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Championing the Success of English Learners

RICA

Update on AB 614 (Rubio) Eliminate the RICA

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Thank you to everyone who responded so quickly to our Action Alert on AB 614 (Rubio).  Unfortunately, SB 614 (Rubio) has been made into a 2 year bill! This means the bill will not be heard in the Assembly Education Committee next week, Wednesday, July 10, 2019. This decision was not made lightly. In light of the strong opposition organized against the bill and concerns identified by the Chairperson of the Assembly Education Committee and committee staff, it was decided to make SB 614 a 2 year bill. Senator Rubio, author of the bill, also was pushing to make her bill a 2 year bill.

In light of this decision, this bill will not be heard in committee next week Wednesday, July 10th and the bill will not proceed through the legislative process this year. Letters are not needed. We will continue to work with the author on amendments to hopefully move the bill in the next legislative session. Again we appreciate your quick response to signing letters supporting the AB 614. Stay tuned.

Act Now: Help Repeal the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA)

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On July 1, 2019, Senator Rubio amended SB 614, proposing the elimination of the RICA (Reading Instruction Competency Assessment) The RICA is neither aligned to the current English Language Arts standards, the current curriculum framework nor the current teacher performance expectations. Developed in 1996, the RICA also does not reflect current research and instructional practices in literacy.

The bill shifts the evaluation of teachers’ reading and literacy knowledge from the RICA  to university coursework, teacher performance expectations and assessment of literacy competency through the accreditation program. This is good for our teacher candidates, schools and students because teacher candidates will still be required to learn how to teach reading and literacy. SB 614 (Rubio) does not remove this requirement!.

Please sign the letter requesting Assembly Member O’Donnell and members of the committee to vote “yes” on SB 614 (Rubio) and to move the bill out of the Assembly Education Committee so it can  proceed through the legislative process. Letters must be signed by Monday, July 8, 2019 by 10:00 AM.

The members of the Assembly Education Committee need to see that there is tremendous support for SB 614 (Rubio)! Please SIGN NOW!!