PUT STUDENTS AHEAD OF POLITICS: STOP THE STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATE HIKE
As we have reported in recent weeks, the fixed interest rate on federal subsidized student loans, held by nearly 8 million college students, is set to double on July 1 – from 3.4 to 6.8 percent. President Obama has asked Congress to block the rate increase. Yet, as NEA President Dennis Van Roekel said in an opinion piece this week in the National Journal’s Education Experts Blog, “Extending lower rates for student loans should be a no-brainer. But in this hyper-divisive political climate, even the call to spare students seeking a college education from being saddled with debt has fallen victim to partisan bickering.” Last week, the House passed legislation to stop the rate hike, but offset the costs by cutting funds from the health care reform law (the Affordable Care Act). On May 8, the Senate is scheduled to vote on a bill that would stop the rate hike by closing corporate tax loopholes. The debate is likely to continue in the coming weeks.
Tell Congress to act now to stop student loan interest rates from doubling.
Tell us your story. Do you have a story to share about college debt? Would you have chosen a different career if you knew your interest rates would be doubled? Are you concerned about the financial realities of sending your own children to college? If you are a current student, what would doubled loan rates mean to you? Tell us your story and you may be featured in an upcoming Education Votes article.
TELL CONGRESS TO PASS THE VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ACT
Last week, the U.S. Senate passed the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act (S. 1925), which includes funding for services to previously underserved populations. See how your Senator voted. The Act has transformed the nation's response to domestic and sexual violence, and has saved innumerable lives. The Senate rejected amendments that would have undermined the Act and would have blocked efforts to provide services to immigrant women, the LGBT community, and women on reservations.
The House of Representatives Judiciary Committee is scheduled to take up a watered down version of the bill, next week. The “Cantor-Adams” version (H.R. 4970) weakens or deletes entirely some of the vital improvements in the Senate bill, including provisions to increase the safety of Native American women and the needs of the LGBT community. The bill also creates obstacles for immigrant victims seeking to report crimes, increases danger for immigrant victims by eliminating important confidentiality protections, undermines effective anti-fraud protections, and rolls back years of progress to protect the safety of immigrant victims.
Take Action Today:Tell the House to take up and pass the Senate version of the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act and to reject efforts to water down this critical law.
As Congress debates funding levels in the coming months, they will have to make a choice as to whether we as a nation are going to ensure everyone a fair shot, or whether we will continue to allow those who can most afford to pay their fair share to avoid doing so.
The House Appropriations Committee this week took another step in the wrong direction, when they approved subcommittee “allocations” that are in line with the draconian “Ryan budget.” These allocations will be used to fund specific programs under subcommittee jurisdictions. The Ryan budget, and the allocations based on it, would slash education and other critical programs; dismantle Medicaid, Medicare, and nutrition programs; and repeal the landmark health care reform law (Affordable Care Act). At the same time, it would give millionaires an average tax break of $150,000.
In contrast, the Senate is proposing funding levels in line with the Budget Control Act, a bipartisan agreement reached last year.
Take Action Today: Tell Congress to make the right choice for America’s future – protect children, working families, and seniors.
President Obama, who signed an Executive Order to protect men and women who currently serve or who have served in the military from the predatory practices of some for-profit higher education institutions. These “diploma mills” prey on vulnerable students, promising jobs that never materialize while taking advantage of their federal student aid.
Representative Dave Reichert (R-WA), whosubmitted testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee stating, “I am proud to champion an extension of the deduction for educators’ out-of-pocket classroom expenses (H.R. 1738)….Strong public education depends in part on equipping teachers with adequate resources to help students succeed. According to 2006 data from the National Education Association (NEA), educators spent an average of $477 out of their own paychecks just to purchase basic classroom supplies like books, pencils, and paper….These educators are demonstrating such a commitment to investing in their students that they are reaching into their own pocketbooks to provide classroom materials and further their own professional development. Extending the deduction for out-of-pocket classroom expenses has a leveraging effect by recognizing and encouraging the continued personal financial investment these educators are making in their students. I am pleased to include with my testimony a statement from the 3.2 million members of the NEA in support of my bill.”
