By DAILY PRESS STAFF
SACRAMENTO The California League of High Schools (CLHS) has just honored State Assembly member Julia Brownley, D- Santa Monica, as their “2008 Legislator of the Year.”
The award was presented on Jan. 12 at the league’s Annual Conference in Monterey — “High Schools as Learning Communities: Engaging Students to Close the Achievement Gap.” The conference was attended by 800 high school teachers and administrators.
CLHS selected Brownley “as a result of her proactive, practical approach to crafting legislation that benefits student learning and students’ futures.”
They noted legislation she authored in her just-completed freshman year to make instructional materials pricing more transparent, and to require alternative measures by which high school students unable to pass the California High School Exit Exam could still demonstrate competence and receive their diploma.
“With the serious budget challenges that we face this year, especially in education, it was inspiring to observe the commitment to educational excellence that is shared by the teachers and administrators attending this conference,” Brownley said. “These amazing educators give me hope that we can all work together to succeed in bringing opportunity to every child and successfully close the achievement gap.”
CLHS is a nonprofit membership association dedicated to improving the professional knowledge of high school educators so that all students may experience academic and life success.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 16, 2008. Read the original PDF.