Edward Henderson |California Black Media | November 7, 2022
Last week, the office of Gov. Gavin Newsom released a list of bills from the current legislative session that he signed and vetoed.
Among the bills vetoed was Senate Bill (SB) 70, which would have made attending one year of kindergarten mandatory beginning with the 2024-25 school year.
“While the author’s intent is laudable, SB 70 is estimated to have Prop 98 General Fund cost impacts of up to $268 million ongoing, which is not currently accounted for in the state’s fiscal plan. With our state facing lower-than-expected revenues over the first few months of this fiscal year, it is important to remain disciplined when it comes to spending, particularly spending that is ongoing. We must prioritize existing obligations and priorities, including education, health care, public safety and safety-net programs,” Newsom said in a release.
Existing California law does not require children to attend school until they are six years old, the age children typically begin first grade.
Children currently attending kindergarten, need to be five years old to be eligible, with some school districts offering transitional programs for kids as young as four years old.
In California, about 5 to 7 % of eligible students don’t enroll in kindergarten.
A similar bill to SB 70 was vetoed in 2014 by Gov. Jerry Brown, who said the decision should be left to parental discretion.
SB 70 is the latest in a string of bills that Newsom has vetoed, warning of lower-than-expected state revenue. The California Department of Finance announced earlier this month that revenue for August was $816 million, or 6%, below what state officials had forecasted.
The Legislature has sent measures with potential costs of over $20 billion in one-time spending commitments and more than $10 billion in ongoing commitments to the governor’s desk, Newsom said in his SB 70 veto message. “Bills with significant fiscal impact, such as this measure, should be considered and accounted for as part of the annual budget process.”
“Any teacher who has been in the classroom as long as I have can describe to you in detail the long-term, devastating effects to a child who misses kindergarten. I plan to reintroduce my mandatory kindergarten bill and fight for the funding next year. Our children are too important. We can either pay the education costs now or the far greater societal costs later,” said Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) who introduced the bill.
California Black Media also reached out to California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond who supported SB 70 for comment but did not receive a response.
According to the National Education Association, kindergarteners who miss attending school 10 % or more during the school year have lower academic performance when they reach the first grade.
Additionally, studies showed that children from lower-income families who attend kindergarten are less likely to be below grade level throughout their academic careers and earn 5 % higher wages as adults. Kindergarten helps to level the playing field for children who are less likely to receive high-quality childcare or preschool. Hispanic children with access to kindergarten are also 17 % less likely to be below grade level for their age and earn wages 5 % higher as adults.
Alumna Establishes Scholarship to Help Future Generations of Students
By Francesca Dinglasan, UC Merced
June 24, 2022
As part of her goal to give back to her alma mater as well as the San Jose community that supported and fostered her growth, UC Merced alumna Nohely Aguilar (’12) has established a scholarship to assist students who follow in her footsteps.
The Nohely Aguilar Scholarship Fund will provide financial assistance to college-bound students who select the path from Mt. Pleasant High to UC Merced, the same as Aguilar’s academic journey.
Aguilar remembers her family’s challenges in meeting higher education expenses and wanted to ensure that future scholars facing similar barriers had access to resources that lessened their financial burden.
“My dad was a huge advocate for education, and I know he did everything in his power to provide me with everything I needed,” Aguilar said. “I want to be able to help people from a similar background and families that can use some assistance.”
In addition to the direct funding provided by the endowment, Aguilar hopes future award recipients benefit from all the university offers and their scholarships empower them to make the most of their time at UC Merced.
“Their education doesn’t only come from the classroom,” she said. “Different organizations and activities offer a great deal of skill development and areas to learn, and this can help them in deciding what they want to do and who they want to be once they graduate. There are an endless number of possibilities.”
Aguilar’s trajectory from San Jose to Merced was a fortunate one. UC Merced offered her admission, and the letter arrived right before Bobcat Day. Due to the timing, she attended the spring event with her parents to learn more about the campus.
“Once we got there, there was a feeling of belonging,” Aguilar said. “Everyone we interacted with was friendly and helpful, and they made us feel welcome. It was a great fit from the start.”
Now Aguilar, who is a board-certified behavior analyst and currently pursuing a Ph.D. in psychology, wants students graduating from her high school to have the same access to the meaningful experiences – both academic and personal – that were so much a part of her undergraduate years. She also hopes that, like her, they will be inspired to continue helping those who come after them.
“I hope that as students begin to fulfill their goals and dreams, they too can look back and lend a helping hand to those who follow them and keep the chain of giving going,” she said.
“Dedicated alumni like Nohely contribute tremendously to the continued success of UC Merced,” Vice Chancellor and Chief External Relations Officer E. Edward Klotzbier said. “Her commitment to future generations of scholars represents the best of our graduates and their spirit of generosity. We could not be more grateful for her support.”
“I have seen the campus’ growth through the years, and I am excited to see the great things that the school and its students continue to do,” Aguilar said. “I am proud to call UC Merced my alma mater.”
