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To the editor: As a retired principal who worked at two elementary schools in neighborhoods affected by the toxic waste from Exide Technologies' battery recycling plant in Vernon, I am appalled at the positions taken by the Trump administration and the ruling by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher Sontchi. Now, Exide can walk away from its closed plant and leave the massive cleanup to California taxpayers.

If this toxic waste were found under the properties of the Delaware bankruptcy court, the Justice Department or the Environmental Protection Agency, these Exide defenders would not have been so cavalier in deciding whether to lay the cleanup responsibilities on the federal government.

To rule that exposure to dangerous elements like lead do not qualify as an imminent danger, especially to young children, is so incredibly ill-conceived that if it were not so dangerous, it would be laughable. This is just another case of total disregard and unequal treatment of people who live in communities of color.
Betty Morin, Monterey Park
..

To the editor: This ruling by the Delaware bankruptcy court is both obscene and offensive and provides yet another example that our system of law is broken.

Imagine what the people most affected by this ruling must think about their government and the rule of law that enables these outrageous decisions. No wonder people have such disdain for their president, members of Congress and the judges that let the rich get away with this behavior.

This cannot stand.
Robert Culpepper, Torrance
..

To the editor: The bankruptcy judge's decision to stick the taxpayers with the cleanup costs sets a bad precedent and is a slap in the face to the neighborhood and taxpayers. This putrid mess would have never been allowed in Beverly Hills, Rancho Cucamonga or even Delaware.

Perhaps Sontchi would be interested in moving there and seeing for himself how exposure to a dangerous element like lead that builds up in the body over time "somehow qualifies as imminent danger when everywhere you go in your life you're exposed to lead."

His reasoning? "We all have lead in our bodies. That's reality." Does the judge have a medical degree?
Susan De Antonio, Rancho Cucamonga
..

To the editor: The Exide battery recycling plant in Vernon for years fouled the surrounding area with brain-damaging lead, cancer-causing arsenic and other pollutants.

In articles I've read about the push to get everyone into electric cars, especially in California, the problem of what to do with all the used up batteries never seems to be mentioned.

I would call that Stage One thinking.
Nora Pouliot, Redondo Beach

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Letters to the Editor: Exide is getting away with polluting minority neighborhoods. That's unconscionable

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To the editor: As a retired principal who worked at two elementary schools in neighborhoods affected by the toxic waste from Exide Technologies' battery recycling plant in Vernon, I am appalled at the positions taken by the Trump administration and the ruling by U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Christopher Sontchi.

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Excellent video resources here.

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We work with communities to build the collective power necessary to counter structural racism. Connected and aligned individuals, organizations, and movements standing together to inspire positive change can build a just, multiracial, democratic society.

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Advancing racial justice in our policies, institutions and culture.

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We work with communities to build the collective power necessary to counter structural racism. Connected and aligned individuals, organizations, and movements standing together to inspire positive change can build a just, multiracial, democratic society.

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#iamascientist

To counteract the stereotypes, we need to celebrate science's incredible range of personalities, interests, backgrounds, and pursuits.

Because every student deserves a chance to see themselves in science.

WANT TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS & SHARE INCLUSIVE STEM RESOURCES?

- E X C I T I N G U P D A T E -
Are you an educator who wants to break stereotypes and barriers in STE(A)M
in your classroom or community? Request a donated kit below!
Note: Our goal is to serve as many educators and students as possible.
In the case that we are unable to meet all requests, priority will be given to
Title I schools and low-SES communities.

Scientists don't fit a mold - the stories we tell about them shouldn't either. We've created scientist-of-the-month toolkits for teachers, parents/guardians, and informal educators to easily share these stories with their students.

Each kit has two parts:

Free online resources including an overview of the scientist's work, career path, and resources for kids who want to learn more.

Large, vibrant, physical posters that can be hung on the walls to connect students with scientists and their stories, available for download or purchase.

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WANT TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS & SHARE INCLUSIVE STEM RESOURCES? - E X C I T I N G U P D A T E - Are you an educator who wants to break stereotypes and barriers in STE(A)M in your classroom or community? Request a donated kit below!

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Andrea Lance: equitychallenge@gmail.com
This was such a great experience. Andreas does this challenges periodically. Contact her for more information.

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Social and Cultural Literacy curated resources.

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Social and Cultural Literacy curated resources.

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Here is a list of curated Anti-racism resources from a SC librarian.

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Public Collections of Resources - constantly updated

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Please note, the August Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) meeting will be held as a videoconference; Room 1101 (Board Room) will be closed to the public. Please see IQC Meeting Logistics section below for options to view and participate in the meeting.

MEETING AGENDA

August 13, 2020
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. + (plus or minus) *

Instructional Quality Commission Members

Jose Iniguez, Chair

Yolanda Muñoz, Vice Chair

Cristina Andre

Mariana Astorga-Almanza

Christine Chapman

Deborah Costa Hernández

Shay Fairchild

Linsey Gotanda

Lily Jarvis

David Phanthai

Alma-Delia Renteria

Manuel Rustin

Julie Tonkovich

Pamela Williamson

Shirley Weber, Assemblymember

Ben Allen, Senator

Executive Director

State Board of Education Liaisons

*MEETING MAY END EARLIER OR LATER THAN SPECIFIED TIME BASED ON TIME NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE AGENDA.

