Bill providing Adult Education teachers permanent status signed by Governor

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Kevin McCarty’s bill that will give Adult Education teachers the same rights and protections as their K-12 colleagues has been signed by Governor Newsom.

Permanent status is given to employees after successfully completing a probationary period to ensure they are capable to fulfill the duties of a position. Permanent employees can be terminated for just cause or as part of the layoff process, but have greater employment protections, due process rights, and preferential right to rehire than probationary employees.

However, some educators are denied a pathway to achieve permanent status, including Adult Education teachers. Rather than achieving permanent status, they are brought back year after year as probationary employees, denying them basic professional rights and due process protections. These educators are vulnerable to discrimination and favoritism, as well as retaliation for speaking up on behalf of students, or for becoming involved with a local union.

“Adult Educators have shown their dedication to the profession, and once they’ve completed a probationary period, should be given permanent status,” said Assemblymember Kevin McCarty. “With California continuing to experience a teacher shortage, it’s important we retain as many educators as we can. AB 897 will give qualified Adult Education educators the job security they deserve while easing the teacher shortage.”

###

Kevin McCarty represents California’s 6th Assembly District, which includes the city of Sacramento and parts of unincorporated Sacramento County. McCarty serves as Chair of the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance. Website of Assemblymember Kevin McCarty: https://a06.asmdc.org/