(At photo right) Mary Strobridge, chair of the CTA State Council of Education’s Negotiations Committee, goes over with Sen. Kevin de Leon some association materials about AB 1034 (Gatto), a CTA-backed measure that would help assure students access to publicly funded charter schools. The CTA member lobbyist and CTA Advocate Seth Bramble met with Sen. de Leon and other lawmakers on August 15 at the state Capitol.

Specifically, the CTA-supported bill would shore up current civil rights protections to make sure that charter schools do not practice segregation by discriminating against students of color or those who come from families living at or below the official poverty level.

AB 1034 seeks to prevent charter schools from selectively admitting perceived “desirable” pupils from traditional public schools while screening out those considered “less desirable.”

The measure is expected to reach a critical voting point around August 26.

(Photo by  Seth Bramble)