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Standing on the steps of the State Capitol this morning, Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones (R-San Diego) joined a group of legislators, parents, and education advocates to speak out against Assembly Bill 84 ahead of its hearing in the Senate Education Committee. Click here for a video recording of the press conference.
“This is the number one bill my office has heard about from constituents this year, and their message is clear: Californians don’t want it,” said Leader Jones. “At its core, AB 84 hands more control to the state and union bosses while tying the hands of parents. Families want more choice, not more bureaucracy. I urge the Senate Education Committee to do the right thing today and vote NO on AB 84.”
AB 84 would strip over $1 billion from California classrooms, bury charter schools and homeschool programs in red tape, and limit flexible, student-centered learning options that thousands of families depend on, including low-income students and students with special needs.
Growing bipartisan opposition to the bill reflects broad concern that AB 84 would undermine educational freedom and hurt the very students the Legislature should be helping.
At this morning’s press conference, Leader Jones joined Republican Senators Tony Strickland (R-Huntington Beach), Steven Choi (R-Irvine), and Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa), Suzette Martinez Valladares (R-Santa Clarita), Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta); Republican Assemblymembers Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach), Josh Hoover (R-Folsom), Tri Ta (R-Westminster), David Tangipa (R-Folsom), Heather Hadwick (R-Alturas); and, hundreds of parents and advocates united in opposing the bill.
The Senate Education Committee is scheduled to vote on AB 84 later this morning.