committee - says its not only important to make sure California receives its allotment of the education related stimulus funds but says its also crucial the money is spent wisely, “Obviously its critical, with the cuts we’ve made that we want to be sure to get our fair share. However, we also want to be sure that the programs we implement are consistent with our long term effort to improve student achievement.”
MOUNTAIN HOUSE — After a forgotten form cost the Lammersville School District $8 million, the district won an appeal to get most of the money back, but it will still lose $1.4 million.
On Feb. 25, Lammersville officials were able to convince the State Allocation Board that the district completed all its other paperwork to receive state matching money and that one form should not block the funding.
The district filed the appeal in July and had known about the form since 2007.
Young artists honored by Buchanan
Students from five elementary schools in the San Ramon Valley Unified School District were called to the district office of Assemblywoman Joan Buchanan (D, 15th) for a reception in their honor to celebrate their work as artists.
Students from Alamo, Golden View, Green Valley, Live Oak, Vista Grande and Walt Disney elementary schools, along with their families and teachers, attended the Thursday reception. The young artists were presented with a certificate of commendation for their work, which Buchanan has displayed on the walls of her San Ramon office.
"Art education is critical to fostering the creative and imaginative minds of our youth," said Buchanan, a former school board member.
SAN RAMON, CA – Elementary school children from the San Ramon Valley Unified School District were honored last night at a reception held in the San Ramon District Office of Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo). Art created by students at Alamo, Golden View, Green Valley, Live Oak, Vista Grande and Walt Disney Elementary Schools is currently on display as a part of a program to celebrate young artists in the 15th Assembly District. Students and their families, along with art specialists, teachers, and principals attended the event.
“Art education is critical to fostering the creative and imaginative minds of our youth,” Buchanan said. The San Ramon Valley Unified School District has a Visual Arts program that encourages creativity, while learning about master artists and discovering a wide-rage of art mediums. This program is made possible through funds from the PTA’s, the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation and local non-profits. Buchanan continued, “By displaying the beautiful art work of students in the area we demonstrate and acknowledge the importance of this program.”
SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Joan Buchanan (D-Alamo) was honored Monday evening at the annual San Ramon Valley Education Foundation (SRVEF) dinner in Danville, CA. The honor recognizes Assemblymember Buchanan’s 18 years of distinguished service on the San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board, prior to her election to the Assembly.
“Joan’s on-going service and commitment to our students and schools is remarkable. The foundation is thrilled to honor her 18 years as a school board member,” said Vanessa Chan, Executive Director of the San Ramon Valley Education Foundation.
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