Senate Standing Committee on Education

The Senate Education Committee will come to order in 30 seconds. Good morning. There are 10 bills on today's agenda. Three bills are on consent. Those bills are item number two, AB279, item number nine, AB977 and item number 10, AJR7.

Witnesses are asked to limit their testimony to two minutes to ensure the Committee is able to complete today's agenda in a timely fashion. Seeing that we do not have a quorum, we'll begin as a Subcommitee with the first Bill. And I see that we have AB84 first on the agenda.

Welcome Assemblymember Marsucci, and you may begin when you're ready. And just as an FYI for this Bill, we're going to be doing MeToos together just because I know we have a lot of folks here that would like to participate. So we'll do first support witnesses and opposition witnesses.

Then we'll do all of our me toos at time the same, same time.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair and Senators, I'm here to present Assembly Bill 84.

And before I go any further, I want to thank Mr. Johnson with your Committee staff for all of his work in our ongoing negotiations on this Bill to address the concerns being raised by all parties, including the many parents that we have all been hearing from. And I accept the Committee amendments.

These Committee amendments are on top of the substantial amendments that we have already taken in the Assembly to address again many of the concerns being raised by stakeholders and that effort is ongoing. I present Assembly Bill 84 to strengthen charter school oversight and accountability.

To crack down on the documented cases of charter schools, especially the non classroom based charter schools, engaging in fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars to enrich bad actor charter school operators. Again, let me first acknowledge what I have heard from many of you Senators.

I've had individual conversations as well as conversations throughout this legislative process as well as my many meetings with charter school parents which is that there are good charter schools that provide choice for students and parents in many communities throughout our state to meet their unique educational needs. I have personally visited many good charter schools.

In fact, on Monday I just met with an excellent non classroom based charter program in my community in Los Angeles, the DA Vinci Schools. And I completely respect the desire of students and parents who want to pursue the best educational opportunities available to them.

Unfortunately, in recent years we have seen a series of high profile cases involving bad actor charter school operators who have figured out how to enrich themselves by taking advantage of lax charter school oversight.

In 2021, the operators of the A3 charter schools based in San Diego County were criminally convicted and sentenced to prison for defrauding California taxpayers of over $400 million of good K12 public education dollars.

In May of 2025 of this year, the San Diego Union Tribune reported that the Elite Academy charter schools, which serves just around 1800 mostly homeschool students, have been paying millions of dollars a year to a related corporation created by Elite Academy's founder where the corporation's sole source of revenue are the Elite Charter school's attendance based revenues and with the corporation employing family Members with salaries in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

And just two weeks ago the State Auditor issued their audit where they found that the locally based Highlands Community Charter Schools after whistleblowers reported to the local ABC News that the charter school operators were engaging in attendance fraud, in fact confirmed the reports of over $180 million again in public taxpayer education dollars being inappropriately collected by the Highlands Community Charter school.

Following the A3 charter scandal, the state imposed a moratorium on so called non classroom based charters and tasked the Legislative Analyst Office and the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team or fcmat, which you will hear from Mike Fine, the Executive Director of fcmat, the State school fiscal oversight Agency, to make recommendations on strengthening charter school oversight.

The State Controller coming out of the criminal case in San Diego also convened a task force to make recommendations for the same objective. This Bill seeks to codify the recommendations made by the Lao FCMAT and the State Comptroller's Office.

I want to again thank your staff Madam Chair's excellent work and in particular their his excellent Committee analysis on this Bill. And I with your permission, I'd like to read just a short section of the staff report available to all of you on page nine of the staff report.

In the middle of the page the report states this Bill, Assembly Bill 84 emerged in response to long standing oversight concerns and notable fraud cases, not from an effort to limit educational options in cases like A3 and Highlands. Weaknesses in data systems, fiscal reporting oversight structures enabled large scale misuse of public funds.

To address these concerns, state agencies, referring to the LAO FCMAT and the State Controllers Task Force, develop recommendations aimed at improving transparency, accountability and operational safeguards in the non classroom based space. Clearly we have a problem here. We need to strengthen charter school oversight and accountability and I'd like to ask to testify in support of this measure.

Mike Fine representing the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team and Cassie Mancini from the California School Employees Association in support of the Bill.

Good morning Chair and Members of the Committee As the Assembly Member indicated I might finan the Chief Executive Officer of the state's Fiscal Crisis and management assistance team. FCMAT's interest is to enhance and strengthen the audit statutes and procedures, to build parity among local educational agencies, and to strengthen the authorization and balanced oversight of charter schools.

At the Legislature's request, FCMAT partnered with the LAO to research and prepare our joint February of 2024 report on non classroom based charters. The themes raised in that report are included in AB84, including a number of the recommendations. FCMAT was also an active Member of the Court Ordered Comptrollers Multi Agency Task Force on Charter School Audits.

The themes and many recommendations from the task force are also included in this Bill. It's important to note that we have outstanding charter schools, as the Assembly Members already indicated.

In California, the headlines of fraud and wrongdoing are limited to only a handful of organizations, but as the Assembly Members just outlined, those have they continue even up into the last several weeks and they are growing in dollar amount. This, however, is not dissimilar to traditional school districts. We have struggles with some of them as well.

Today, charter school audits are governed in large part by what the charter school petition says. Addressing an annual independent audit is a required element for a charter school petition. Most, but not all petitions refer to the standard audit statute for K12 school districts. Existing statute, however, does not consistently or adequately address charter schools.

It was crafted before the Charter Schools act and and is written specifically for school districts. AB84 does several things. It modifies existing statute on audits to explicitly apply to charter schools, creating parity in the requirements and process for all LEAs on this important topic.

It makes numerous improvements in the requirements for Auditor training, Auditor Oversight, Audit Guide contents for all LEAs.

These improvements are consistent with the February 24 Lao FCMAT report and the Controllers Task Force provides other comprehensive reforms around non classroom based charter schools and charter schools in General, many consistent with the LAO FCMAT recommendations and as the author has indicated, consistent with concerns that have been raised over many, many years, actually several decades on some of these topics.

It also addresses, as I've just indicated, many practices and policies that have been expressed by oversight agencies and that I'm available to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you.

Good Morning Madam Chair and Senators Cassie Mancini here on behalf of the California School Employees Association, co sponsors of AB84. First, I really want to appreciate the hard work of Committee staff in joining our twice weekly negotiations to work through the issues raised in AB84 and SB414.

These negotiations are ongoing and will continue to work in good faith throughout summer recess to find common ground. Two recent charter scandals inform our intent here. In 2019, nonprofit charter management organization A3 Education defrauded the public of $400 million.

And just last month the State Auditor released their report on Highlands Charter which found that over just two years, Highland's disregarded state law to wrongfully receive over $180 million in Prop 98 funds.

These cases clearly demonstrate for us how California's existing system of non classroom based charter oversight carried out by district authorizers, annual financial audits and the State Board of education through its NCB funding determination process is entirely inadequate. AB84 seeks to strengthen our oversight systems by enacting the policy recommendations issued by experts.

The Bill has undergone significant amendments in the spirit of compromise, so I'll briefly summarize what it does today. First, as Mike discussed, the Bill Standardizes audit procedures. Secondly, the Bill enacts limits on small district authorizers that do not have the capacity to effectively oversee large non classroom based charters.

The Highlands audit has underscored for us the need for greater accountability on the part of charter authorizers of all sizes to conduct more thorough oversight that is not solely reliant based upon a charter school's annual audit or a charter school's assertions.

And as we continue to work on the Bill, we hope to bring the Legislature proposal to hold all authorizers accountable for conducting high quality oversight. Finally, the Bill maintains the existing funding determination process for non classroom based schools with recommended enhancements. AB84 ensures that a school's spending on educators and instruction is annually monitored and verifiable.

It also creates a definition of a virtual charter network and requires network schools to apply for a funding determination to concurrently to prevent the manipulation of expenditure data. AB84 will not cut funding to any charter school. It's a big Bill and because.

But that's because we need structural reform to detect and prevent future fraud cases and ensure that our public education system operates with integrity. For these reasons, we respectfully request an aye vote. Thank you.

Thank you for your presentation. As I mentioned before, we're going to do MeToos altogether. So I'm going to move now to lead witnesses and in opposition. If two lead witnesses can come forward and use the mics here. zero, apologies. And let's go ahead and establish a quorum while you all are getting seated.

Assistant, if you can call the roll Senators.

Perez Here. Perez Here. Ochobog. Here.

Ochobog Here. Cabaldin Choi. Here.

Choi. Here. Cortese. Gonzalez. Gonzalez. Here. Laird.

Thank you. We'll now turn it over to you both whenever you would like to get started.

Good morning. I'm Mary Cox, Superintendent of Cor Butte Charter, a Tk12 flex based charter in Butte County funded as a non classroom based charter. Over half of our students are socioeconomically disadvantaged and more than 17% receive special education.

