Joint Press Conference Announcement: State Superintendent Thurmond, Senator Stern and Colleagues to Discuss Crucial Education Bills
SACRAMENTO, CA — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Senator Henry Stern will be holding a joint press conference alongside colleagues and supporters to address the significance of three pivotal education bills: SB 1421, SB 1283, and SB 1277. These bills aim to enhance safety, foster responsible technology use, and promote inclusive education practices in California's schools.
State Superintendent Thurmond and Senator Stern will provide insights into the importance and implications of these bills for California's education system. They will be joined by Senator Susan Rubio, member of the Governor’s Council on Holocaust and Genocide, and President of CFT Jeffery Freitas.
Details: Monday, April 8 at 11:00 a.m.
Location: Media Room, California Department of Education Headquarters, 1430 N Street, Sacramento (Direct access to the Media Room is available off 15th Street on the east side of the building).
State Superintendent Thurmond emphasized the importance of creating a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. He stated, "Ensuring a safe and inclusive learning environment is vital to the success of every student. By establishing an office dedicated to investigating complaints of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting the rights and well-being of all students in California's public schools."
Author of the bills, Senator Henry Stern expressed his commitment to education as the motivation behind the legislation, "I am driven by a profound commitment to the safety and well-being of our children in schools. Crafting SB 1421, SB 1283, and SB 1277 has been a labor of love, aimed at fortifying our classrooms as sanctuaries of security and learning. These bills represent more than legislative milestones; they embody our collective promise to shield our children from harm and equip them with the knowledge to confront the shadows of history. It's an honor to champion these initiatives, each a testament to our unwavering dedication to the safety, protection, and enlightenment of the next generation.”
“I am honored to join Senator Stern in co-authoring SB 1277, a bill aimed at supporting ongoing teacher training across all Local Education Agencies in California to effectively teach Holocaust and Genocide subject matter and integrate best practices into their curriculum,” said Senator Susan Rubio. “Drawing from my almost 20 years of experience as a former teacher I understand firsthand the importance of recognizing the deficiencies in our current curriculum and the need for appropriate instructional resources.”
SB 1421: Institutes an “Office of Civil Rights” at the California Department of Education, tasked with investigating incidents of hate, including discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying related to various factors such as disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religion at local educational agencies. The Office will ensure that students feel safe and protected in their schools.
SB 1283: Building upon existing school district authority, established by AB 272 Muratsuchi in 2019, SB 1283 expands a school district's ability to create policies limiting the use of smartphones on school campuses. Additionally, it allows for the development of policies relating to social media use on school campuses, promoting responsible digital citizenship among students.
SB 1277: Establishes the Teachers Collaborative for Holocaust and Genocide Education as a statewide teacher professional development program. Led by the California Department of Education, the Collaborative will focus on educating teachers about the Holocaust and genocides of various peoples, including Armenian, Bosnian, Indigenous American, Cambodian, and Uyghur communities. It will also address contemporary issues such as hate and antisemitism.