FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 30th, 2012

Contact: Ben Golombek (916) 802-0611

STATEMENT FROM ASSEMBLYMEMBER FELIPE FUENTES ON AB 5 With a little more than one day left in the legislative session, Assemblymember Felipe Fuentes has decided to hold his bill AB 5 the California Best Practices Teacher Evaluation Proposal where it stands and not move it forward this legislative session. Below is a statement from Assemblymember Fuentes and a summary of the bill: After working on this bill in a transparent and collaborative manner for more than two years, I could not in good conscious allow the proposed amendments to be voted on without a full public hearing. There would not be sufficient time for myself or the stakeholders Ive been working with, to review the amendments that were being proposed. I believe this issue is too important to be decided at the last minute and in the dark of night. I would like to thank all of the stakeholders who participated in this process for the past two years particularly the parents and community members, whose dedication to improving our education system is unparalleled. While every study has shown the quality of a teacher as the single most important factor in improving student achievement, I am disappointed that we were unable to update Californias out-of-date 40 year old teacher evaluation system. We have moved the needle a long way in creating a modern teacher evaluation system here in California. I am hopeful that someone else will take up this critical issue and the mantle of teacher evaluation reform next year. Although I am termed out of the Assembly, I will continue this fight moving forward. Because I believe that creating a rigorous teacher evaluation system is too important and ultimately our childrens futures are too important. As a parent and legislator I know that every child deserves a quality teacher in their classroom. AB 5 would have sunset the States current evaluation system the Stull Act and ensured that a new, rigorous evaluation system is in place Statewide by July 1st, 2014. The bill appropriated $89 million to the States lowest performing schools to help implement the new evaluation system and the new common core standards. Some of the key components the bill would have included were: Requiring State and Local tests to measure student academic growth to be included in evaluations.

Ensuring that any teacher evaluation system already in place be allowed to stand for the duration of the local contract. This would have allowed any contract negotiated in the Doe v. Deasy lawsuit to stand. Increasing the frequency of evaluations for teachers. Requiring a teachers final evaluation to be at least one of 3 performance levels or performance bands, eg. Excellent, Satisfactory, Unsatisfactory. Authorizing the State Board of Education to create a best practices model for evaluations, which will help School Boards statewide develop evaluation systems more quickly. Providing evidence of effectiveness as measured using the California Standards for the Teaching Profession. Mandating multiple observations of teacher instruction and professional practice conducted by trained evaluators.