IQC MEETING LOGISTICS

On March 17, 2020, Governor Gavin Newsom issued Executive Order N-29-20 related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Order allows state bodies covered by the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Act) to hold public meetings covered by the Act via web and/or audio teleconferencing. As such, the August IQC meeting will be held as an audio/video teleconference and will have a live webcast which will subsequently be archived on the IQC website. The Board Room 1101 in the California Department of Education (CDE) will be closed to the public. Please see the Public Comment Guidelines section below for options to view and participate during the meeting.

THE LIVE IQC MEETING WEBCAST CAN BE VIEWED AT:

PUBLIC COMMENT GUIDELINES

Public comment may be provided via email or phone, as specified below.

Email

The public is highly encouraged to submit written comment to the IQC Commissioners in advance for their prior consideration. In order to help ensure that Commissioners have sufficient time to review comments prior to the meeting, please submit your comment by noon on Tuesday, August 11, 2020. Comments on Item 2 History-Social Science Subject Matter Committee (SMC) should be submitted to the Ethnic Studies mailbox at ethnicstudies@cde.ca.gov. Comments on items not on the agenda should be submitted to the IQC mailbox at: iqc@cde.ca.gov. Join the IQC electronic mailing list to receive information and updates from the Commission.

While not required, we ask that you include the following information in the body of the email:

Commenter's first and last name

Organization affiliation

Agenda item number or general public comment

Phone

Public comment may also be provided during the meeting by dialing the phone number and following a prompt to provide a participant access code. The operator will notify callers when it is their turn to provide public comment. Public comment will be limited to one minute. If possible, we recommend members of the public dialing in for public comment view the live-stream of the meeting for a better understanding of the meeting's status. The number and access code is below and will also be announced at the start of public comment for each item.

Prior to making public comment, speakers who are watching the meeting via live webcast should make sure the volume on their computer is muted to avoid an echoing or feedback sounds during the call.

Each speaker will be allotted one minute of public comment for each agenda item.

Please use the phone number and access code provided below:

Speakers may only give comment for themselves and not provide comment on behalf of another individual or group.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL WITH A DISABILITY

Pursuant to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, any individual with a disability or any other individual who requires reasonable accommodation to attend or participate in a meeting or function of the IQC may request assistance by contacting the California Department of Education's Curriculum Frameworks & Instructional Resources Division Office at 1430 N Street, Room 3207, Sacramento, CA 95814; telephone 916-319-0881; facsimile 916-319-0172 at least three (3) days in advance of the scheduled meeting date.

Please see the detailed agenda for more information about the items to be considered and acted upon. The public is welcome to view and/or dial in to the meeting and give public comment.

ALL TIMES ARE APPROXIMATE AND ARE PROVIDED FOR CONVENIENCE ONLY.

ALL ITEMS MAY BE HEARD IN A DIFFERENT ORDER THAN HOW THEY ARE LISTED ON THE AGENDA ON ANY DAY OF THE NOTICED MEETING.

The Instructional Quality Commission will hold a one-day meeting on Thursday, August 13, 2020, that will be held remotely with a live webcast. The meeting will include some activities involving the IQC as a whole and others involving one or more of the IQC's various committees. The following outline of activities is provided for convenience only. The actual order of business may be changed without notice by the IQC Chair to accommodate the needs of members, invited presenters, and key staff. Anyone interested in a particular matter should plan to view/listen to the entire meeting. Timing and order of activities may change. The full IQC and its various committees will commence, recess, and reconvene as necessary throughout the meeting.

THE AGENDA LISTING IS ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED, BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARILY EXHAUSTIVE.

The agenda for this IQC meeting may involve the full scope of its statutory responsibilities, which includes studying the problems of courses of study in the schools of the state; developing criteria; conducting the evaluation of instructional materials; and recommending minimum standards for courses of study, curriculum frameworks, and the adoption or rejection of instructional materials. The IQC reserves the right to consider specific matters and take action within the full scope of its responsibilities. The list that follows is illustrative of the matters to be considered, but it is not necessarily exhaustive.

This agenda is posted on the IQC website.

INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY COMMISSION AGENDA

Thursday, August 13, 2020
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ± (plus or minus)

1. History-Social Science Subject Matter Committee (DOCX)
Note: A lunch break will occur during this agenda item

Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (Information/Action)

1. Review CDE Recommendations to the Draft Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (Information)

2. Public Comment on the Draft Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum

3. Recommend to the Full Commission Approval of the Draft Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum for the Public Review and Comment Period (Action)

2. Full Commission Reconvenes: 3 p.m. ± (plus or minus)

1. Reports/Actions from Subcommittees
History-Social Science Subject Matter Committee

Approve the Draft Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum for the Public Review and Comment Period (Action)

2. Adjournment of Meeting

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August Instructional Quality Commission Agenda

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Please note, the August Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) meeting will be held as a videoconference; Room 1101 (Board Room) will be closed to the public. Please see IQC Meeting Logistics section below for options to view and participate in the meeting. MEETING AGENDA August 13, 2020 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Teaching an ethnic studies course
* victim narrative, lacking empowerment

Not enough training for Ts
* where can Ts find additional resources/trainings?

LA and SD require every high schooler to take an ethnic studies course
* Gov has not passed a law requiring all HS Ss to take one

LaDawn begins with implicit bias teaching
* acknowledge to make changes

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LaDawn has open discussions with her criminality students. Probing them to look deeper than surface level issues.
How do you probe them to look deeper than the emotions?
What does it take for prosecution? Intent has to be included. It goes beyond race.

Anne:  examine biological definition of race. Offers the option to connect with BLM movement.