header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
November 20
1831 - Local entrepreneurs Sanford and Cyrus Lyon (as in Lyons Avenue) born in Machias, Maine [story]
Sanford Lyon


| Friday, Oct 4, 2019
[caption id="attachment_181577" align="aligncenter" width="556"]Legislators, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, officials from California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers and California Charter Schools Association and Assemblywoman Christy Smith applaud the Governor’s signing of the education reform bill. | Courtesy photo. Legislators, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, officials from California Teachers Association, California Federation of Teachers and California Charter Schools Association and Assemblywoman Christy Smith applaud the Governor’s signing of Assembly Bill 1507. | Courtesy photo.[/caption]

SACRAMENTO — Assemblywoman Christy Smith (D-Santa Clarita)’s Assembly Bill 1507, which updates the California Charter Schools Act, and Assembly Bill 543, to expand education on school sexual harassment resources, were signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday.

AB 1507 closes a loophole in current law that allows a charter school to operate outside its authorizing district, while AB 543 requires 9th through 12th-grade school sites to display culturally competent, age-appropriate posters in each bathroom and locker room.

Charter School Update
The AB 1507 news comes on the heels of a signing ceremony for Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach)’s AB 1505, which empowers communities to evaluate the fiscal impact of new charter schools on existing schools in their own neighborhoods.

Smith served as a critical partner on the passage and signing of this measure, having introduced the legislation along with Assemblymembers O’Donnell, Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) and Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) in February. Both AB’s 1505 and 1507 are rooted in improving local school board oversight and increasing accountability and transparency in education, while allowing high-quality charter schools to continue to thrive.

“We now have the framework for charter and traditional schools to work together collaboratively in service of their communities and neighborhoods,” Newsom said, regarding the signing of the bill.

“AB 1507 is the result of collaboration with charter and traditional stakeholders across the state to ensure greater transparency and accountability in charter authorization and empower local school boards to make jurisdictional decisions that directly impact the community they serve,” Smith said. “Governor Newsom’s signature on ABs 1505 and 1507 speak to the very heart of prioritizing students across California, and moving all of us onto the same page in improving learning for all.”

AB 1507 will take effect on January 1, 2020.

Sexual Harassment Education
AB 543 dictates that posters contain information pertaining to policy, including rules and procedures for reporting a charge of sexual harassment. School districts and local agencies will be reimbursed by the state for these materials.

“Unfortunately, sexual misconduct happens too often in places of work and learning,” Smith said. “When sexual harassment happens in schools, it can interfere with academics and be extremely debilitating for a student’s ability to thrive. We must equip our young people with the proper knowledge and resources to combat sexual harassment, and that is exactly what AB 543 does. I was so proud to carry this bill, which was a direct result of advocacy from student leaders across California.”

“The enactment of this bill is tremendous,” California State Association of Student Councils State President Avery Reed said. “As a proposal from a delegation of California students, AB 543 will help everyone on campus feel safe, valued and respected. I hope that students see this as a reminder that advocacy does pay off and that no one should endure uncertainty or confusion around their school’s sexual harassment policy.”

“I believe that the bill that my peers and I created, AB 543, will help survivors of sexual harassment or assault obtain assistance and justice, and increase clarity surrounding sexual misconduct in schools,” CASC Region 3 President Kate Heller said. “I feel honored to have worked on it and hope that our efforts will help decrease the dangerous amount of ignorance surrounding these issues. I know that this is a small step, but I’m very excited to see what other reforms this leads to.”

“I am absolutely thrilled to see AB 543 signed by Governor Newsom. This bill was the brainchild of students across the state of California, and I’m eternally grateful that we were able to see it come to fruition,” CASC Alumni Arvin Hariri said. “As a statewide policy, AB 543 will help schools foster a culture of zero tolerance towards sexual harassment and assault, making the students of California feel more protected and educated by the institutions whose core mission it is to do so.”

“I was overjoyed when I heard the news that this bill was being passed because it is an issue that I see prevalent in my own community as well as the community in which my peers live in,” CASC Student Advisory Board Legislation in Education Member Juliana Kim said. “It reaffirms the fact that each student voice matters and can make an impact. So, my hope for AB 543 is to inspire students to voice their opinions while also help them to find comfort in knowing that there are options.”

AB 543 will take effect on January 1, 2020.