We're a safe haven for all students, including LGBTQ youth, students facing mental health challenges, bullying, and those in credit recovery. We were devastated by the 2018 campfire. More than half of our students became homeless overnight. Butte County has the highest percentage of students in the state with four or more adverse childhood experiences.

We've invested in clinician led wellness programs not because we require to, but because our students need it. If AB84 passes, we'll be forced to absorb major new administrative costs putting these essential services at risk for our students. AB84 imposes costly unfunded mandates, including 10 new audit reports every year and potential authorizer changes. I experienced that under 1507.

It was disruptive, expensive, and pulled focus away from students. Unlike districts, charter schools are not eligible to apply for additional mandated cost reimbursement. Where is the funding to pay for this? It's simply unfair.

Section 43 of the Bill would prohibit us from using funds for enrichment provided by community partners, even when aligned with academic goals and overseen by credentialed teachers. This provision will cut off access to important student enrichment, like high impact tutoring for students with dyslexia or learning about local ecology from indigenous community Members, including.

In contrast, school districts can use extended learning opportunity funds for similar programs with non credentialed partners. We aren't offering things school districts don't provide elsewhere. Yet under AB84, we'd have different rules and our students would have less access to educational opportunity that's inequitable and harmful to our students.

Finally, AB84 would classify my school as a virtual school because less than 20% of instruction happens in person. That label doesn't fit. I have $11 million invested in facilities that are used daily. Some students are on campus four days a week. Others only come to meet with their teacher or for special education services.

Our school is flexible by design to meet the unique needs of our students and parents. We support strong oversight. But AB84 places unfair unfunded burdens on schools like mine that are doing the right thing. AB84 puts our programs for vulnerable youth at risk. We respectfully oppose AB84 and encourage continued collaboration on thoughtful Balance solutions. Thank you.

And just a reminder, two minutes.

Yes, thank you. Good morning chair and Members, Eric Premack with the Charter Schools Development center here. On behalf of our center as well as the Charter Schools Association and the A organization and hundreds of charter schools schools, for over 30 years our center has been providing training precisely on these topics.

Fiscal accountability, business management, sound governance and ethics. We recognize that we have a problem with financial abuses in California's charter schools and this is why we've co sponsored Senate Bill 414 on this topic.

We've been fully engaged at table and as well thank staff for the support support that they've provided and we're negotiating hard and in good faith. We've identified over 20 proposals that are common that we can agree to and are still hard at work at table. But we remain very concerned with AB84 for a number of different reasons.

In General we believe it creates too many unnecessary and unfunded mandates, especially as it relates to auditing authorizer oversight and and charter school accounting and business management. It places non classroom based schools at risk of severe funding cuts even with the mitigation amendments that I gather will be taken today as Committee amendments.

It also restricts the authority of school districts that have fewer than 10,000 students to authorize new non classroom based charter schools. This includes about 85% of the state states districts and from our perspective creates essentially a backdoor permanent moratorium on new non classroom based charter schools in about 85% of the state.

Finally, we've been accused of quote unquote cherry picking the various recommendations from Mr. Fine's report and from the comptroller's report. But, and to that, to an extent we plead guilty. But the reason is we're seeking remedies that are actually implementable. I see the chair of the Budget Committee here.

Most of what's in here is not in the budget and the state has a serious financial problem and our schools budgets are very tight and as such our Bill, Senate Bill 414 is a much more focused cost effective measure.

For these and other reasons we really hope that you will vote against this Bill and work with us on 414 while we continue to work very hard behind the scenes negotiating. Thank you.

Thank you for your presentation. Now that we've heard from both support witnesses and opposition witnesses, we'll hear from all of our me toos. So both those in support and in opposition to the Bill.

So we're going to use the mic over here at the railing and if you all could form a line towards that mic and we are going to ask people to clearly state their name, organization that they are with or who they are representing and position on the Bill.

I'm Catlin o' Halloran Heller. I am the founder and board President of the Dixon Montessori Charter School in. Senator Cabaldin's district and I oppose this Bill.

Good morning. Ashley Lugo on behalf of the California county superintendents and respectful opposition to AB84. Thank you.

Good morning. Jeff Rice with a representing more than 100 flex based charter schools in California and we remain opposed to AB84.

Good morning Madam Chair Members. Jeff Vacca representing the Riverside County Superintendent of Schools and concerns related to our role as authorizers.

Good morning. Chair and Members. Rec Kaminsky on behalf of the Association of California School Administrators also registering concern on regard to the coherence on the new authorizer responsibilities and resources. Thank you.

Lucy Salcedo Carter with the Alameda County Office of Education also expressing concern with. Regard to the role of authorizers. Thank you.

Xavier Maltese with the California Charter Schools Association in opposition to this Bill.

Cynthia Rachel from Innovative Education Management opposed to the Bill.

Good morning. Juliana Hubbell representing Springs Charter Schools, a credo gap busting network and we are. Opposed to the Bill. Thank you.

Debbie Cole from Pacific Coast Academy in. San Diego County and I oppose this Bill.

Thank you for your time. Craig Cole and I oppose AB84. Don't leave these children behind. Thank you.

My name is Ruby Everson. I'm a senior at Mission Vista Academy. In Riverside County and I oppose AB84.

Good Morning Committee. My name is Audrey Everson, a parent with Mission Vista Academy in Riverside County and I oppose AB84.

Good morning. I'm Cena Fisher, senior Director with Mission. Vista Academy in Riverside and I oppose AB84.

My name is Faith Swenson. I. I am A. Junior at Mission. Vista Academy and I'm from Huntington Beach. And I oppose this Bill.

Hello. Denise Aguilar, co founder of freedom angels with 10,000 people. We are representing in opposition including California. Parents Rights act now. Thank you.

Hello. Tara Thornton, also co founder of Freedom Angels, representing stakeholders across the entire state. Strong opposition. Thank you.

Hello. Sophia Karstens, decentralized America strongly oppose AB84.

Hello. My name is Sarai Foxworthy. I'm a student with Feather River Charter and I strongly oppose this Bill.

My name is Lillian Ray and I'm. Going to be a freshman at Forest Charter in Nevada county and I strongly oppose this Bill.

Good morning. Michelle Stanley with the Classical academies and we stand in opposition to this Bill.

Good morning. I'm Carmen Canelio. I'm the chief business officer for the Classical Academies in North San Diego in opposition to AB84.

Good morning. Barrett Snyder of the Small School Districts Association. We have an opposed unless amended position. And on behalf of the San Diego County Office of ED and the San Diego Unified School District, my colleague Sierra, who is not here, we signed a letter with some concerns around authorizer issues. Thank you.

Dr. Dean Foreman, Co founder of John Adams Academies in Sacramento and Roseville and El Dorado Hills, voicing strong opposition to AB84.

My name is Bree Gordon. I work at John Adams Academy and. I also have children at John Adams Academy and Horizon Charter Schools. And I strongly oppose this Bill.

Good morning. Carlos Sineguez, representing John Adams Academy and over 4,000 families with strong opposition to AB84. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Robin Nelson. I'm home schooling parent from Ontario, California and I'm in strong opposition. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Judy Nelson. I'm the former mayor of the City of Glendora. Thank you, Senator Perez, for representing our city. I'm a founding Member of Save Glendora Schools and we strongly, strongly oppose this Bill. Thank you.

Meg Madden, charter school mom for 20 years. And on behalf of longtime homeschooling charter moms Heather McClure, Audra Starrett and Amy Rush, homeschool charter teachers Wendy Brandt and Stephanie Gutierrez. Also Amy and Ben Anderson, parents of a disabled child who is thriving in his charter home school.

And on behalf of California disabled students for equitable education options and in strong and informed opposition to AB84. Thank you.

My name is Nicole Young. I'm representing Dr. Beverly Serra, Moms for Liberty Yolo, Lake Shasta, San Luis Obispo, Contra Costa, Orange Placer, Fresno Tlaminy, Santa Barbara, San Diego, Calusa, Los Angeles and Alameda County. The children matter. Kern County. Kern County against mandates.

Brianna Gomez, Callie Johnson, Christine Bowers, Emily Rippenberg, Monica Berbiska, Olivia Amara, Amanda Parker, Teresa Grimm, Seth Johnson Rossi, Ann Salibaher, Megan Van Schreiber, Allison Gaskins, Brian and Wendy Heisey. And more importantly, my son, whose brick and mortar school told him he would never learn to read, homeschooled him through a charter. He's now a senior at SDSU.

We are all in strong and informed opposition. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Janelle Williams, and I am here as a parent with a homeschool family through the charter at Nevada City Forest Charter. My children are also here, and we are in strong opposition to AB84. We really need to have this shut down. Thank you.

Hello. My name is Elizabeth Foxworthy from Forest Hill, California. I homeschool my sixth grader and ninth grader. We're with Feather River Charter, and we strongly oppose AB84.

