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.
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.”
After spending nearly 20 years on the San Ramon Valley School Board, including 4 terms as president, Assemblymember Buchanan says she understands the importance of spending education money wisely, “We need a plan that focuses on getting the very best and the brightest teachers into the profession, that focuses on quality leadership at our school sites, and that focuses on student achievement at both the classroom level and the individual level.”
The Assembly Education Committee will hold additional hearings in Sacramento and Los Angeles over the next couple of months before sending in the state’s application for the federal grant money.
Here are links to audio of Assemblymember Buchanan:
- Assemblymember Buchanan says the Race to the Top program is a competitive grant component of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
- Assemblymember Buchanan says it’s very important for California to receive its fair share of the Race to the Top funds and that the money is used wisely.
- Assemblymember Buchanan says California must do everything it can to insure students succeed.
- Assemblymember Buchanan says the Race to the Top funds will not overcome the devastating cuts that have been made to education.
Excerpted from www.asmdc.org.
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