Statement of Purpose
The California Agricultural Teachers' Association was formed in 1920. The purpose of the organization is to promote and improve the teaching of agriculture in California and to foster the welfare of those engaged in this work.
Comments on Governor Brown’s Budget Proposal Eliminating
Agricultural
Education Incentive Grant
In his 2014-15 State
Budget released the week of January 13, Governor Brown proposed the complete
elimination of funding for the Agricultural Education Incentive Grant,
which supports high quality Agricultural Education standards in our public
schools. This grant program is
designed to provide matching funds for districts who commit to meeting
state-approved program standards in Ag Education, including classroom
instruction, supervised agricultural experience projects, and leadership
training through the Future Farmers of America (FFA) student organization.
The Agricultural
Education Incentive Grant currently supports local Ag Education programs
and FFA activities in over 300 high schools statewide, with over 74,000
students enrolled in programs offered in a wide variety of urban,
suburban, and rural settings.
Students enrolled in these programs are representative of California’s
social and ethnic diversity, with Hispanic students making up 51% of
current Ag Education enrollment, while 35% are White.
“We are
extremely disappointed that Governor Brown has proposed eliminating Ag
Education funding in California, the leading agricultural-producing state
in the nation” said Jim Aschwanden, Executive Director of the California
Agricultural Teachers’ Association.
“These programs are vital if we expect to attract bright, talented,
and innovative students to help meet the many challenges facing both
agriculture and the state of California over the next several decades.
The elimination of support for high quality, rigorous program
standards sends a clear message to schools that agriculture and these
programs are not important for the future of our state economy.
We think this is a terrible mistake.”
2014 Annual CATA Summer Conference - San Luis Obispo, CA
June 22 - 26 -- CATA Summer Conference
June 24 - Farm Show and Idea Show
June 26-28 - AgriSkills Sessions
2014 Proposed Curricular Code Changes
Thanks
to all of you who helped launch the first ever California Agricultural License
Plate! Your efforts are greatly
appreciated.
The support you have shown for Agricultural Education
programs in California will ensure that students interested in agriculture
will have opportunities to participate in activities that foster their
leadership and personal development.
California’s agricultural heritage as well as its’ impact on our
state’s economy must be understood and appreciated by our youth.
Thanks for being part of this effort!
Please continue to spread the word about the importance of
the California Agricultural License Plate program to your friends, family,
and others who value agriculture and the contribution it makes to all of
our lives. Encourage them to
go to www.dmv.ca.gov and order their
own Cal Ag Plate – it’s just a click away!
If you ordered a Cal Ag Plate and haven't received it yet, please
contact us at (916) 714-2970 or by email at
cata@calagteachers.org.
Some files on this website are available in PDF format. If you do not have Adobe Reader, download it for free from Adobe.