Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

In the early days of my career, as an advocate at Crystal Stairs, a nonprofit providing childcare and early learning to Los Angeles County children, including those in foster care, I saw firsthand how high-quality, early childhood education improves the lives of families.

As your Assemblymember, I fought for the budget that affords free public preschool for all 4-year-olds living in neighborhoods where most school children are low income. It's a step toward my long-term objective to implement free, universal preschool throughout our state.

Informed in part by the time I spent on the Los Angeles Community College Board, I remain committed to finding a way to fund free education for a student's complete path from early childhood through higher education, including college.

In 2018 and 2019, we increased the state budget to provide two years of free community college tuition for first-time, full-time students. We also passed a tuition freeze and increased enrollment slots at University of California and Cal State University systems for 2019-2020.

I coauthored AB 2735, which ensures English learners are not denied enrollment in core curriculum courses required for high school graduation.

I'm proud to represent the many institutions of higher learning in the district, including UCLA and West Los Angeles Community College.

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