Attention: California School Garden Educators

**r*@cybergal.com**

There is an effort in the California State Assembly to enact the Agricultural Education Act of 1999 which would require the State Department of Education to establish a comprehensive agricultural education program for preK-12th grade. "The program would include but not be limited to, the development, review and dissemination of curriculum, the development of statewide educational activities for pupils, state level consultation with local education agencies, agricultural organizations, and universities and colleges, for materials review, professional development, and support, and the coordination and monitoring of the regional agricultural education program delivery. This program would also provide for regional delivery of education in agricultural awareness, literacy, career exploration, and preparation activities." 
 The full text of the assembly bill can be found at
http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm. The bill is labeled AB 1645.

Does anyone out there know anything about this? What curriculum is being developed? How will Life Lab and ROP programs with existing curriculum be effected? How can one volunteer to review the materials being developed?

I am somewhat skeptical of any statewide approach to teaching agriculture. Our bio-regions are so specialized and unique that agriculture education needs to be designed with a particular micro-climate and community in mind. Will this bill mandate or suggest what curriculum we can use to teach our children about agriculture in California? Is this being endorsed by the corporate agri-business empire that has vitually destroyed the arable soil and aquifers of California? 
Is this the best means of supporting the school garden renaissance in California?

So far, there has only been opposition to this Assembly Bill by one member of the Committee on Agriculture. I will inquire why Assenblymember Marilyn Brewer doesn't support this bill but I want to know if anyone else has information that will help me form an educated opinion about the Agricultural Education Act of 1999.

Thank You,

Rob Mullen
robmullen@cybergal.com

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