Good morning. I'm Julie Crandall. I'm the Principal Superintendent of Home Tech Charter in Paradise, and we strongly oppose AB84.

Good morning. Larry King, former Superintendent Authorizer of the Acton Aguadulce Unified School District, where we authorize 17 charter school organizations. And on behalf of Sage Oak Charter Schools, I'm the Senior Director of Outreach and Development. Strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hi, I'm Megan McCune. I'm a charter school mom and I strongly oppose AB84.

I am Sean McKeown. I'm a homeschool parent. I've read the bill and I strongly oppose it and request a no vote.

Good morning. My name is John Egnor. I'm with Pacific Coast Academy. I represent over 800 families of students with IEPs in our school. And I'm also the parent of a child in an independent study type program. Were in strong opposition to this bill. Thank you.

Hello, I'm Teresa Copenhaver. I'm the Executive Director and Principal of Circle of Independent Learning Charter School, servicing 40% at Promise students in Alameda County and all surrounding counties in that area in the Bay Area. We strongly and informally oppose AB84. Thank you.

Jerilyn Fisher. I'm a parent as well as a credentialed teacher with Feather River Charter School, and I respectfully oppose AB84.

My name is Eliana Fisher. I'm a charter school student, and I respectfully oppose AB84.

My name is Aliyah Fisher. I'm a charter school student, and I, I oppose AB84.

My name is Audra Byers. I'm a homeschool parent with Feather River Charter. I respectfully oppose AB84.

My name is Ethan Byers. I am a charter school student. I respectfully oppose this bill.

Good morning. My name is Annette Coonsey. I am a homeschool grandma to two granddaughters and also a local school board trustee in my local community, and I respectfully oppose this bill. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Lauren Copier, and I am a homeschool parent with South Sutter Charter School, and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Good morning. I'm Christine Winkler from San Diego. County. We've been homeschooling our only child, Christian, for six years. We strongly oppose AB84.

I'm Christian from San Diego. I'm a charter school student. I strongly oppose this bill.

Good morning. Jennifer Caza, Superintendent of the JCS Family of Charter Schools serving 1800 students in San Diego and Riverside County.

And we oppose Jillian Tonkin, also with JCS Family of Charter Schools, and I oppose this bill.

Hi. I'm Debbie Gooding, Executive Director of Learning Choice Academy. We serve three schools down in San Diego, county, and I strongly, strongly oppose this bill.

Good morning. I'm Heather Marshall with New Pacific Charter Schools, Rio Valley Charter School, and the entire Pacific Charter Institute, and we absolutely oppose this bill. Thank you.

Hello. My name is Lauren Azevedo Smith. I have been a California educator for 19 years. I am a teacher for Pacific Coast Academy. I am also a homeschool parent with Pacific Coast Academy. I serve families in the South Bay of San Diego, and I oppose AB84.

Go ahead. I got you.

Hi. My name is Sala Smith, and I oppose AB84.

My name is Clifter Smith. I'm a parent of Pacific Coast Academy. My daughters are students there, and I oppose AB84.

My name is Adriana Rucker. I'm a special education teacher, and I oppose AB84.

My name is Cynthia Rucker. I'm a parent and I oppose AB84.

Good morning. My name is Gabriela Dobrescu. I'm a homeschool parent with Ocean Grove Charter School and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

My name is Benjamin and I oppose AB84.

My name is Bernadette Lumley and I oppose AB84.

My Name is Sharon Machini from NP3 Charter serving students seat based in Sacramento, California and we are opposed to AB84.

Good morning. Melissa Mori, also representing NP3 Charter High School as principal and parent, and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Shannon Green with California Pacific Charter, San Diego, and I oppose AB84.

Erica Stevens, also with California Pacific Charter School, and I oppose AB84.

Erin Reinberg, Assistant Director of TK8 at California Pacific Charter Schools, Los Angeles, San Diego and Sonoma from Sonoma county, and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Victoria Campbell with California Pacific Charter Schools in opposition of AB84.

I'm Sarah Greco with Sequoia Grove Charter Alliance and I oppose AB84.

I'm Shannon Breckenridge with Lakeview Charter, Clarksville Charter and Feather River Charter, serving students in 14 counties in Northern California with sparkling clean audits, I might add. And I oppose AB84.

My name is Marcie Boyd. I'm with Clarksville, Feather River and Lakeview Charter Schools and I respectfully oppose AB8.4.

Good morning. My name is Michael Cox. I'm with Western Sierra Charter Schools. We serve approximately 700 students in Madera and Fresno Counties and I'm here to oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hello. Jody Jeffers, CBO for Western Sierra Charter Schools, and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

My name is David Beckingham. I'm a charter school grandparent and I oppose AB84.

My name is Tiffany Temperman. I'm a charter school parent and I oppose AB84.

I oppose AB84.

My name is Cheryl Beckingham. I am a charter school grandparent and I oppose AB84.

Good morning. I'm Sydney Garcia. I'm the Executive Director for The Cottonwood School. It's an award winning TK12 flex based public charter school serving over 3500 students, including a Montessori inspired high school in El Dorado Hills and throughout Sacramento, Placer, Amador and Alpine counties. We are committed to whole child personal learning and I strongly oppose AB84.

Jeanette Sansenbach, 4th grade teacher, Folsom Cordova Unified, also President of their Association, FCEA and we strongly approve AB84.

Anna Cordero, 17 year virtual educator, 8th grade history teacher serving California Virtual Academy's 14,000 students. Strongly support AB84.

Lisa Lennon Wilkins, middle school science teacher and President of the Lodi Education Association and I strongly approve AB84. Thank you.

Tanya Halverson, California Virtual Academy Charter School teacher. I support AB84.

Dr. Christopher Anderson, President of the Stockton Teachers Association. 25 year teacher, rise in support of this AB. Thank you.

Good morning. Rob Reynolds, I'm a high school alternative education teacher in San Joaquin County. I regularly teach children who have been failed by charter schools and I rise in support of the this bill.

Hello, I'm Britney Ward and I'm an elementary school public school teacher very proud to be and also the President of Twin Rivers United Educators whose board oversight was on Highlands. So I very strongly support AB84.

Good morning. Araceli Perez, I'm a credentialed teacher. I had my children in charter schools. I worked at Highlands and was fired because I was a whistleblower on fiscal fraud. I strongly, strongly support AB84.

My name is Vanessa Cuteback, 2nd Vice President of Sacramento City Teachers Association, 3rd grade teacher at VB Hearst, mother of a charter school graduate and I spent most of my year years teaching in charter schools and I strongly support AB84.

Hello, my name is Deanna Blockson. I am a sixth grade teacher at Anakir Chicator Elementary School in the Elk Grove Unified School District and I strongly support AB84.

Hello, my name is Faye Grundle. I am a transitional kindergarten teacher in Orangevale, open in Fair Oaks in part of the San Juan Unified School District. And my son went to a charter school and I very much support AB84.

Hello, my name is Nicole Piper. I'm a teacher at California Virtual Academies. I also represent over 1100 educators at California Virtual Educators United and we support AB84. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Francisco Villas Sr. I'm a special education teacher for California Virtual Academies and I strongly support Assembly Bill 84.

Good morning. My name is Nancy Mowry. I'm a first grade teacher at California Virtual Academies. My own three students attended there and I strongly am in support of AB84.

Good morning. My name's Ron Walker. I'm a bus driver groundsman for Orland Unified School District, also on the CSEA Board of Directors and I strongly support 84.

Good morning. Michael Gandra with CSEA Pace Committee and I strongly support this bill.

Adar Clark Gunn with CSCA President for San Juan Unified School District in support of AB84.

Florentina de Janaro, mother of three on opposing this bill. Also representing Glad Tidings, Yuba City and Freedom Coalition in Yuba City. Opposed with Mom Army. Thank you.

Hello, everyone. Thanks for hearing all of us. My name is Sylvia Sorenson. I'm also with Moms for Liberty Emmer County. This is my daughter, Summer Sorenson. She's attending a charter school, and we are both in opposing AB804. Thank you so much.

Hi, my name is. Hi. My name is Matisse. I'm eight years old. I'm from Los Angeles, and I strongly, very strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, my name is Heather from Los Angeles. I'm a charter school parent and the founder of Creative Learners of Los Angeles. We strongly oppose AB84 and ask that if there's any shred of doubt as to what this bill will do to our students, that you vote no. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Eric Phelan, and I'm a parent of a charter student, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hello. My name is Maria Fernanda Zuniga, US graduate in nonprofit management and leadership. I understand the importance of oversight, yet this bill does not do that, and it puts in danger our children who are interested.

So as a reminder, this is just a MeToo moment. So that means that we have the name, your organization that you're representing, and your position. That's the only thing that we're going to be allowing at this time.

Thank you. My name is Eric Zuniga, Stanford Class of 2005, homeschool parent, and I strongly oppose this bill.

