GENup

FULL STATEMENT HERE: https://lnkd.in/gbgNgAQc Dear GENup Community, We hope you are looking forward to the New Year! GENup continues to grow rapidly, proudly serving as California’s largest youth-led education advocacy organization, with 4,000+ members and over 100 chapters nationally. This year, our advocacy successes have impacted over six million public school students, from issues of mental health to racial justice in our classrooms. On the Ethnic Studies front, we successfully advocated for the passage of Assembly Bill (AB) 101, which mandates ethnic studies as a graduation requirement for all graduating California high schoolers starting in the 2029-2030 school year. At the university level, the University of California (UC) Board of Admissions and Relations with Schools and Academic Senate approved a GENup-created & crafted proposal to research making ethnic studies an A-G admissions requirement at UC schools. In addition to AB 101, GENup led the passage of a total of 18 other impactful bills which have the potential to make our schools safer and more equitable. We successfully fought for universal school lunches, broadband/internet access for all, and summer credit recovery options for California public school students. With respect to civic engagement, we kicked off our historic Civic Engagement Pledge campaign in partnership with the California Department of Education, our Superintendent Thurmond, and California Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber.?In addition to those efforts, we launched a school vaccination campaign with Senator Pan, the Public Health Student Ambassador Program, and the California Department of Public Health. At the collegiate level, we advocated to secure full voting rights to both student representatives on the California Community College System Board of Governors, supported student’s access to basic needs by spreading awareness on CalFresh eligibility, and sponsored SB 26 to ensure better student protections for college athletes. Through virtual panels and lobbying at the Sacramento State Capitol, we have fought tirelessly for Cal Grant Reform (via AB 1456) to expand financial aid to nearly 200,000 more California students. Local GENup chapters also came out in force this year to show the strength of their advocacy efforts. GENup students successfully advocated for the passage of Student Bills of Rights. Our Student Bills of Rights collectively represent over 800,000 students. Our Elk Grove Unified Chapter created their district’s first ever student board member seat, a new youth-position which will represent over 64,000 students. Another GENup chapter led a triumphant mental health campaign, securing $20 million in one time funding for the implementation of new GENup student-driven policies. As we look forward into 2022, we hope that you will continue to join us in fighting for lasting change that improves the education system in California and nationwide. Happy New Year’s Eve! -GENup