Legislative Success on Interdistrict Transfers!

EDUCATION: Students won't need to refile each year once enrolled.By Pamela Hale-Burns, Staff WriterPosted: 09/28/2010 07:23:26 PM PDTUpdated: 09/28/2010 07:42:31 PM PDT LAKEWOOD - For years the city of Lakewood has fought the uphill battle of interdistricting, eliminating the need to refile annually to attend out-of-district schools. The city's battle was won on Sept. 23, when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 2444 into law. The bill, authored by Assemblyman Warren T. Furutani (D-South Los Angeles County), will allow a student to continue to attend the school in which they are enrolled once a transfer permit has been approved. In many school districts in California, interdistrict transfers are granted for one year. So, each year parents and students must go through the transfer process, even if the student has already been granted the transfer for previous years. "This issue was first brought to my attention by constituents who reside in Lakewood and sought consistency and stability in the schools their children attend," Furutani said. "I thank Governor Schwarzenegger for signing AB 2444 and streamlining the interdistrict transfer process for California's students." Education in Lakewood is managed by the four school districts within the city's boundaries: ABC, Bellflower, Long Beach and Paramount. "Over the years, many Lakewood families have suffered by not knowing year to year whether school district transfers that had been approved the prior year would be re-approved the next year," said Lakewood Mayor Joseph Esquivel. "That kind of uncertainty was unfair to Lakewood families and not good for their children's education."The bill, which passed out of the California State Senate and the California State Assembly with unanimous support, will be good for the city's families, said Esquivel. "I am very happy that A.B. 2444 has been signed into law. This is good news for education in Lakewood," he said. One of the Lakewood City Council's long-term goals has been to improve the school district transfer process, Esquivel said. "I want to commend Lakewood City Council members Steve Croft and Todd Rogers for their leadership role on this issue and many other education issues in our city," he said. The bill, which will take effect on Jan. 1, 2011, does not change the existing process for obtaining an interdistrict transfer, nor does it supersede interdistrict transfer arrangements among local school districts. Furutani represents the 55th Assembly District, which includes the cities of Carson, Harbor City and the Harbor Gateway, Lakewood, parts of Long Beach, and Wilmington.