Governor Gavin Newsom has signed an education reform bill authored by Assemblywoman Christy Smith, D-Santa Clarita, officials said.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1507 updates the California Charter Schools Act by closing a loophole in current law that allows a charter school to operate outside its authorizing district, according to Danni Wang, Communications Director for Assemblywoman Christy Smith.

“We now have the framework for charter and traditional schools to work together collaboratively in service of their communities and neighborhoods,” Governor Newsom said, regarding the signing of the bill.

The signing of AB 1507 follows the signing ceremony of AB 1505, from Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell (D-Long Beach).

“Assemblywoman Smith served as a critical partner on the passage and signing of this measure, having introduced the legislation along with Assemblymembers O’Donnell, Rob Bonta (D-Alameda) and Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) in February,” reads a statement from Smith’s office Thursday.

Both AB’s 1505 and 1507 are rooted in improving local school board oversight and increasing accountability and transparency in education, while allowing high-quality charter schools to continue to thrive, according to Wang.

“AB 1507 is the result of collaboration with charter and traditional stakeholders across the state to ensure greater transparency and accountability in charter authorization and empower local school boards to make jurisdictional decisions that directly impact the community they serve,” Assemblywoman Smith said. “Governor Newsom’s signature on ABs 1505 and 1507 speak to the very heart of prioritizing students across California, and moving all of us onto the same page in improving learning for all.”

AB 1507 is set to take effect on January 1, 2020.

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