Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Charter School Oversight topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee places AB 84 on suspense after wide opposition from charter and homeschool communities
Summary
AB 84, a charter‑school oversight bill that opponents said would cut funding for non‑classroom programs and harm small vendors, was moved to the suspense file after large public turnout and lengthy testimony.
The Senate Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday placed AB 84, an overhaul of charter authorization and oversight introduced by Assemblymember Marisucci, on the suspense file after hours of testimony from hundreds of parents, charter operators, homeschool families and advocacy groups.
Opponents argued the bill would substantially reduce funding for non‑classroom‑based charter programs, eliminate or convert vendor arrangements into employee relationships, and impose administrative requirements that would impose “unfunded mandates” and force many small vendors out of business. Tara Thornton, co‑founder of Freedom Angels, told the committee “this bill ... will wipe out a large number of small business vendors,” and described the broader network of vendors, charters and home‑school partnerships as “an ecosystem.”
Jessica Enos, speaking for AV Parents for Education, summarized opponents’ fiscal worries: “This bill will bring a loss to federal and local batching funds, increased oversight bureaucracy, which will add millions in reoccurring administrative costs. Instead of directing dollars to our classroom, this will divert those needed funds to bureaucracy and enforcement.” Several witnesses warned nonclassroom programs serving special‑needs students, military families, and other vulnerable populations could be reduced or eliminated.
Supporters of the bill included Public Advocates and other groups that argued the proposal would increase transparency and accountability for charter operations. Public Advocates’ representative said the bill targets gaps in oversight and aims to ensure consistent standards for students in charter programs.
Committee members emphasized the bill’s fiscal implications and urged stakeholders to continue engagement as the bill is evaluated. Senator Sayarto explained the suspense process and the upcoming “appropriations drop” in late September when the committee will determine which suspense items move forward.
Outcome: AB 84 was placed on the committee’s suspense file for additional fiscal review. The hearing record included a long list of written and oral comments from parents, students, charter school staff, small vendors and advocacy groups on both sides of the issue.
