Huff Education Bills Stall in Committee

Education measures Senate Republican Leader Bob Huff authored did not get the support of a committee required to move the proposed laws forward.

The Senate Education Committee voted against Senate bills 451 and 452 on Wednesday, decisions Huff said deny the right to public school choice regardless of socioeconomic or ethnic background and take away the voice of parents in reforming California schools.

“Obviously, I’m disappointed by today's committee action,” Huff said Wednesday in a statement. “Committee members had a chance today to improve the lives of many California students and give them the kind of education opportunities that all students deserve. But reform and change scare some people. Committee members instead voted to keep the status quo.”

The two bills are part of the Senate Republican Education Reform Package, according to Huff, R-Diamond Bar. Huff added that they earned the support of a number of parent and student organizatons, including American Center for School Choice, California Charter Schools Association Advocates, Democrats for Education Reform, Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options, Parents Advocate League, and 32 Por Mexico. Several representatives from these organizations testified in favor of Huff's bills, he said.

Senate Bill 451 would have broadened public school choice by getting rid of a current law that assigns students to schools based on their zip code. Existing law does not provide the equal education for all, Huff said,

"Opportunities for quality education exist only for those who have the financial means to acquire it by moving to a neighborhood with high performing public schools or paying for a private education," according to Huff.

Senate Bill 452 was crafted to expand the Parent Empowerment Act to include the lowest performing schools.  Under the act, the majority of parents can sign a petition to authorize reforms at their schools, according to Huff. 

“The Senate Education Committee may have voted down both bills, but these issues are not going to go away,” Huff said. “Our effort to bring change to ensure that every child has the opportunity for a great education grows with every passing day. We must prevail for our students.”