Every summer, Assemblymember Cahill encourages children and their families to participate in the Assembly’s Summer Reading Challenge. The program is a terrific way for students to keep reading during the summer months. All they have to do is read a book for 15 minutes a day for 40 days during July and August. Our children benefit by developing a love for reading and improving communication skills that will help them meet high educational standards in the future.

There is still time to get your child their New York State Assembly Excellence in Reading Certificate. If your child has been reading throughout the summer, and you need a brochure for the program, please contact Assemblymember Cahill’s office at 338-9610.

Assemblymember Cahill supported the Dignity for All Students Act (A.1118) to foster the right climate in our schools and teach students that bullying is unacceptable. Tragic outbreaks of school violence in recent years have underscored the need to protect youngsters from harassment.

The Dignity for all Students Act:

• Establishes anti-harassment and discrimination policies
• Creates school training programs in harassment and discrimination
• Raises staff sensitivity and awareness as well as enables staff to respond to harassment
• Develops nondiscrimination instruction and counseling methods.

The Governor’s budget would have impoverished our schools and forced property taxes to shoot sky high. Assemblymember Cahill fought for a budget that undid $1.1 billion of the Governor’s damaging cuts. New Yorkers responded overwhelmingly to the Assembly’s support for working families, approving 94 percent of school budgets statewide—the highest approval rating on record, according to the New York State School Boards Association.

In addition, the Legislature restored $13.3 million for library support aid, helping to preserve the resources that keep our families reading.

Assemblymember Cahill helped pass a new law allowing motorists under 18 to learn the rules of the road at a pace that ensures they are ready for this serious responsibility (Ch. 644 of 2002).

Drivers under the age of 18 who receive a learner’s permit are now required to hold the permit for a minimum of six months and obtain 20 supervised hours before they are eligible to take a road test and obtain a junior license.

The law also created a "limited class" junior license, which is available prior to the end of the six month holding period, allowing young drivers to drive to and from school, work, day care and medical appointments — or anyplace if accompanied by a parent.