Step on 8084.

So well dressed. Love the level of decorum.

My name is Lorraine Burch. I'm a homeschool. I'm sorry? I'm a charter school mother of four that attend Clarksville, and I oppose this bill.

My name is Diana Fearhelm. I am a charter school mom and I strongly oppose this bill.

Sarah Satterfield. I am a credential teacher with Clarksville Charter School. My husband is also works in independent study charter schools. My four children have all benefited from charter schools. I oppose this bill. Thanks.

Good morning. My name is Danielle Balmunk. I am a proud parent of three successful charter school students as well as a credentialed teacher with Clarksville Charter School. I strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hi, I'm Lori Grgich, a credentialed teacher with Clarksville Charter School and a parent for a student in Camino Polytechnic Charter School. I strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Mary Stein. I'm a credentialed teacher with Clarksville Charter School, and I'm also a parent for charter students. Thank you. And I definitely oppose AB84.

Good morning. My name is Jana McKnight and I am a certified teacher through Clarksville. But I am also a mother of a special needs son who would greatly be impacted by this bill. So I strongly oppose. Thank you.

Good morning. I'm Eduardo De Leon. I'm the Executive Director of the Language Academy of Sacramento. We are a TK8 dual language program here and I strongly urge you no vote on AB84.

Good morning. Jose Diaz from Albert Einstein Academies, representing San Diego, California or San Diego? Yes, California. In opposition of AB84 and support 414. Thank you.

Hello, I'm Jessica Spolino with Method Schools. I have seen the NCB modality save hundreds of students and I am in opposition of AB84.

Hi, I'm Mark Cawley, Method Schools. I've spent half my career with the school district and half with charter schools and I'm in strong opposition of 84.

Good morning. I'm Evelyn Anderson. I'm principal of the Santa Rosa French American Charter School. We serve students from throughout Sonoma county and I oppose AB84.

My name is Sailor. I'm from Mather. I'm a charter student and I oppose AB84.

My name is Benjamin Slattin. I am 11. I am a charter school student and I oppose this bill.

I'm a mother of two charter school students. I was a charter student myself because I was failed by the public school and we strongly oppose AB84.

I'm Amity Chavez, mother of two boys who thrive at Sutter Peak Charter Academy, and I oppose AB84.

My name is Ronan Chavez. I'm a student of Sutter Peak and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, my name is Carrie Harrell. I have worked in classroom based schools, but I am a parent of three students at Sequoia Grove Charter School and I strongly oppose AB84.

I'm Daniel Harrell and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Andrea Harrell. I'm a student at Feather River and Sequoia Grove Charter School and I oppose this bill.

My name is Kristen Dumafani. I'm the Executive Director for Pacific Coast Academy and I strongly oppose this bill.

Hi, I'm Amy Davis with Mission Vista Academy, the Executive Director, and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Jenna Lorge, the Executive Director for Cabrillo Point Academy, and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Sherry Erlanson and I strongly oppose this bill.

Hello, my name is Dr. Erica Vanderspeck. I'm the Deputy Executive Director with Cabrillo Point Academy. This is my 22nd year in charter education, and I'm a proud parent of a charter school graduate, and I oppose AB84.

Hi, my name is Jason Sittimer. I'm here with Charter Impact. We are a back office provider supporting over 100 schools in California authorized by more than 35 districts and counties. And I oppose AB84.

My name is David Lueck. I'm also with Charter Impact, and I'm a proud parent of a charter school student at Granada Hills Charter in Los Angeles. I strongly oppose AB84.

Hello, my name is Andrea, and I'm a mother to two charter school students who are thriving, and we strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Dr. Sherrilyn Westbrook, a child psychologist and proud parent of a Golden Valley Charter School student. And I oppose AD 84.

Good morning. My name is Jeff Westbrook, and I'm a father of a daughter who is going to second grade at Golden Valley Charter School in Orangevale. And we oppose 84. Thank you for your time.

Hello. My name is Briana Galbraith. I am a mother of three kids who are thriving at Golden Valley Waldorf Charter School, and I oppose AB85.

Good morning. My name is Genevieve Buckley, mother of two at Golden Valley Charter School, and I oppose AB84.

Good morning. My name is Jennifer Hoover. I'm a leader at Golden Valley Charter Schools. I'm here with my son who's a student there, and I strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hi. My name is Erica Davis Petrie. I'm Past President of the Homeschool Association of California. I and my board strongly oppose AB84.

Ashley Witt from Long Beach, California, mother of three charter students, and I oppose AB84.

Hi, I'm Greg Blankenbuehler. I am a teacher at John Adams Academy, where I run a successful choir program. I'm also a parent of a, a daughter who goes there, and my wife also accompanies for me, and I'm strongly opposed to this bill.

I'm Erica Blankenbuehler from Sacramento county, and I help run an arts program at a charter school, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, I'm Kate Blankenbuehler. I go to a local charter school, and I strongly oppose AB84.

I'm John Gerard. I'm a Superintendent for Horizons Charter School. I represent 1700 students and. And we strongly oppose ABAD 4.

Hi. Lance Christianson. Vice President of the California Policy Center. We're strongly opposed. Also represent a coalition of over two dozen free education freedom advocates in opposition. And as a father of four kids who also access the charter schools, were opposed to this bill. Thank you.

Beverly Talbot, a registered Democrat from San Francisco, on behalf of CAUSE and Women Are Real, I strongly oppose this bill.

Good morning. My name is Amber Arias. I run a ministry, Stand Up Ministry Calvary Chapel, Solano. I'm a homeschool mom of two children. I'm in strong opposition of AB84. Thank you.

My name is Greg Bird, Vice President of the California Family Council. And strong opposition. I actually have three kids who went through homeschooled charter schools and this is a threat to them. Thank you.

Good morning. Janice O'Malley with AFSCME California in support.

Tiffany Mock on behalf of CFT, A Union of Educators and Classified Professionals in strong support. Thank you so much.

Good morning. Elmer Lazardi here on behalf of the California Federation of Labor Unions, co-sponsor in support. Thank you.

Ebrin Ferrier with California Family Council in opposition.

Good morning. My name is Shawnee Reliford. I have a son who has ADHD combined unspecified impulse control. He had trouble in public school. We tried South Sutter in August and he's thrived. I oppose.

My name is Claire Neal and I'm a homeschooler. Griffin and I show.

Hi. My name is Christine Alt and my sister has successfully raised six children who five of them have gone on to graduate college with many multiple different degrees. And I've raised three homeschool kids and I've been a homeschool educator for over 12 years. I strongly oppose AB84.

Hello, I'm Alison O'Haver. I'm a parent of two charter school students and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hello. My name is Lily La Savio. I'm a homeschool parent and a credential teacher and I represent 3,000 students at Clarksville Charter School. I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you for your time. Hi. My name is Jessica Hall. I'm a credential teacher at Clarksville Charter School. And this is my son Wyatt. He's a student at Clarksville Charter School and we oppose AB84. Thank you.

My name is Blake and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Tiffany Millen and I am the Director of the Natomas Homeschool Alliance. On behalf of the hundreds of medically fragile and special needs students that I work with who are not able to be here to stand this line, I strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, I'm Kristi Smith, a credentialed teacher with Heritage Peak Charter School and also homeschooled my three children through charter schools. And I'm opposed to AB84.

Hi, I'm Kami Wanis. I'm a credentialed teacher and homeschool parent. I also represent Re Village Napa, which has 75 families homeschooling, and we all strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Kenya Moanas, and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name Is Eric Wanis, a credentialed teacher of over 30 years. I'm here in opposition of AB84.

Thank you for this opportunity. I'm Kristen Welch. I am an ELA teacher at Natomas Homeschool Alliance. I successfully homeschooled all three of my daughters through a charter. They're all productive Members of society now in good jobs, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, I'm Heather Welch. My kids are part of Heritage Peak Charter, and we strongly oppose.

Hi, I'm Natalia Human. I'm a registered nurse and I also homeschool my daughter, and I strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

My name is Abigail Huguy. I am a charter school student and I oppose AB84.

My name is Dr. Damian Phillips. I serve students at Yosemite Valley Charter and Monarch River Academy, and I strongly oppose AB884.

Hi, my name is Stephanie Johnson. I'm Superintendent of Yosemite Valley Charter School and Monarch River Academy. We serve 10 counties across Central California, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, I'm Anna Wilkinson. I'm with Yosemite Valley and Monarch River Academy, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, my name is April Green. I'm both a parent of a student with autism that attends the Cottonwood School. I'm also a special education teacher at Yosemite Valley and Monarch River Academy, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, my name is Jenny Plumb. I'm assistant Superintendent of student support at Yosemite Valley and Monarch River Charter schools. I represent 600 special ed students today who might be medically fragile or unable to come today, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, I'm Micheline Fitzgerald. I also work at Yosemite Valley Charter and Monarch River Academy. I represent 4,500 students in 10 counties, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hello, my name is Christopher Williams. I work with Absolute Charter Group, a back office management finance company. I'm a CPA and a certified fraud examiner as well. I'm here representing Yosemite Valley Charter School and Monarch River Academy, where we utilize fraud risk controls. And I strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

Good morning, Members. Magali Zagal, on behalf of Aspire Public School, Aspire Public Schools, in opposition to the bill. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Stephanie Cardenas. I am an employee and proud parent of two students at California Montessori Project, and I strongly oppose this bill.

