Our Bus Trip for Education was a Big Success!

Our 20th annual Sacramento Bus Trip for Education was a memorable day under the sun at the State Capitol. Many thanks to all who participated!

Last month, about 180 educators, students, parents and other local community leaders got up early and loaded up on busses to drive from San Jose to Sacramento, to meet with their elected leaders on education policy. Funding for public schools and colleges takes up about half of the entire state budget, and our trip always follows the release of the Governor’s revised budget plan.  

This year, although state revenues have fallen due to drops in the stock market, the Governor proposes to maintain per-pupil funding levels and fund transitional kindergarten for California’s youngest students. The Governor also plans to move more financial support to the lowest-income families and the state’s lowest-performing students.  

The Bus Trip to Sacramento began 20 years ago, when I served on the San Jose City Council. At the time, a small group of us from the Evergreen area drove to Sacramento to petition the Governor to adequately fund public education. Our group has grown each year, little by little, and I’m thrilled to now bring 180 passionate community members to meet and share ideas with the powers of Sacramento.

Speakers for the day included State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins and Senators Mike McGuire, Aisha Wahab, Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh, John Laird, Steve Glazer, and me. We also enjoyed Assemblymembers Ash Kalra, Alex Lee, and Evan Low, as well as California Teachers Association Legislative Relations Manager Lori Easterling and California School Employees Association Government Relations Director David Schapira.  

Here are a few snapshots from that lively and informative day:

Assemblymember Ash Karla (D-San Jose) said he wants to make sure textbook costs are disclosed in college course schedules so students get all the information they need to select classes. Ash, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment, also wants to remove the requirement that educators must notify law enforcement on certain student behaviors that can be resolved without police intervention.

Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose) spoke about his legislation to raise teacher pay, and make it easier for people to become teachers. Alex, who sits on the Assembly Education Committee, also wants to boost funding for school facilities, including classrooms, cafeterias, and gyms.

Assemblymember Evan Low (D-Campbell) talked about the importance of civic engagement and voting access, so that elected officials can adequately represent their communities.

Senator Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) underscored the value of colleges graduating students in four years to reduce student debt and dropouts. Steve, who sits on the Senate Education Committee, mentioned that San Jose State University tripled its four-year graduation rate over eight years — the best rate of the entire California State University system!

Senator John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) spoke about protecting school funding in the face of budget cutbacks. John, who chairs the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education, is pushing for more funding for K-12 arts, and for new housing across California’s entire public higher education system (CCC, CSU, UC).

Senate Majority Leader Mike McGuire (D-Geyserville), who sits on the Senate Education Committee, talked about California’s strides in state spending levels for each student (from dead last to top 10 in the nation!) and improvements in school meals and student counseling.

Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa), vice chair of the Senate Education Committee, spoke about building more on-campus college housing, creating a more inclusive environment for special education, and improving school meal access for every California student.  

Finally, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) encouraged attendees of our Sacramento Bus Trip to get in touch with their local representatives. Toni, who chairs the Senate Rules Committee, explained the budget process and the focus on education in policy making.

I’ll close with my conversation with Erik Bauer, a junior at Abraham Lincoln High School. Erik asked what was being done to address the fentanyl crisis that has, in some terrible cases, caused students to overdose at school. Erik told me stories that made my heart sink. Unfortunately, public schools aren’t currently required to have plans to protect students from such overdoses. Fentanyl is responsible for one in every five deaths of young people. It kills more youth than all other drugs combined. In Santa Clara County alone, youth fentanyl deaths have spiked by 365 percent over the past few years. My SB 10 would require that school safety plans – which are already in every school – include concrete strategies for the prevention and treatment of student opioid overdoses, including training for teachers and other school employees.  

My conversation with Erik shows why the annual bus trip is necessary. Elected officials need to hear from people who are experiencing life outside of the halls of the Capitol — people who have to live with the laws that come out of Sacramento. Thank you so much to everyone who joined us, asked good questions, and made their voice heard. Your ideas and feedback are essential to creating a California that works for everyone. 

Be well,

Senator Dave Cortese