Assemblywoman Christy Smith represents California’s 38th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Agua Dulce, Castaic, Santa Susana Knolls and North San Fernando Valley.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024
Dec. 8: Presentation on Early Hollywood, Rancho Camulos Connection
The non-profit Rancho Camulos Museum and National Historic Landmark will host a fundraising event, "Early Hollywood and its Camulos Connection" featuring Marc Wanamaker on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024
Hart District Sarah Gilberts Named 2024 California Social Worker of the Year
William S. Hart Union High School District Social Worker Sarah Gilberts was named California’s 2024 State Social Worker of the Year at an awards ceremony on Nov. 8, part of the 2024 National Association of Social Workers-CA Annual Conference.
Tuesday, Nov 19, 2024
SCV Water Celebrates PFAS Groundwater Treatment Facility with Ribbon Cutting
SCV Water recently marked the completion of its third PFAS treatment facility, which serves its Santa Clara and Honby wells and is located north of Soledad Canyon Road on Furnivall Avenue, with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1831 - Local entrepreneurs Sanford and Cyrus Lyon (as in Lyons Avenue) born in Machias, Maine [story]
Sanford Lyon
The holiday season is a time for joy, generosity and community spirit. This year, the Child & Family Center invites you to join its heartwarming effort to bring extra cheer to Santa Clarita Valley teens in need.
Spread Holiday Cheer: Support SCV Teens with Child & Family Center
The non-profit Rancho Camulos Museum and National Historic Landmark will host a fundraising event, "Early Hollywood and its Camulos Connection" featuring Marc Wanamaker on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 2 p.m.
Dec. 8: Presentation on Early Hollywood, Rancho Camulos Connection
William S. Hart Union High School District Social Worker Sarah Gilberts was named California’s 2024 State Social Worker of the Year at an awards ceremony on Nov. 8, part of the 2024 National Association of Social Workers-CA Annual Conference.
Hart District Sarah Gilberts Named 2024 California Social Worker of the Year
SCV Water recently marked the completion of its third PFAS treatment facility, which serves its Santa Clara and Honby wells and is located north of Soledad Canyon Road on Furnivall Avenue, with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Nov. 19.
SCV Water Celebrates PFAS Groundwater Treatment Facility with Ribbon Cutting
Caltrans, the California Highway Patrol, the Office of Traffic Safety and the Department of Motor Vehicles have joined together as part of Crash Responder Safety Week Nov. 18-22 to remind drivers to move over when safe to do so and slow down near traffic incidents and work zones to prevent serious injuries and deaths on California’s roadways.
Nov. 18-22: Crash Responder Safety Week
Every holiday season the Michael Hoefflin Foundation for Children’s Cancer assemblies gift baskets for families battling pediatric cancer.
MHF Seeks Donations for Holiday Gift Baskets
Family Promise of Santa Clarita Valley opened its new resource center, Williams Hope House in Newhall on Tuesday, Nov. 12 with a formal ribbon cutting ceremony.
Family Promise of SCV Opens Resource Center
The California Highway Patrol has announced a major achievement in its ongoing recruitment efforts as it officially swears in 121 new officers, bringing the department past its goal of hiring over 1,000 officers.
CHP Marks Milestone with 1,000 New Officers
The installation of the 2025 Valley Industry Association Board of Directors will be held Friday, Dec. 13, 11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook University Center.
Dec. 13: VIA 2025 Board Installation
Single Mothers Outreach's Adopt-A-Family was born in hopes of providing hard-working single parents a way to make a warm and wonderful holiday memory with their children. AAF connects a generous individual, corporate community, or groups with deserving families in need. Many local businesses, churches, community groups, neighbors and individuals generously have “adopted” SMO parents and their children, providing them with gifts, ice-skating, parties and more.
Single Mothers Outreach Adopt-A-Family Donation Drive
Educational Results Partnership, a non-profit organization that applies data science to accelerate student success, has released the 2024 Honor Roll list of California’s top performing schools, in partnership with local business leaders and the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce.
SCV Chamber Announces Schools Named to Honor Roll List
Holiday Home Tour will continue the festivities with its Holiday Home Tour Boutique, sponsored by Williams Homes that will take place on Sunday, Dec. 8, at Williams Ranch model homes in Hasley Canyon.
Dec. 8: Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Holiday Home Tour Boutique
The annual Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital Foundation Holiday Home Tour, organzied by the HMNH Foundation Home Tour League will present the Hearts Aglow Holiday Home Tour Gala on Friday, Dec. 6 at The Hyatt Regency in Valencia.
Dec. 6: Holiday Home Tour Presents ‘Hearts Aglow Gala’
The Valencia High School Marching Band and Color Guard continue its reign in the fall competition season, securing top honors at the Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Division 2A Championship Prelims
Valencia Marching Band, Color Guard Shine in Championship Prelims
2015 - Freak landslide begins to destroy section of Vasquez Canyon Road; earth moves for several weeks [video]
Vasquez Canyon Road
The regular meeting of the William S. Hart Union High School District’s Governing Board will be held Wednesday, Nov. 20, beginning with a closed session at 6:15 p.m., followed by an open session at 7 p.m.
Nov. 20: Hart Board Regular Meeting
For the first time since 2018, The Master's University's women's volleyball team has won the GSAC Championship Tournament, this time defeating the Benedictine Mesa Redhawks 21-25, 25-23, 26-24, 25-18 Saturday Nov. 16 in The MacArthur Center.
TMU Women’s Volleyball Wins GSAC Championship
Olive Branch Theatricals will present "Plaid Tidings: A Special Holiday Edition of Forever Plaid" weekends beginning Saturday, Nov. 30- Sunday, Dec. 15 at The Patios at Valencia Town Center, 24201 Valencia Blvd., Valencia, CA 91355.
Nov. 30: ‘Plaid Tidings’ A Special Holiday Edition of Forever Plaid
Supervisor Kathryn Barger has helped an artwork find its home in the high desert through the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s sculpture loan program.
Barger Brings ‘Saddle’ LACMA Sculpture to the Antelope Valley
College of the Canyons Women's Soccer pushed its unbeaten streak to seven games with a 2-1 road victory over Antelope Valley College on Nov. 12, and followed that with a 3-0 win over LA Valley College on Nov. 15. That has the Lady Cougars riding an eight-game unbeaten streak as the team prepares for Round 1 of the 3C2A SoCal Regional playoffs.
COC Women’s Soccer Takes Unbeaten Streak into Playoffs
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board will take place Tuesday, Nov. 19 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Nov. 19: SUSD Regular Board Meeting
Sun Princess, the newest and next-level Love Boat from Princess Cruises, has been named a 2025 Good Housekeeping Family Travel Award Winner.
Sun Princess Wins Good Housekeeping 2025 Family Travel Award
Santa Clarita Public Libraries present 17th Annual Family Literacy Festival on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Old Town Newhall Library, 24500 Main St., Santa Clarita, CA 91321.
Dec. 7: 17th Annual Family Literacy Festival at Old Town Newhall Library
SCVNews.com