Good morning. Matt Taylor, Superintendent at the California Montessori Project. We oppose this bill.

Good morning. My name is Diana Bergstrand, currently pursuing a master's in education and teaching credential. I'm also a substitute for a local school district and a parent of four students enrolled at South Sutter Charter School, and I strongly oppose this bill.

My name is Tulsi Bergstrand. I'm a charter school student and I oppose AB84.

My name is Demi Bergsand, and I'm a charter school student, and I opposed this. AB84.

My name is Juniper Bergstrand. I'm a charter school student and I oppose AB84.

My name is Mia Bergstrand. I'm a charter school student with South Sutter and I oppose this bill.

My name is Jude Rule. I'm a charter school student and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Laura Castro. I homeschool these three brilliant kids that are thriving through Cottonwood School, and We strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, my name is Ashley Oliva with Delta Managed Solutions. I am a former charter school student and a proud parent of a charter school graduate with a neurodegenerative autoimmune disability that would have never graduated without her charter school, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hello, my name is Joanne Fountain with Delta Managed Solutions, and We serve over 40 charter schools throughout California and we strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Jeff Clanton and I represent Delta Managed Solutions and I strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Jerry Levers. I'm the Executive Director of Connecting Water Charter School. We have over 2,000 students, 55% socioeconomically disadvantaged. I oppose AB84 because it's a sledgehammer when we need a scalpel. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Kim Koski and I work for Connecting Waters Charter School in Stanislaus County, and I strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hello, my name is Laura Joseph and I work for Connecting Waters Charter School and have two students who have also graduated from charter schools. And I oppose AB84.

My name is Lisa Vargas. I work for Connecting Waters Charter Schools and vendor relations. I'm also an ex homeschool mom through two charters, Connecting Waters and Keys to Learning, and I am opposed to AB84. Thank you.

My name is Jennifer Sanguinetti. I'm a mother of four from the Central Valley and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, my name is Julie Boersma. I'm the education services Director for Connecting Waters Charter Schools, which has three schools and we serve TK 12 in 13 counties, Central Valley to Bay Area.

I strongly oppose 84 as a teacher and administrator. I also strongly oppose, as a past parent of a student, my own daughter who just graduated with honors after having two years of the opportunity to participate.

I really apologize, but this is just name, organization and position on the bill.

Hi, my name is Cheryl Whitcomb. I'm a teacher and I advocate of charter schools and homeschooling and I oppose.

Hello, my name is Shawna Reisiewitz. I'm a teacher of 35 years in public schools, private schools, charter schools, both classroom based and non classroom Based also an ex CTA Member for 12 years. And all teachers know that classrooms do not meet all the needs of charter school. So I'm opposing. Yes.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Rachel Sullivan. I'm a mother and a 30 year teacher at both public and brick and mortar and non brick and mortar, and I oppose the bill. Thank you.

My name is Michael Sullivan Howell. I am a graduate from Blue Ridge Academy based in Los Angeles. I support educational freedom and strongly oppose AB84. Thank you very much.

Hi, I'm Wendy Eklund, mom, charter school leader and community advocate, and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Ronna Yellen from San Pedro. I'm on the leadership team at Suncoast Prep Charter School and a homeschool mom. I'm representing several thousand families in Almorasuchi's district, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Caitlin Bustamante, and I am a charter school sibling as well as a product of both charter and traditional public schools, and I oppose AB84.

Hello, my name is Katie Walker. I'm a credentialed school psychologist and I oppose AB84.

Hello, my name is Teresa Grant. I'm a credentialed school psychologist. I work at Suncoast Charter, and I oppose AB84.

Hello, my name is Shawn Nerones. I'm a credentialed speech pathologist. I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Kira McAfee. I have three children enrolled in Clarksville Charter School, and I oppose AB84.

Hello, my name is Lourdes Ornelas, and I am a teacher at Carrillo Point Academy, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hello, my name is Charles Glowack. I'm a teacher at Cabrillo Point Academy, and I, along with my friends from Los Angeles Unified School District, United Teachers Los Angeles, strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Starr Hendricks. I'm a personalized learning teacher at Core Charter School and a proud mom of these three young men who attend my school. And I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hi. Good morning. My name is Angel Hill, and I am a mother of two. My son, who I successfully homeschooled through Core Charter School in Marysville. He's now 20, in college. And this is my daughter. I'm also homeschooling through Core Charter School in Marysville, and I oppose 84. Thank you.

My name is Felicia Petrie. I'm a educator of charter school students in Loomis, California, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Abigail Costello. I teach at John Adams Academy and I oppose AB84.

Good morning. My name is Shannon Percival. I'm a teacher and a parent at John Adams Academy and I strongly oppose AB84.

Good morning. I'm Anthony Suzano, Latin teacher at John Adams Academy and ivy. Strongly oppose AB84.

Great. You can come and translate the Latin over the front of the Senate chambers next time you're there.

Hi, my name is Keeley Burke and I'm a charter school student and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hello. My name is Peyton Burke and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hello, my name is Holly Welch and I'm a charter school parent and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Tabitha Helms. I'm a California credentialed teacher, parent of three homeschooled through our charter school, Pacific Coast Academy, and representing 17 families at Gather and Grow Homeschool Co op. We oppose this bill. Thank you.

My name is Nicole Smith from San Diego. County. I'm a homeschool mom of four through Pacific Coast Academy. I'm also representing 17 families from our Gather and Go co op and we strongly oppose this bill. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi. This is my daughter Ruby, and my name is Sarah Ledesma. I am a parent and she is a charter student at Feather River Sequoia Grove. I am a two time cancer survivor and homeschool has saved my life as well as hers. So we oppose AB84.

Thank you very much.

Hello. My name is Barbara Goodman and I'm here with my children. We've been homeschooling through Pacific Center Peakl. Center Peak. Charter School. Center Peak Charter Academy for 10 years and we oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hi, I am Rachel Escalona. I am with Clarksville Charter School. I am a parent and a teacher with Clarksville and I highly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Morning. I'm Rebecca Morales. I'm a credentialed teacher with Clarksville Charter School and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hello, I'm Mary Frederick. I'm a credentialed California teacher and the administrator of Foothill Learning Academy, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Ruby Koontz. I'm a charter school student and I oppose this bill.

Thank you.

I'm Logan Ayres. I go to Cottonwood Charter School and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Ollie. I'm a charter school student and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Nova. I am a charter school student and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Allison Koontz. I'm a charter school parent and I strongly oppose this bill.

Thank you.

My name is Kelly Ayres. I'm a charter school parent and I strongly oppose this bill. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello. My name is Linda McCrory. I'm a charter school parent and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is River McCrory. I am a charter school student and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Krista Cant Hargo, and I'm a mental health worker and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Jillian Alaimo and I'm a parent at a charter school and they oppose this bill.

Thank you.

My name is Halana Rockney. I'm a charter school student and I oppose AB84.

My name is Addison Alaimo. I'm a charter school student and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Sunshine O'Kennedy. I am a charter school student and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is John Elise Rockne. I'm a charter school student and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Lisa Todd. I'm a retired instructional assistant for the public traditional public schools, and I strongly oppose this bill. AB84.

Thank you.

Hello. My name is Angela Botko and I'm a teacher at Corr Charter School in Marysville. I also have. I also am a parent of two of daughters who go to the charter school, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hello. My name is Joe Geddes. I am a parent of charter school students and also a Sacramento current Sacramento City Unified School District teacher, and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Thank you.

My name is Rylan Gaddis, and thanks to my charter, I'm able to go to high school and eventually college, and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hi. Good morning. My name is Kaylyn Geddes. I'm a mom of five and advocate for charter schools, homeschool charters and independent study, and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Thank you.

My name is Summer Jessie. My family has been enrolled with public charter schools for 14 years, and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello and good morning. My name is Zoe Jessie. I'm a recent graduate of a public charter school, and I oppose AB84. And if the aim of this institution is equity specifically for education, then I urge you to do the same.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello. My name is Zane Jesse. I am currently enrolled in a public charter school and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Heather A. Bingham. I'm a credentialed teacher of 24 years and a parent of four, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Wendy Durad. I'm from Fresno, California. I'm a vendor for local charter schools and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Morning. My name is Mark Durad. I am a 7 year educator with Yosemite and Monarch Charter schools in Fresno, California. I oppose AB84. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Hi, I'm Zoe. I'm thriving because of my non classroom based charter and I proudly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Jacqueline Baxter and I'm the parent of two students at a non classroom based charter and I proudly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Colin Baxter. I'm a high school counselor at a public school in Sacramento county, and I have been for the last 12 years, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Tracy Feaster. I am a charter school parent and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Lily and I'm a charter school student and I oppose AB84.

