Keely Brosnan speaks in support of AB1548 with her husband, Pierce Brosnan and Governor Davis at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Photo: Ron Jaffe

Heal the Bay has been working long and hard on AB1548, a California environmental education bill. In September, AB1548 was passed by the state senate appropriations committee, and went on to be approved by both the senate and the assembly. On October 2, 2003, in a decisive victory for the future of environmental education, the bill was signed into law by Governor Davis at a press conference (photo album) at Heal the Bay's own Santa Monica Pier Aquarium! Pierce Brosnan and his wife, Keely Brosnan, joined Winston Hickox, Secretary of CalEPA at the aquarium to support the bill.

AB1548 requires state agencies to work together to develop environmental education principles for elementary and secondary schools by July 1, 2004. By January 1, 2006, the Department of Education, in coordination with other state agencies and stakeholders, will develop a model environmental education curriculum that incorporates these principles, and will submit the curriculum to be considered as part of the State Board of Education's approved model curriculum.

It is our hope that, ultimately, the curriculum and its underlying environmental principles will be incorporated into the state educational academic standards for K-12. What a day that will be-when students learn about their state emblem and the fact that the California grizzly bear has been extinct for over 100 years; when they learn about the water cycle and also learn about watersheds and water pollution prevention; and when their lessons on electricity also cover the importance of conservation.

This victory certainly doesn't mean that Heal the Bay's work is done. We're moving on to monitor how the actual curriculum is developed. Heal the Bay will definitely be working closely with the state Department of Education and other stakeholders to make sure that the curriculum is comprehensive, in-depth, and accurate . We will also be keeping an eye on how to increase available state funds to implement environmental education in the classrooms, and eventual standards revision.

Thanks to all of you who contributed your time and energy toward AB1548. A special thanks also to Heal the Bay's board members who supported the bill, CalEPA and Assemblymember Fran Pavley.