Assemblyman Perez Wants School Policy Changes

State Assemblyman Manuel Perez (D-Coachella) wants to make Kindergarten mandatory for all, and is pushing for a relaxing of “zero tolerance” policies in schools.  

The 80^th district representative authored Assembly Bill 2203, which would children to  begin formal education with Kindergarten at age five.   Current California law requires school districts to offer Kindergarten programs, but attendance is not compulsory.  

“Kindergarten today is what first grade used to be -- students are expected to possess a variety of skills necessary for success in subsequent grades.” Perez said.  “Given the increasing rigor of the early grades, Kindergarten attendance has become critical to setting a young learner on a pathway for educational success.”  

AB 2203 passed on a 6-4 vote and has moved to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.  

Perez’s other bill, Assembly Bill 2537 would modify schools “zero tolerance” policies related to mandatory suspensions, expulsions and law enforcement notifications. The bill intends to let school districts themselves determine appropriate discipline for certain student offenses.  

“Zero tolerance policies were written with the best of intentions -  to prevent school violence,” the assemblyman said. “However, the way the policy is written has resulted in a epidemic of suspensions and expulsions.  My bill seeks to empower our local school to determine appropriate punishments, while still maintaining school safety and complying with federal requirements.”  

Current laws require student to be suspended or expelled if the commit an offense from a list that is general in description, leaving local districts no leeway to individualize discipline.  The result is that students are expelled or suspended for low-level offenses such ad dress code violations or cell phone usage.  

AB2537 will is under discussion in Committee, where amendments are under negotiation. A vote is expected next week.