Downey, CA– Prior to being elected to the State Assembly, Assemblywoman Garcia worked as a math teacher and professor for 13-years and learned firsthand the challenges our teachers and students face in our schools.
Since being elected in 2012, her firsthand classroom experience has helped Assemblywoman Garcia to focus on working to ensure that our early childhood education, K12 and adult education programs receive the additional resources to be able to better operate and provide quality educational opportunities for all Californians. Over the past 4 years, the Assemblywoman has helped rally support in the Legislature to secure close to $1 billion for early childhood education and $500 million for adult education.
“I was amazed to find out the extent of the cuts to childhood education as a result of the 2008 Recession. Restoring those funds as a continuing expenditure was a huge priority. Working with my colleagues in the women’s caucus we were able to restore the funds and our priorities as a state,” said Assemblywoman Garcia.
Additionally, Assemblywoman Garcia took her classroom experience and authored key pieces of legislation that have been signed into law and have helped create a safe, healthy and nurturing educational environment for all students.
2013-14
AB 256 Cyber bullies
This law keeps students safe from cyber bullies by allowing schools to discipline students for all types of cyber bullying. Before AB 256, schools did not currently have the authority to discipline a student if cyber bullying occurs from a smart phone, off campus, or at home.
2015-16
AB 146 – Pupil Instruction: Social Sciences
Encourages schools to teach the unconstitutional deportations that happened in the 1930’S to United States citizens of Mexican descent.
AB 216 – Product Sales to Minors: Vapor Products
Prohibits the sale of any device intended to deliver a non-nicotine product in a vapor state to people under the age of 18 years of age.
AB 302 – Lactation Accommodation for Parenting Students
Specifies that high schools with one or more lactating students shall provide these students with access to a private, secure room to deal with any needs associated with breastfeeding or expressing milk.
AB 881 – Cyberbullying
Protects students from cyberbullying by making sure that the students forwarding messages through text or social media are just as responsible as those who created it.
2016-17
AB 10 – Student Menstrual Product Access.
Provides free menstrual products in in bathrooms at Title 1 funded (low income) schools
Beyond legislation and the budget process, the Assemblywoman has taken her commitment to education directly into the local community by creating the highly successful Young Legislators and Fellows in Government programs. Both programs provide students in the 58th Assembly District with the opportunity to learn about state government, participate in community events and travel to Sacramento. Since starting the programs, over 250 students have participated and completed them.
“I am proud of my teaching background. I believe having classroom experience helped prepare me to be a strong advocate for the needs of students and teachers in our local schools. I am proud of the work my office has done to stop cyber bullying, help address the basic health needs of female students and ensure that our schools teach about the history and experiences of the diverse populations that make up California” concluded Assemblywoman Garcia.
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