Nice T shirt.

Hi, I'm Shannon Huber and I am a charter school parent and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Levi Huber. I'm a charter school student and I oppose AB84.

Thank you. My name is Luke Huber. I'm a charter school student and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Jen Andres. I've been a homeschooling parent through the charter school for 15 years, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you very much.

I'm Faustina Andres, a charter school student and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Isaac Height. I'm a sixth grade student with Feather River Charter School in Elk Grove, California, and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Michelle Height, and I'm a credentialed teacher of 25 years with Feather River Charter School serving students in Sacramento county. And I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Amanda Penny. This is my daughter, Everly, and we oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Clara Harvey. I am a student of Lakeview Charter School. I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you, Clara. You did great.

Hi, I'm Erica Barish. I'm a credentialed teacher and curriculum coordinator with Lakeview Charter School in Sequoia. Grove. I serve students in Mendocino County, and I'm strongly opposed to AB84.

Thank you.

Hi. My name is Evangeline Meshcheid, and I'm a student at Clarksville Charter School, and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hi. My name is Genevieve Scheid. I'm a parent of two students at Clarksville Charter School, and I oppose AB84. Thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm James Scheid. I am the parent of two lovely students that are enrolled through Clarksville Charter School, and we strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hello. My name is Kylie O'Kennedy. I'm a parent of charter students, and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

My name is Story O'Kennedy. I'm a charter school student, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Serenity O'Kennedy. I'm a charter school student, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hello. My name is Serenity Kennedy, and I very strongly oppose ABD 80.

AB 84. Thank you very much.

Hi, my name is Monica Flores. I'm from Stockton, California, a parent of an autistic ADHD child who attends charter school, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Melanie Holder. I'm a homeschool charter school mom, and I oppose AB84.

Thank you.

Hi, my name is Dr. Michael McGrath. My daughter attends South Sutter Charter School, and We strongly oppose Bill 84. Thank you.

Thank you very much.

My name is Francisco Englehard, a disabled US army veteran. I was entrusted to defend this country. I should be entrusted to educate my children. I strongly oppose AB84.

Thank you. Over to you.

My name is Luca Charter Academy, and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Rocky. I am a charter school student. I oppose AB84.

Thank you. I'm Jude Englehard, and this is Flora Engelhard, and We strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Viva Engelhard. I am a charter school student, and I oppose AB84.

My name is Dawn Gatius, and I'm a credentialed teacher of 11 years, and I work at Sutter Peak Charter Academy, and we are green in both reading and math, and I oppose AB84.

Hi, my name is Tempe Barrett. I'm a student at Feather River Charter School, and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Siobhan Bairt. I'm an employee at Feather River Charter School and also a parent of students at our charter school, and we strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hi, my name is Cami Funk. My daughter is enrolled in Clarksville Charter School, and we oppose AB84. Thank you.

My name is.

My name is Samara Stoner. I'm a charter school student, and I oppose AB84.

My name is Natalie Elko. I'm a charter school student, and I oppose AB84.

Hi, my name is Jessica Elko. I'm a charter school parent, and I also oppose AB84. Thank you.

My name is Jennifer Rowe. I am a former charter school parent and a current vendor. I oppose AB84.

My name is Lisa Hindmarsh, and I am a former charter school parent with a special needs child, and I strongly oppose AB84.

I am Alex, and please vote now on AB84.

Hello. My name is Cason. Please vote no on this AB84.

Hello. My name is Colin, and I very strongly oppose AB84.

Good morning. My name is Ashley. Those are my boys. We homeschool. We love it. Please oppose this bill.

My name is Arianna Keller. I work for New Hope Charter School that has a beautiful partnership with the Robles School District, serving their seventh and eighth graders. And I homeschool my kids through Cottonwood Charter School. I oppose AB84.

Hi, my name is Lucas. I'm a charter school student, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Good morning. My name is Melissa Johnson. I'm a homeschool charter parent. I strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, my name is Benjamin, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hi, I'm Jackie Teeple. I'm grandmother and aunt to successfully homeschooled children. And please vote no for 84.

My name is Milena Garcia, and I oppose.

My name is Isla Garcia, and I oppose.

My name is Elena Garcia, and I oppose this bill.

My name is Jessica Westra. I am a public school drama teacher of 19 years and also a charter school parent, and I oppose AB84.

My name is Olivia Westra, and I'm a charter school student, and I strongly oppose AB84.

Hello, my name is Janiel Cimino. I am a charter school parent, and I'm also a board Member, and I oppose AB84 for many reasons. Some of them, or one of them would be that it would eliminate right now.

It's just. Sorry about that. Just as a reminder, you know, it's been a while since we. That we've had a lot of testimonies. #MeToos. Going through. So just as a reminder for the public at this time, we've had.

The way that the Committee works is that you have two leads, witnesses and we have two lead opposition witnesses and everyone else is considered a #MeToo, which means that we state our name, our organization that we're representing, and your position on the bill. So that is what we have right now.

So just as a reminder for the public, especially for those that are brand new, and especially for our kiddos.

Hello, my name is Tiger Cimino. I am a charter school student and I urge you to oppose AB84.

Hello, my name is Jace and I am a charter school student and I urge you up to oppose AB84.

My name is Benjamin Hartung, I'm a charter school educator and I oppose AB84.

My name is Margie Hartung. I'm a grandmother of 15 charter school children and a mother of five successful, grand successful children in the charter school. Educator, music educator. And I oppose AB84.

My name is Kathleen Porter and I am with Feather River Charter School, homeschooling three children and I oppose AB84.

My name is Ezra, I'm a charter school 2 student and I am 10 and I oppose AB84.

My Name is Amelia. I am a charter school student and I oppose AB84.

My name is Whitney Ellis and I am the mother of two children that are learning and thriving and my son is healing from brain cancer because of the ability to be in a non classroom based charter. So we strongly oppose AB84 for our family and families just like ours.

My name is Carter Ellis and I strongly oppose.

My name is Ruby Ellis and I oppose AB84.

Hello, my name is Owen Tatum and I strongly oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hello. My name is Kim Tatum and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Paula Herrod and I strongly oppose AB84.

My name Is Bo Herrod and I strongly oppose AB 84.

My name is Cameron Tatum. This is Posy Harrod. We're going into fifth grade and we strongly oppose AB84.

My name is Lena El Reyes. I'm a parent of two public school kids and I'm a teacher who worked at Highlands Community Charter School, and I strongly support AB84.

My name is Lindsey Curtis and I was an educator at Highlands Community Charter School, and I'm also in Strong support of AB84.

My name is Selena Tasabia. I'm a former Highlands Community Charter School teacher and I strongly support AB84.

Good morning. We're the Dominguez family and we are with Cottonwood Charter School and we oppose AB84. Thank you.

Hi. My name is Ayan. I'm in Cabrillo Point Academy. I'm here to vote no on AB 84.

Hi. My name is Pallavi. My son goes to Cabrillo Point Academy. I strongly oppose AB 84. Thank you.

Hi. My name is Amol Arrow. That's my son Ayan, and I strongly oppose AB 84.

Hi. I'm Brock Campbell from the California Baptist Capitol Ministry on behalf of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Santa Maria, Faith Baptist Church in Wheatland, and Baptists for Biblical Values in opposition.

Hi. I'm Emily Campbell with the California Baptist Capitol Ministry on behalf of Freedom's Way Baptist Church in Castaic. We oppose.

David Bolog. Grateful for the Assembly Member getting all these family members involved in opposition. Thank you.

My name is Melissa Warren, and I'm a charter school advocate and an aunt to charter students, and I oppose AB 84.

My name is Leslie Loy. I'm a proud charter parent, and I oppose AB 84.

My name is Felicity Gasser. I'm a parent of two children at Golden Valley Charter Schools, and I oppose AB 84. Thank you.

My name is Sarah Gillen, and I oppose AB 84, and represent my family and community who desperately need charter schools. Thank you.

Good morning. My name is Adelita Gonzales. I'm the President of the Homeschool Association of California, and I strongly oppose AB 84. Thank you.

Good morning, Madam Chair and Members. Christopher Sanchez of the Consumer Federation of California in support.

Hi. Hi. I'm Bear Creekmore. I strongly oppose AB 84.

Hi. I'm Nicole Creekmore with Homeschool Mule and a charter school, homeschool mom, and I strongly oppose AB 84.

I'm Azure Creekmore, and I also strongly oppose AB 84.

