PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Legislature could soon approve changes to the teacher certification process designed to address a shortage of classroom instructors by allowing more people without regular teacher training to lead a class.

The Republican-backed proposal has already passed the Senate and was given initial approval after a vigorous House debate on Monday over objections from Democrats, who said it will allow unqualified people to teach.

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Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

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PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Legislature could soon approve changes to the teacher certification process designed to address a shortage of classroom instructors by allowing more people without regular teacher training to lead a class.

The Republican-backed proposal has already passed the Senate and was given initial approval after a vigorous House debate on Monday over objections from Democrats, who said it will allow unqualified people to teach.

The proposal would expand a 2017 law that allows people with experience in the private sector to get a “subject-matter certificate” to teach in grades 6-12.

The change removes the grade restrictions, allowing someone with outside experience and a college degree to also teach kindergarten through grade 5.

Arizona, like many other states, has an ongoing teacher shortage and backers say the proposal is one more tool to address that problem.

“This is not about watering down the standards to become a teacher and to receive a certificate,” Mesa Republican Rep. Michelle Udall said. “It’s about additional pathways to get people into the teaching profession that are passionate about the subjects that they teach.”

Democrats point to low teacher pay, large class sizes, micromanaging by the Legislature and the politicization of classroom curriculum for qualified driving teachers from the profession. Arizona has some of the lowest teacher pay in the nation despite big raises in recent years and this year the GOP-controlled Legislature is advancing policies to increase scrutiny of school library books and boosting the rights of parents to review materials used by teachers.

Democratic Rep. Reginald Bolding, the minority leader, said creating more “flexibility” for aspiring mid-career professionals to step into the classroom to address the teacher shortage won’t help.

Democratic Rep. Kelli Butler agreed, noting that there are 180,000 qualified and certified teachers in the state who are not in the classroom because of the low pay, class sizes that are the highest in the nation and other issues. Adding unqualified teachers will make the problem worse, she said.

“The solution is not dumbing down the standards,” Butler said. “The solution is doing what is needed, using the money that we have to make sure that our teachers are qualified teachers and in the classroom teaching.”

gov. Doug Ducey pushed the special certification for teachers in higher grades in 2017, saying it would add to the pool of people able to teach. But the proposal did little to solve the teacher shortage.

The bill also adds some new teacher training programs. It awaits a formal House vote before returning to the Senate because of minor changes. It passed the Senate with no support from minority Democrats.

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A California resident who was a key advocate for schools reopening after many learned remotely at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, has announced a candidacy for a seat in the state assembly.

Jonathan Zachreson, founder of Reopen California Schools, announced his candidacy for the 5th Assembly District on Friday after Rep. Kevin Kiley announced he was running for Congress.

Zachreson told Fox News Digital that he is running for the state assembly to make 2022 the “Year of the Parents,” and said there are pressing issues schools are facing that are being ignored by California lawmakers.

“They don’t address the fact that we have more than doubled the rate of chronic absenteeism due to quarantine policies. You know, we have situations where we test unnecessarily and that causes problems and it’s invasive. Schools spend a lot of money on testing and other unnecessary procedures when they could really do things to make up the difference,” Zachreson said.

CALIFORNIA STUDENTS SUFFER ACADEMICALLY DURING COVID-19, NEW REPORT REVEALED

Jonathan Zachreson (Credit: Jonathan Zachreson)

Reopen California Schools, the organization Zachreson founded, is focused on getting California kids back to school five days a week.

Aside from problems with reopening and keeping schools open, Zachreson says unions in California need to be confronted. In some situations, he says, unions negotiate for school districts to pay union administrators’ salaries.

“This has to go,” Zachreson said.

He also said that since California has a Democratic supermajority, making it very difficult for Republicans to pass legislation, another focus will be raising awareness of Republican issues through ballot initiatives and social media campaigns.

CALIFORNIA PARENTS WANT NEWSOM’S ‘HYPOCRISY’ OUT, FEAR MORE RESTRICTIONS IF DEMOCRAT SURVIVES

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference following a meeting with students at James Denman Middle School October 1, 2021 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

“My approach is going to be unconventional and how we’re tackling these issues, try to do whatever it takes to take them directly to the people through electoral initiatives, to lobby for electoral initiatives and to uncover things through social media and media that the just don’t know people,” Zachreson said.

Referring to the recent crime spate in the state’s major cities, Zachreson said criminals need to start being treated like criminals.

“You know, we have to start treating victims like victims and criminals like criminals. We can address the issues that might lead to a life of crime,” Zachreson said.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Socially distanced kindergarten students wait for their parents to pick them up on the first day of in-person study (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file)

One measure he supports is repealing Proposition 47, which was passed in 2014 and set the threshold for stealing property at $950, meaning if someone steals goods from a store, their value is below that price lies, this is charged as a misdemeanor.

Zachreson also said he was running a grassroots campaign “by parents and for parents” and didn’t want special interest money.

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A couple of bills that would profoundly deregulate cell phone tower and antenna placement – essentially giving telecommunications companies complete control over where those facilities can go and overriding most local regulations – are moving quickly through state legislation, almost without news media attention.

