Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/882783
AB 1217 shelved Thanks to the efforts of CTA's members, legislative advocates and coalition partners, AB 1217 by Assembly Member Raul Bocanegra (D-Pacoima) and Sen. Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) was sent to the inactive file and is unlikely to resurface next year. The bill would have established a privately run but publicly funded STEM school in Los Angeles using public funds. It would have set a dangerous precedent, creating a school with taxpayer money with no real account- ability — and robbing public schools of needed funding. AB 1217 was another example of Eli Broad and his fellow billionaires trying to shape public schools to fit their own agenda. See kidsnotprofits.com for more infor- mation about this agenda and what to do about it. Angie Wei of the California Labor Federation, far right, expresses concerns about AB 1217 to Assembly Member Patrick O'Donnell (in white shirt). At the table are representatives of a broad coalition of education, labor and civil rights groups urging opposition to the bill, including Eric Harris, Sacramento NAACP; Jai Sookprasert, California School Employees Association; Christina Marcellus, Small School Districts Association; Sara Bachez, California Association of School Business Officials; and CTA's Seth Bramble. (O'Donnell's chief of staff and consultants to the Assembly Education Committee are also present.) Legislative Update I N M I D - S E P T E M B E R , the state Legislature adjourned for 2017. It reconvenes Jan. 3, 2018. Here are highlights of the past session. CTA Strong At press time, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear Janus v. AFSCME, a case that aims to take away the freedom of working people to join together in strong unions. CTA is adamant that no court case will stop our determination and advocacy for our students and our profession. Look for more coverage in the next issue. 41 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 017 Advocacy