My name is Donnie Creekmore with HomeschoolMule.com, and I strongly oppose AB 84.

I am Ezra Creekmore. I am with Homeschool Mule, and I strongly, strongly oppose AB 84.

Good morning, Chair and Committee. April Robinson, and I strongly oppose this bill. Thank you.

Good afternoon, Madam Chair and Members. Jonathan Munoz on behalf of Green Dot Public Schools as well as Learn4Life Public Charter Schools in strong opposition.

Hi. I'm Gabrielle Ingram, founder of Stand Up Sacramento County, and we are members of Feather River Charter in opposition. Thank you.

Jim Edmonds in opposition of AB 84.

Madam Chair and Members. Kirk Kimmelshue here today on behalf of Real Journey Academies. With your indulgence, just really want to thank the Assembly Member and his Committee staff as well as the Senate Education Committee staff. We've undertaken a lot of work on both bills. We know that process is going to continue. We have a lot left to go. But just really appreciate the staff's efforts and everyone's efforts around the table and hope those conversations are productive through the summer. But for now, opposed.

Hi there. Chris Bollinger on behalf of the Opportunity Youth Schools Coalition and Lighthouse Charter School in opposition. Thank you.

Madam Chair and Senators. Adam Keigwin on behalf of Alliance College Ready Public Schools in opposition.

Madam Chair and Members. Michael Young with the California Teachers Association in strong support.

Wow. We actually got through. That's pretty impressive. So I just want to commend all of the students that were able to come and attend and share their testimony and be part of the process of creating legislation in California. I hope this was a learning, a great learning and memorable experience for all of you.

Love the very well dressed, some of these kids were incredibly well dressed with suits. Probably better dressed than some folks out here that work here officially. But love to see them here. And I also wanted to commend many of the parents who are absolutely blessed and privileged to and honored to be able to homeschool their children. It is such a fast moving pace of life, you know, just life in general and how quickly time goes.

And when you have that opportunity to be able to spend that time and really cherish that time and help your child grow and learn, I think that's an amazing and beautiful gift that you're giving your child. So congratulations to those parents that are able to be able to do that. You're blessed and honored and privileged on that end. So congratulations. So we are going to bring it back to the dais, and we'll begin with Senator Laird.

Thank you. They're starting the last bill in Natural Resources, so I was hoping to get a little discussion in before I have to run out and vote. And the reason I was smiling was that I had a bill heard yesterday based on a FCMAT study where I didn't take every recommendation. So I was relating to the circumstance. I missed part of the opening discussion because I was in another hearing. And I think that the problem is this has been reduced to a binary situation that you're either for this or against this. Or charter schools is one way or you're against it if it's another.

And I voted for the Ashby bill, Senate Bill 414, which I didn't feel totally comfortable with because I know there's negotiations going on and that there's somebody that has a little bit of a more charter bill into it and this bill and various charter organizations and various education organizations. And I think that sometimes it's misread that if we support either of those bills, we are taking a position, when what we're really doing is feeding into the negotiations and allowing the negotiations to happen.

And so I want to ask a couple of questions, even though I think the negotiations are where of the game is, to sort of address some of the concerns that I heard in people coming to my office or testifying or writing. And one of them is, I know this is in the weeds, but it seems like one of the big issues is about vendors. And the question is is under this bill, can non-classroom based charters continue to utilize non-credentialed vendors?

Yes, except let me clarify. They can use vendors that are approved by teachers that are not coming at the request of the parents. So for example, if a teacher is rubber stamping a parent's request, that would not be appropriate. But if a teacher, a credentialed... Under this bill, under the current language of the bill, a credentialed teacher would be able to approve vendors using these enrichment vouchers.

Now let me also clarify, since there is a lot of parents and families that raise the medically fragile or children with special medical needs. If it is in an IEP, individualized education plan, as part of a professionally reviewed special education plan, these enrichment vouchers can continue to be used for any and all services that are included in IEPs.

So we just want to crack down on the abuses. We know that we have heard documented cases of family members using these vouchers for multi-day Disneyland family passes. We've heard families using them for religious education programs, for private education programs.

These, in essence what we have now are gifts of public funds that are privatizing, you know, public education dollars. And so, you know, while we understand that the homeschool model, you know, that parents are doing what parents do. They are advocating for the kids to get, you know, any additional services that they may be able to get through these enrichment vouchers.

You know, I'm a parent of a public school parent, you know, and if I got, I mean, we're hearing reports that up to five, families are receiving up to $5,000 from some of these charter schools to, you know, advertise and to get more enrollment. And so we're just trying to crack down on the abuses while at the same time allow for legitimate educational or special...

Back to the original question on vendors, which you answered. One of the criticisms then is that somehow charter schools are being held to a higher standard than public schools. Could you speak to that?

Absolutely not. I mean. Well, first of all...

Well no, absolutely not. Not that you're not going to speak to it. Okay. Just checking.

Thank you, Senator, for the clarification. I mean, first of all, public schools are not giving thousands of dollars in, you know, Proposition 98 taxpayer dollars to parents. I mean, and that's why I suspect if the vast majority of the parents and kids that testified in opposition, if they were allowed to explain their opposition.

The biggest concern from the homeschool parents in particular is that we're proposing to, you know, limit or set guardrails on what essentially, you know, they have no guardrails now under existing law. I don't know if Mr. Fine with FCMAT wants to add any anything further in terms of FCMAT's recommendation as to, or Ms. Mancini.

Yeah. Cassie Mancini with CSEA. I think I would say the intent of this bill is always to apply what we're doing equally to all types of local education agencies. Charter schools, public schools, non-classroom based schools. Everyone. And I know that in our conversations around this section of the bill on educational enrichment activities, that's, I think, what the direction we're moving towards in negotiations and we hope to make substantial progress on that over the summer.

But when I first learned about this issue, I was kind of confused because it was always my impression that homeschools were outside our traditional public education system. And as we learned more about this, we've seen many non-classroom based charter schools start to market themselves specifically to homeschool parents by offering this money. And I think from our perspective, we feel that students are really entitled to the most robust education.

Okay, thank you. Let me just ask the charter person, if it's okay with the Chair. Chair, Chair? It's okay if I ask the charter person to respond?

Yeah. If their bill said what Assembly Member Muratsuchi says is their intent, what they would have is our language in Senate Bill 414, which explicitly requires teacher sign off and authorization. Their bill doesn't do that. Their bill does discriminate. It allows recipients of ELOP funding, which non-classroom based schools don't get.

Expanded Learning Opportunities Program. Since I'm on a campaign against acronyms in the Education Budget Subcommittee. People need to know what you're talking about.

As you know, most public schools are eligible for ELOP funding with the exception of non-classroom based schools. And they can spend this money quite flexibly, including on non-credentialed staff who provide expanded learning.

Let me just say that what we're experiencing is you're advocating for the bill that's in negotiations. He's advocating for the bill that's in negotiations. And what you're doing is saving everybody negotiations time by having the negotiations here. But you're making the point of what is going to be discussed in that, and that is one difference.

More important, our bill does exactly...

That's why we have hearing on that bill that is separate. So then let me... They're yelling at me to get over to Natural Resources, but let me try to finish this. There are a couple of other things. And one is, is that there's a moratorium on non-classroom based charter schools that expires on January 1st. And I believe that's part of your motivation. So why is this bill important to do given that expiration?

Yes. Thank you, Senator. So the moratorium was placed because of these high profile cases of documented fraud. And so it's urgent for the Legislature to take action this year to ensure that when the moratorium expires that we have the necessary guardrails in place so that we can prevent these kinds of hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer dollars being defrauded. That is why we need to take action this year.

And then one last thing, because a lot of the incoming basically said this bill bans homeschooling or it defunds charter schools. Could you speak to that?

Yes, sir. Yeah. As I started my presentation, this is not an anti-charter school bill. This is not an anti-home school bill. This is an anti-bad actor bill. This is a good government bill that is trying to crack down again on the multiple cases of hundreds of millions of dollars that have been abused. And so I think, I hope, you know, we have...

I mean the Charter School Association, the opposition acknowledged that we have a problem. So we have that common ground. I think we heard the spirit of agreement in terms of needing guardrails on the enrichment vouchers, you know, although you know that's going to be an ongoing philosophical conversation. But that is not this bill.

Thank you. And I apologize because I have to go. But this has been an important discussion because I hope that you hear some of the things that were heard in the negotiations, and I hope you do as well. And what this really does and what the hearing on SB 414, the Ashby bill, was to lay these issues on the table so they can be discussed and resolved. And I think all of us reserve the right at the future not to support the outcome if some of these concerns aren't taken seriously in the negotiations.

But for the negotiations to happen, we have to vote each bill forward. That's why I voted for the Ashby bill, even though I had concerns with it, to make sure those concerns were on the table and in the negotiations. And it's why I will be voting for your bill today to make sure you're at the table doing the same thing. And I really, I'm really sorry. They're just all waiting for me to vote. So I'm going to go over and vote, and I will be back to vote here. Thank you. I appreciate the responses from everybody.

