Arambula Focus - April 2006

April is an important month in the life of most bills in the Legislature. In particular, I would like to highlight four bills I am sponsoring to address the needs of our state’s school districts and education system. Each bill is set to be heard and voted on soon by a committee.

If you have any comments on these bills, please do not hesitate to contact my Capitol office and ask for the staff member listed below.

AB 840 – Cal Grant Entitlement Fix: Provides relief to students who were mistakenly awarded, through no fault of their own, the California Community College Transfer Entitlement Program grants (Cal Grants) by the California Student Aid Commission.
Status: Senate Appropriations Committee
Staff: Mercedes Flores

AB 2313 – Cal Grants for Nursing Students: Allows students who have previously obtained a bachelors degree and who will be pursuing an associate nursing degree or a baccalaureate nursing degree to compete in the Competitive Cal Grant program.
Status: Assembly Higher Education Committee, set for hearing 4/18
Staff: Liza Bolaños

AB 2656 – Academic Crisis & Management Assistance Team (ACMAT): Establishes ACMAT to provide assistance to school districts by forming a unit of persons with extensive experience in district management and operations, budgeting, personnel administration, and the design and operation of instructional programs.
Status: Assembly Education Committee, set for hearing 4/19
Staff: Amy Arambula

AB 2859 – School Accountability: Establishes incentives and accountability measures for schools with more than half their students in the lowest two deciles of the state Academic Performance Index (API). The bill gives school districts greater flexibility to target financial and staff resources, and imposes strong accountability measures, including the appointment of an academic administrator, if districts cannot demonstrate significant improvement after two years.
Status: Assembly Education Committee, set for hearing 4/19
Staff: Amy Arambula

Here’s a look at my event calendar for the month of April. For more information on any of these events, please contact my district office in Fresno.

April 7 – The California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley comes to Fresno, and I will be making some remarks on the school accountability bills listed above.

April 8 – I’m hosting the spring “Egg-stravaganza” at Fresno’s Hinton Center, featuring an Easter egg hunt, bounce house, face-painting, and games. Kids of all ages are invited!

April 20-21 – I’ll be attending the EdVoice Legislative Symposium, a statewide conference, and participating in discussions on school accountability and closing the “achievement gap.”

April 22 – I plan to speak at the annual flag-raising at Fresno City Hall for the Armenian Genocide.

April 24 – The Assembly and I will be observing California Holocaust Memorial Day in Sacramento, including recognition on the Assembly Floor of my guest, Holocaust survivor Anna Levin-Ware.

April 24 – My office is hosting a Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Workshop at Fresno’s Senior Citizens Village. We will be discussing the choices seniors must make before the May 15th enrollment deadline.

April 25 – I’ll be attending a conference of local economic development officials from throughout the state, and discussing with them the challenges they face.

April 28 – I’ll be hosting a job fair in Kerman, in partnership with Fresno County’s Workforce Investment Board. Prior to the event, job seekers will have undergone extensive prescreening. Participating companies can count on a ready applicant pool!

April 29 – I’m organizing the 2006 West Fresno Neighborhood Beautification Day in partnership with Councilmember Cynthia Sterling, the City of Fresno, the West Fresno Ministerial Alliance, and Tree Fresno. The event will be a chance for West Fresno residents and others to make their community sparkle.

I would like to encourage small businesses and agricultural producers to apply for funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rural Development Program for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency projects. The grant application deadline is May 12, 2006.

The grants are intended for projects that derive energy from wind, solar, biomass, biogas, and geothermal sources. Funding is also available for Energy Efficiency Improvement projects such as improvements to HVAC systems, insulation, refrigeration, lighting, pumping systems, air systems, motor systems, irrigation efficiency improvements and others.

Small businesses in communities with a population of 50,000 or less, and agricultural producers that demonstrate a financial need, are eligible to apply for this funding. Limits on project size apply.

For more information, visit http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/farmbill.

Do you know a teacher, or are you a teacher who has special project you would like to do for your students? Need extra funds to get it accomplished? This could be your answer!

The Citigroup Success Fund is a grant program for teachers in the Valley. This program began last year and is being administered by the Great Valley Center’s LEGACI program. Sponsored by Citigroup Foundation, $40,000 will be given to K-12 teachers in Central San Joaquin Valley (San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern Counties). The deadline for applications to the Success Fund is April 21st at 5:00 PM.