Position Statement in August of '08

By Norberto P. Salazar

Oppose Education Budget Cuts, Support Dual Language Immersion Programs and Close the Achievement Gap by (1) Supporting Teacher's Unions, (2) Supporting Education Reform, and (3) Community Organizing.

This statement was written in August of '08

Oppose Education Cuts: Conference Committee Budget, AB 1781, closes tax loopholes, increases revenues to protect public education. Our schools would benefit considerably if lawmakers would put their partisan politics aside and support AB 1781.

Support dual language immersion programs as best strategy for ELL's. Dual language programs have the highest academic rigor that leads to academic biliteracy and the A-G core curriculum. I support the English Language Instruction Improvement Act of 2007 (HR 2957) so that ELL students can achieve high levels of proficiency in English as well as in the entire academic curriculum.

Support cutting the Achievement Gap via: (a) supporting teacher union concerns related to the Achievement Gap; (b) support education reform with participation from the education departments of SDSU, UCSD, and Southwestern Community College; and (c) involving the community directly in such community based organizations such as (but not limited to): PTA, the Filipino American Community Empowerment group, CABE, the South Bay Forum, the South West Chula Vista Civic Association, and the Mexican-American Business and Professional Association; to insure that the community's voice will always be included in all discussions about education issues that directly effect public schools.