Thank you, Senator. And through the Chair, if I may just add that, as Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, I want to make it clear to members of the public that we will be hearing Senator Ashby's Senate Bill 414. As Chair of the Committee, my recommendation for that bill is to do pass, is to support Senator Ashby's bill so that we can continue these negotiations.

So glad because I supported that bill as well. As Mr. Senator Laird, and it doesn't mean that Senator Laird doesn't come back before the conversations have ended. And he might actually have an opportunity to expand a little bit more if he has more questions, if time permits. Any other questions, comments? Senator Choi, Senator Gonzalez, and Senator Cortese.

Assembly Member Muratsuchi, thank you for presenting your bill. But as you have seen, I tried to count and I was close to over 200 parents, people came out in opposition to your bill. And to my count, I've been counting this way, only 25 people spoke in support of the bill. Obviously, as you know, the charter school was designed for the purpose of what? Do you know? Can you state why charter school was created?

Sure. I mean, as your staff report summarizes the history of charter schools, charter schools were founded to allow for basically innovative new approaches using public education dollars to allow for flexibility. But again, you know, the key is using the public dollars. As long as we are going to use public dollars, we want to make sure, I think we should have bipartisan agreement that we want to make sure that public dollars are not being used for fraud.

Like in the case of the A3 charters, where they were taking little league baseball rosters and enrolling the kids without the kids or their parents knowing about it and collecting enrollment based, you know, Proposition 98 public education dollars in funding, over $400 million. So I hope that we have that bipartisan agreement that we have a problem, we need to crack down on it. We need to tighten oversight and accountability.

And that's exactly what, you know, we are negotiating with Senator Ashby, with all the stakeholders to tighten up so that... You know, some people say that, well, look, you know, A3 charters, they were criminally convicted. And so why do we need more oversight? We need more oversight so that we can prevent these kinds of abuses.

You know, A3 charters $400 million, Highlands Community Charter just in two fiscal years, over $180 million. We want to prevent these kind of things. You know, our precious public education taxpayer dollars for being used for fraud or for abuse. And that is the goal.

I totally agree that bad actors that you have illustrated should be punished and prevent from happening in the future. But as you mentioned, charter school was allowed in the beginning for innovative education and also flexibility. But you missed a very important part that was those innovations and flexibility means that the schools, public schools could not do their best job because of too many regulations. That's the reason the charter school was created.

To be free of so many state regulations. And they can be independent from the school districts and be their own and create education programs innovatively and also personal, meeting the personal needs. And then also education doesn't have to be always classroom based depending upon situation, environment, and also individual needs.

And as I've been serving on the Assembly, now on the Senate, I have seen any bills relating to charter schools has been continuously creating more regulations away from the original intent of the creation of the charter schools for them to be free and focus upon their academic innovations and the creativity and the flexibility in learning to create a learning environment.

Obviously no one will approve of public tax dollars to be abused and personal use. And the bad actors you have illustrated should be caught and punished. And SB 414, which will be heading to the Education Committee in the Assembly will be dealt with. That creates very necessary guardrails for public schools to prevent those bad actors.

The illustration some of the public dollars that has been abused. I am just receiving message from, checking from my staff that you have mentioned that the $400 million was a fraud amount committed by A3 charter schools. Simply my staff members found it was not the case. Yes, they are agreeing.

Charter brought in $400 million through its network of 19 online charter schools. But the actual fraud you are referring to is only $80 million that the two people funneled into private companies. And since being caught, total amount $240 million has been paid back.

Now we had one actor in this case that I know of is a bad actor and they are caught and they are being punished and they have paid for it. But because of one of few bad actors, your bill is just choking the original intent of freedom of innovation and flexibility of the charter school character.

In the beginning that the we have allowed all charter schools, more than 700,000 charter school students are being penalized because of one or two bad actors. Those ones we need to watch out and catch them and prosecute them and penalize them. There's no question.

But overall, just because of always under no matter what they situation it may be, there are bound to be bad actors. We have red lights, green lights, and we all know that we are supposed to stop at the red light. But some people go through and we try to catch them.

And that means we should not allow the vehicles on the street. We don't do that. So for that token, I think you need to hear the voices. So far this many people have come up, and then I think you need to stand on the side of students and the parents that they want rather than governmental point of view and catching bad actors and penalize them. And we do have vehicles.

That's the reason we have mechanism that each school district, authorizing school district will catch them and board members will catch them. Parents can catch them and report them, district attorneys can catch them. And there are multiple ways rather than collectively penalizing all the charter schools. Unfortunately, I would not be able to support and I hope you can change your mind on withdrawing this bill.

Please, no clapping and no responses as we're going through this. I want to make sure that we're able to do this in a timely process. We're already two hours in, so yeah, if you just, we request silence while we're having discussion. Assembly Member Muratsuchi.

Thank you, madam, through the Chair. Thank you, Senator Choi. You know, I would caution anyone on basing policy decisions on the number of people that come out to testify. I suspect that if you survey Californians, there would be strong, overwhelming support to crack down on corruption, to crack down on public education dollars being fraudulently collected by these bad actors.

We know that it's not just A3, as Mr. Fine... I mean Mr. Fine is the recognized statewide expert on fiscal management, and he testified the decades of calls to strengthen oversight and accountability. So these are not isolated cases. That is what my bill, Senator Ashby's bill, we are in agreement on that principle.

And I want to acknowledge I agree with you on principle. What we're basically negotiating with my bill and Senator Ashby's bill is how to strike that balance between strengthening oversight and accountability while allowing for necessary flexibility for the good charter schools to continue to operate. And so we are in agreement on somewhere we need to strike that balance. And so that is the goal of the ongoing negotiations.

Just to add to your response that SB 414 has been agreed upon and supported by Senator colleagues that I spoke to and then also many parents. So I think if you compromise between the two bills and come up with some big amendments.

I think people will agree with you. To crack down bad actors.

That is the goal.

Okay, I think next up we have Senator Gonzalez.

Thank you very much, Madam Chair. And I just want to thank the author and all the parents and all of the supporters, opponents for coming out.

I know it's not easy to bring your kids over here and have them testify, but I have, as a a mother of a 10 year old, I just really appreciate seeing the children, regardless of what side you're on. But I do want to thank the author.

I'm a wholehearted supporter of ethics and financial training and ensuring that we uphold taxpayer money to the highest standard and that the officials that are working for, not just the public, but most importantly children, are held to the highest standard.

In fact, I have a bill up in local government today, SB 827, that asks for ethics and fiscal training of all of our local government officials because I do believe in that. I've had a lot of reports of corruption in my district and so I've lived experience as an elected official.

I think whether it's $400 million or $80 million, whatever the amount, all I know is it's a lot of money that is not going towards children. Regardless. If you want to take your child to a charter school, a home based or public traditional school, that is a lot of money.

I actually authored SB 991 back a year or so ago that continued the Inspector General for LA Unified School District as well, to conduct audits, investigations, deter fraud, waste and abuse. So I just want you all to know where I'm coming from as it pertains to this bill. And I do commend the authority.

It's never easy to tell, especially after, you know this, the daylight opens and you start to see the fraud and abuse again, especially against our children in this really incredible State of California where we are the fifth largest, fourth largest economy.

Now, we want all of our children, regardless of party affiliation and where you're at, to be well taken care of and respected, as well as the parents that are putting in the work.

But I think this strikes a good balance and I know you will continue to do that work, to work with our other Senate colleague and to work with supporters and those that are opposed on a good landing space for this bill. I just have a couple questions.

So just for you, of course, as LA as I represent Los Angeles Unified School District, as do you, and the issue of, you know, additional tasks like auditing and clear guidelines, instructions, et cetera, if the bill should get out of Committee, today, what will you do to ensure, as the author, that authorizers are meaningfully involved in the conversations moving forward?

Yes, I thank you, Senator, first of all, for your leadership and wanting to ensure that taxpayer dollars are properly spent.

I want to emphasize not only your bill to call for the Inspector General for Los Angeles Unified or, you know, AB 84, which is calling for a statewide Inspector General, that Inspector General would strengthen oversight over all publicly funded schools, not only charter schools, but our traditional public schools.

In terms of your question, I think you're touching on some of the concerns raised by our school administrators in terms of the authorizer concerns that they raise. It's my understanding that the primary concern that the authorizers are raising are in terms of the need for more funding to do their jobs.

And so our original bill was proposing to allow the authorizers to collect, you know, a higher oversight fee from the charter school in order to be able to do their job.

Because, you know, as we're seeing at the Federal Government level, you know, when you cut those whose jobs it is to oversee these agencies, then, you know, bad things happen. And so we want to make sure that the oversight, the authorizers who have the oversight responsibility have the necessary resources to be able to do their job.