Current Status:

Passed

(2024-06-20: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Res. Chapter 120, Statutes of 2024.)

Introduced

In Committee

First Chamber

In Committee

Second Chamber

Enacted

Version:

This measure would proclaim May 8, 2024, as the Day of the Teacher.

Version:

WHEREAS, Todays teachers continue to mold the minds of our future workforce and generations to come; and

WHEREAS, Today we recognize that teachers continue to face significant challenges, as their workloads continue to increase due to additional duties being added on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis; and

WHEREAS, Teachers deserve to be honored in the highest regard for their resilience, their dedication, and the ongoing support they provide to our pupils; and

WHEREAS, No other profession touches as many people with such a lasting effect and has the potential to transform lives the way teachers do; and

WHEREAS, Advocating for smaller class sizes is beneficial for the classroom environment as it allows teachers to connect more with the pupils, increases instructional time, and individualizes education; and

WHEREAS, Good teaching grows in value and pays dividends far beyond the classroom and will continue to shape future generations to come; and

WHEREAS, To continue educating the population, teacher grant programs are necessary to provide the training and mentorship needed to encourage teachers to remain in classrooms; and

WHEREAS, Currently, the recipients of these grants mirror the race and ethnicity of the population of California, and having a diverse workforce leads to an increase in innovation and has a positive impact on the younger generation; and

WHEREAS, According to the State Department of Education, the state is facing a teacher shortage with more than 10,000 vacancies statewide, showing the dire need to retain teachers; and

WHEREAS, California teachers bring a variety of cultural backgrounds that increase the academic performance of pupils of color, including improved reading and mathematics test scores, improved graduation rates, and an increase in pupil aspirations to attend college; and

WHEREAS, California long ago recognized the immeasurable value of our teachers, and the second Wednesday in May has traditionally been recognized as the Day of the Teacher, a special observance that honors teachers and the teaching profession; and

WHEREAS, The Day of the Teacher has been sponsored by the California Teachers Association and the Association of Mexican American Educators and was first recognized in 1982; and

WHEREAS, California has patterned its celebration after the traditional El Dia del Maestro festivities observed in Mexico and other Latin American countries; and

WHEREAS, The national Day of the Teacher will be celebrated on May 7, 2024; and

WHEREAS, The Day of the Teacher should be a day for school districts, parents, public officials, and the community to recognize the dedication and commitment of teachers who are educating our children; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the day of May 8, 2024, be proclaimed the Day of the Teacher; and be it further

Resolved, That the Legislature hereby urges all Californians to observe the Day of the Teacher by taking the time to remember and honor all individuals who give the gift of knowledge through teaching; and be it further

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.