Legislative Issues, Current News

Background

CASHE BOARD MEMBERS and CASHE members have been supporting numerous health issues for over twenty years. CASHE worked with the American Cancer Society, Lung Association, American Red Cross and numerous other agencies to support laws in California. The Smoke Free Workplace Law (Cal. Labor Code 6404.5) was supported by CASHE and now less than 15% of Californians smoke, and smoking is banned in virtually all indoor areas. As of July 2008, over 30 other states have joined California for a smoke free workplace, including 8 million New Yorkers.

During the 1990s, CASHE supported the idea of a statewide requirement for health education for graduation from high school. During the 2003-2004 session, EC 51930-39 became law and CASHE helped to support the law that consolidated most of the sex education laws and now requires any school teaching sexual health to include information on emergency contraception and methods of contraception. As with previous laws, however, parents can exclude their child from such instructional units.

Current Legislation/Issues

April 1, 2010
As part of the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI)

The draft K-12 standards are now available for public comment.

These draft standards, developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, seek to provide a

clear and consistent framework to prepare our children for college and the workforce.

Click on: http://www.corestandards.org/