A CTA-backed measure that would have spelled out who could occupy four seats on the State Board of Education has been vetoed.
The bill would have reserved two of the seats for teachers, one a practicing classroom teacher and the other a person with experience in the methods, research and practice of teaching English language learners.
Assemby Bill 2363 by Assembly Member Marco Firebaugh (D-East Los Angeles) would have required the governor, who appoints all 10 members of the education policy-making body, to set aside a third seat for a classified school employee and a fourth for a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in public schools.
CTA supported the measure because it would have ensured that the board's viewpoint reflected a wide array of experience in helping English language learners master the language.
In addition, reserving one seat for a practicing teacher would have guaranteed that decisions affecting schools throughout California reflect the input of classroom professionals.
In vetoing the measure, Gov. Gray Davis wrote that the bill would have reduced the flexibility of a governor to appoint members who "are highly qualified and have diverse experience and insight and are dedicated to improving student achievement, but do not meet the criteria specified in the bill."
Len Feldman