Assembly Education Committee advances charter oversight, literacy, college-prep alignment, de‑escalation training, ed‑tech review and TK funding fixes

The Assembly Education Committee on Tuesday advanced several education bills to the Appropriations Committee, including AB 84, a comprehensive charter school audit and oversight bill, and AB 1454, a measure to strengthen early literacy instruction and professional development for teachers.

The package of bills moved after several hours of testimony and public comment. Committee members emphasized accountability for public dollars, the need to improve reading outcomes for young students, and concerns about local capacity and unintended consequences for small or basic‑aid districts.

AB 84: Charter audit, authorizer and funding reforms

Assembly Bill 84, authored by the committee chair, would apply strengthened audit rules and new oversight requirements to charter schools and change the non‑classroom‑based (NCB) charter funding determination process. The bill was presented as a direct response to the criminal A3 charter fraud case and the February 2024 Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO)–FCMAT review. Mike Fine, CEO of the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT), told the committee that AB 84 “provides comprehensive reforms … to explicitly apply [audit statutes] to charter schools” and to strengthen auditor training and oversight.

Supporters framed the bill as a way to stop documented fraud and protect taxpayer dollars. Cassie Mancini of the California School Employees Association said AB 84 “is the expert‑backed solution to prevent another A3.” Opponents including Myrna Castrejon, president and CEO of the California Charter Schools Association, and Dr. Christina De Jesus of Green Dot Public Schools argued the bill is overly broad, would divert classroom funding to new oversight fees and bureaucracy, and could harm many high‑performing charter schools. Castrejon said AB 84 would “trip­le oversight fees, drawing them away from classrooms,” and De Jesus warned it could “have a devastating impact on all charter schools.”

After extended testimony and member questions, the committee voted to pass AB 84 as amended to Appropriations. Motion: Assemblymember Bonta; second: Assemblymember Patel. The roll call recorded five ayes and one no (Hoover). The committee chair announced the bill passed the committee…