BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  ACR 62
                                                                  Page  1


          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
          ACR 62 (Brownley)
          As Amended June 15, 2011
          Majority vote 

           RULES               8-0                                         
           
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          |Ayes:|Silva, Alejo, Carter,     |     |                          |
          |     |Donnelly, Hagman, Hueso,  |     |                          |
          |     |Knight, Williams          |     |                          |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
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           SUMMARY  :  Proclaims the month of March of every year as Read 
          Across California Month; and requests public and private 
          stakeholders to work together to raise awareness of the 
          importance of reading to young children, pupils and California 
          citizens by encouraging everyone to read for 30 minutes for 30 
          days during the month of March of every year in conjunction with 
          the Read Across American campaign held annually on March 2.  
          Specifically,  this resolution  makes the following legislative 
          findings:

          1)The State Department of Education states that reading is 
            important, both inside and outside of the school environment; 
            and, reading and literacy skills provide pupils with the keys 
            to lifelong learning.

          2)The 2010 Standardized Testing and Report (STAR) Program for 
            the California Standards Tests reported that only 52% of 
            pupils grades 2 to 11, inclusive, were proficient in 
            English-Language Arts; and, reading out loud to children 
            increases their interest in mastering reading and exposes 
            children to proper vocabulary, grammar, and phrasing, and 
            enhances the development of their own reading skills.

          3)In conjunction with the Read Across America campaign held 
            annually on March 2, this measure would establish the Read 
            Across California reading initiative, which would encourage 
            the citizens of California to read for 30 minutes for 30 days 
            during the month of March; and, this public awareness campaign 
            would be implemented through private and public partnerships 
            and not seek state funding at this time.









                                                                  ACR 62
                                                                  Page  2


          4)Private and public sector organizations and agencies, as well 
            as citizens, may participate in the reading initiative to let 
            our pupils know that their academic success and reading 
            ability is important to the economy, stability, and prosperity 
            of the State of California.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :  None
           

          Analysis Prepared by  :    Anna McCabe / RLS. / (916) 319-2800 


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