A cell phone tower. Image © Justin Smith / Wikimedia Commons.

The measures would allow businesses to freely install antennas on public lighting or power poles anywhere in the state and would not include effective public health considerations.

The Measures Nurse and Health Attorney Catherine Dodd told me

Allows enterprise telecommunications providers to place wireless telecommunications equipment (towers and antennas) anywhere without local control or public input. This includes in front of houses and up to 6 feet outside windows in parks and near schools.

Senator Bill Dodd’s SB 556 (representing a district that spans much of North Bay) sailed through two committees with bipartisan support and only one no vote. It’s on its way to the Senate now.

The measure is sponsored by Crown Castle, which is building cell phone towers.

Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, voted in favor.

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A companion invoice AB 537 from Congregation Member Bill Quirk, who represents the Hayward and Fremont areas, would require cities and counties to rapidly approve applications for new mobile phone facilities. It passed the communications committee and the local government committee without a single dissenting vote.

Congregation member Phil Ting, who is a member of the communications committee, voted in favor.

The impetus for the bill are (of course) telecommunications profits. But lawmakers have also heard from parents who complain that their children are not getting reliable internet access during the COVID.

Telecom says putting up new antennas (and adding 5G facilities) will help solve this problem.

Dodd, who worked in the Clinton Administration and ran the San Francisco Health Service System for eight years, disagrees with this analysis.

In fact, she argues, the bill could undermine municipal broadband efforts – which is a real solution to the digital divide:

SB 556 will DO NOT bridge the digital divide, This entrusts the company’s telecommunications companies with the regulation of wireless telecommunications systems (towers and antennas) and gives them access to all masts and signal lights. So they can make money by charging ever higher internet service fees. Telecommunications providers need to be regulated. Local authorities can ensure that internet access is affordable and even subsidized – if SB 556 is passed, this cannot happen

5G doesn’t facilitate voice data or internet connection – It only increases the download speed for videos (like games), is unreliable in bad weather, not cyber-safe, and contributes to climate change as it powers many more antennas.

In California’s cities and counties, WIRED requires a communally operated BroadBand to and into buildings: FASTER, SECURE, ENERGY EFFICIENT and CYBER SECURE. SB 556 prevents municipal broadband!

As far as I can tell from my research, not a single news agency has covered that bill.

So why is it going through the legislature without serious discussion or opposition?

Think about it:

Over the past two years, AT&T has spent $ 250,000 bringing lawmakers to Pebble Beach (called The Speaker’s Cup) for a fancy golf vacation. In 2019 and 2020 alone, the company donated $ 275,000 to the California Republican Party and $ 755,000 to the California Democratic Party. Gavin Newsom’s campaign for the governor raised $ 20,000 in AT&T money.

It’s hard to find a single lawmaker who hasn’t received AT&T money.

Verizon gave $ 73,000 to the California Republican Party and $ 80,000 to the Democratic Party. Verizon also gave $ 10.00 to Newsom.

Many state lawmakers have also received funding from Sprint.

“This is an uphill fight,” Dodd told me. “You have so much power and influence.”

The League of California Cities is against it. Some health lawyers too.

Here’s who’s for it:

Bay Area Council, California Apartment Association, California Builders Alliance, California Building Industry Association, California Business Properties Association, California Retailers Association, California Wireless Association, CTIA, Greater Sacramento Economic Council, Orange County Economic Council, Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange, Chamber of San Francisco of Commerce, Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Verizon.

That’s pretty much a list of people who are on the wrong side on most issues.

And nobody in the Democratic Party stands up against them to protect public health and safety.

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CBS San Francisco Employee Report

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) – With the rise in new coronavirus cases and the increasing demand for vaccinations, the information you need to know is coming fast and furious. Here is a recap of the COVID stories we’ve posted over the past 24 hours.

CONTINUE READING: The San José School District is securing the vaccine for the entire workforce

Newsom is hammering its way back to school deal with state lawmakers
SACRAMENTO – As Marin County students return to classrooms on Monday, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a deal with state lawmakers to get most public school children back to classrooms nationwide by the end of March. Marin County, which moved into the Red Tier last week, is among the fastest-running school systems in the state when it comes to getting students back into class. Newsom wants other districts across the state to follow the lead of the Marin and Long Beach Schools.
Monday’s deal is an important step in that direction. Under the deal, school districts could receive up to $ 6.6 billion if they reopen classrooms by March 31. Read more

Victims of EDD Bank of America debit card fraud could be taxed on benefits they never received
SAN FRANCISCO == For months, KPIX has been reporting the frustrations and devastating economic effects of debit card fraud leading to unemployment. Approximately 11 million Californians receive their unemployment benefits on Bank of America debit cards. You have lost thousands of dollars in fraudulent transactions. Now we are learning that they could be affected by taxes on income that they never received. “I was really excited,” said Scott Wheeler. At first, Wheeler thought the employment development letter was finally the money he had been waiting for almost a year. But not like this. It was a 1099-G tax form from EDD. “They said they paid $ 14,000. And obviously I didn’t see any of that. So someone has it, but I don’t, ”said Wheeler. Continue reading

