Press Release

Monday, October 8, 2018

Ethnic studies will still not be a high school graduation requirement in up to 11 California school districts because of Gov. Jerry Brown’s decision to veto AB 2772.

AB 2772 proposed a three-year pilot program formulated by Assemblymembers Jose Medina, D-Riverside, Shirley Weber, D-San Diego, and Rob Bonta, D-Oakland, which would mandate a semester- or yearlong ethnic studies course as a graduation requirement during the 2020-2023 school years.

Assemblymember Medina, a former ethnic studies teacher, said in a statement via email that he is disappointed in Brown’s decision.

“The history taught in our classrooms is not inclusive of the diversity that makes up California and that needs to change,” Medina said in his statement. “As a former Ethnic Studies teacher, I’ve seen first-hand the excitement and increased level of engagement students experience when they personally connect to the coursework. Ethnic Studies is a powerful mechanism that helps broaden the understanding of backgrounds and cultures different from our own.”

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Tuesday, October 2, 2018

SACRAMENTO— Today, Assemblymember Jose Medina (D-Riverside) announced that Governor Jerry Brown vetoed his bill, AB 2772, which would have expanded access to Ethnic Studies in California’s high schools.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Concerns about high school students being overwhelmed by homework, tests and graduation requirements led Gov. Jerry Brown to veto a bill allowing some school districts to require ethnic studies classes.

The legislation, AB 2772, would have set up a three-year pilot program allowing 11 school districts that would be picked throughout California to require students to a take a semester or year of ethnic studies in order to graduate. The bill was was authored by Assembly members Jose Medina, D-Riverside, a former ethnic studies teacher; Rob Bonta, D-Oakland; and Shirley Weber, D-San Diego. Assemblywomen Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, D-San Diego, was co-author.

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Monday, October 1, 2018

A bill recently introduced by Assemblyman Jose Medina, (D-Riverside), a former ethnic studies teacher, seeks to make ethnic studies a high school graduation requirement in California. The bill, AB 2772 passed the Assembly floor on June 27 and is awaiting a vote in the State Senate. If passed, it would require all high school students to take one semester of ethnic studies in order to graduate, beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. The implementation of ethnic studies courses in California high schools would allow students to gain a better understanding of other cultures, inculcating them with the tolerance and respect needed to foster cultural diversity in our society.

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Monday, October 1, 2018

SACRAMENTO— Today, Assemblymember Jose Medina (D-Riverside) announced that Governor Brown has signed his bill, AB 2012, which ensures that part-time community college faculty have the same parental leave rights as full-time faculty.

Monday, September 24, 2018

SACRAMENTO— Assemblymember Jose Medina (D-Riverside), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education, announced that his bill, AB 3186, permanently authorizes the University of California (UC) and California Community Colleges (CCC) to use best value procurement methodology, was signed by Governor Edmund G. Brown.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

SACRAMENTO— Assemblymember Jose Medina (D-Riverside) released the following statement in response to the passing of Tyler Hilliard, a third-year student at the University of California, Riverside:

“I am very saddened to hear the news of Tyler Hilliard’s passing on Sunday in Riverside. At just 20 years old, Tyler’s charisma and selfless interest in community building extended far beyond his short years. I extend my deepest condolences to Tyler’s family and the UCR community as they grieve during this especially difficult time.”

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