SF restaurants use high tech tools to make eating indoors safe
SAN FRANCISCO – San Francisco restaurants are ready to welcome guests again with the help of new technology. The city is expected to announce the move to the Red Steps on Tuesday. When guests return to La Mar at the Embarcardero, the food and space look familiar. However, there is a patented technology hidden in its HVAC system that can safely clean the room air. It’s called NPBI from Global Plasma Solutions. The technology uses an electronic charge to create a plasma field filled with ions. They attach themselves to particles in the air. Continue reading

Some students are returning to Marin County classroom study
MILL VALLEY – As San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose public schools continue to provide distance learning, Marin County is accelerating its reopening for high schools as well. Tamalpais High School is one of several that will welcome students and teachers back for face-to-face learning this week. Marin County is one of two in the Bay Area to join the Red Tier as more schools reopen without vaccinating all staff. Outdoor tents have been set up for more space as thousands of students return to the classroom. Around 90% of Marin County’s schools will be open for face-to-face learning in the coming days. Continue reading

CONTINUE READING: Golden Gate Fields races to make up for missed vaccine appointments

The Healdsburg family leaves California on an overland trip in search of a new home
HEALDSBURG – With the pandemic bringing normal life to a standstill, more and more people are moving out of the Bay Area and California in general. Monday morning a family from Healdsburg joined the Exodus, but they have decided to make their move the trip of a lifetime. Ben and Brianne Holt removed the last items from their home in Healdsburg. Her daughters Mackenzie, Madison, Maebel and Maliya were already in the car. It was time for the journey to begin and even though they know where to go they have no idea where to end up. “I know there is a place for us and I don’t know where it is,” said Ben. “We picked out a few ideas, but that’s part of the journey to find out. Oh, we think we want to live in North Carolina, but what if we like Wyoming, what if we like Arkansas? ” Continue reading

Santa Clara County debuts vaccination center for teachers, educators on the fairgrounds
SAN JOSE – Santa Clara County is trying to make it easier and faster for educators to get vaccinated and is calling for schools to reopen. “As soon as we make it safely, I can’t wait to see her,” said Steven Teleky, music teacher at Orchard Middle School in San Jose. Teleky was one of the first educators to use a newly created vaccination center on the district’s exhibition grounds for teachers on Monday. The site was previously intended for first responders and is still manned by firefighters who administer the vaccine. Teleky says the vaccine means a return to normal and hopefully a return to the classroom after a year of online classes. Continue reading

Twitter is taking action against coronavirus misinformation with ‘Strike System’ to remove violations
SAN FRANCISCO – Twitter says it has started flagging tweets containing misleading information about COVID-19 vaccines and using a “strike system” to remove accounts that repeatedly violate its rules. The company announced Monday that it has begun using human reviewers to assess whether tweets violate its guidelines on misinformation from COVID vaccines. Ultimately, the work will be done by a combination of humans and automation, it said. Twitter had banned some COVID-related misinformation back in December, including falsehoods about how the virus spreads, whether masks are effective, and the risk of infection and death. Continue reading

Group calls Berkeley Teachers’ Union Leader a hypocrite who takes a child to a private preschool
BERKELEY – An East Bay teacher and union leader comes under fire on Monday. He is accused of being a hypocrite in the fight to reopen schools after teachers were vaccinated. The video “Guerrilla Momz” released by the anonymous advocacy group shows a man the group says is Matt Meyer, president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, who is taking his child to a private preschool. Meyer and the union have fought vigorously to ensure that students do not return to full-time classes until teachers have received the COVID vaccine. While not commenting on the video, Meyer confirmed to the East Bay Times that his two-year-old daughter is attending a private preschool, adding that there are no public options for children her age. Continue reading

CVS receives 200,000 cans of newly approved Johnson & Johnson Shot
SAN FRANCISCO – CVS announced it will receive the recently approved COVID-19 vaccine from Johnson & Johnson in the coming days as the pharmacy chain tries to improve vaccine adoption. A pharmacy spokesman told KPIX 5 on Monday that they are expecting the doses of the one-shot vaccine this week. California is one of the 17 states in which the pharmacy offers in-store recordings to those entitled. Shipments of the vaccine began Monday after the Food and Drug Administration received approval for the emergency over the weekend. Continue reading

MORE NEWS: Study shows Stockton’s universal basic income experiment resulted in an increase in employment

Santa Rosa officials receive vaccines for teachers before the school reopens
SANTA ROSA – Santa Rosa school officials say they received an additional 1,500 doses of the COVID vaccine for their staff to vaccinate the district staff before the K-6 personal primary schools reopened April 1st in Taken at risk after Sonoma County’s Education Bureau announced a vaccination deficiency that it would temporarily close its vaccination clinic in the first week of March. An announcement from Santa Rosa City Schools on Sunday said that district officials had worked with Senator Mike McGuire to get the extra doses of vaccine. Continue reading

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