Jeers to:
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, who this week sent out a press release accusing President Obama of “pandering to big labor.” Romney’s “proof” included the President’s appointment of pro-labor members of the National Labor Relations Board and his meetings with representatives of the labor community.
If you're a fan of vampire stories-and lately we're surrounded by them on the big screen, the small screen and in print-then you're well aware that those bloodsuckers are hard to get rid of. They shape shift. They do their damage in the dark. And just when you think they're vanquished, they swoop in and attack their next victim. If you're an educator, a parent, a student or anyone who cares about public education, you should know that ALEC, the radical conservative lobbying group, is eyeing your throat.
Students should not have to "mortgage their future" to pay for college, said U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on Wednesday, as he called on his colleagues to quickly pass his legislation, the Stop the Student Loan Interest Hike Act, and avoid an impending doubling of the interest rates on federal student loans.
Looking to halt fraudulent recruitment practices used by for-profit diploma mills to swindle veterans and American service members out of their federal education benefits, President Obama signed an executive order Friday, April 27, that protects men and women who have served or are currently in the military.
In the middle of the worst economic recession since the Great Depression, President Obama promised to make education a top domestic policy priority if elected president.
Upon entering office, he delivered on that promise. It's why he made historic investments in education with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Education Jobs Bill, helping keep class sizes from skyrocketing and educators in the classroom instead of the unemployment lines.
Stay Up To Date Through Social Media! Keep up with your fellow activists online! The conversation is happening all the time - are you in the know? Get real-time updates about rallies in your state and word about when to call or e-mail your legislators by following us on Facebook and Twitter.
With crucial state races, ballot measures, and a presidential election in 2012, the course for American public education will be charted this year.
School Board Recommendation
At the October 4, 2011 meeting of El Centro Elementary Teachers Association Building Representatives, after a report from the candidate interview committee chair Vice-President Dan Edwards, the Reps voted to recommend the following candidates for the school board.
Actor and philanthropist Matt Damon joined educators and concerned citizens from across the country in Washington, DC on June 30 to urge national leaders to focus on education reform that provides a high-quality education for every student. Mr. Damon gave an inspiring speech to the crowd and later defended teachers to an aggressive reporter, and gave an interview in which he expressed dissatisfaction about current education policy. Later, MSNBC commentator Lawrence O’Donnell highlighted Matt Damon’s words in offering his own impassioned defense of educators. NEA members bused, drove, flew, or took trains from every part of the country to show solidarity with fellow educators and declare their dedication to a fully-funded, world-class education system for all students in the United States. Read more about the March.
TELL "SUPER COMMITTEE" TO FIGHT FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS AND STUDENTS!
In thefinal hours before the August 2 debt ceiling deadline, Congress passed a budget deal. See how your Representative and Senators voted. Read statements by NEA President Dennis Van Roekel during negotiations and on the final deal.
The deal was necessary to avoid default on the nation’s debt and the resulting economic catastrophe. And, while the deal is highly flawed, your help was instrumental in securing several key victories:
No cuts at this point to Social Security, Medicaid, or Food Stamps – a big win given that negotiations started with proposals to slash these core programs.
Funding for two years of Pell Grants – good for students and makes it easier to fight for other types of education funding (such as Title I and IDEA).
No taxation of healthcare benefits. Such taxation was a very real threat and its omission from the deal is a big victory.
These victories would not have been possible without the almost 80,000 e-mails you sent to Members of Congress and President Obama.
Now, we need your help again. Soon, congressional leaders will appoint Democrats and Republicans to a new “super-committee” charged with coming up with over $1 trillion in additional deficit reduction. We need to act immediately to influence this committee. We will have to fight hard against additional cuts to education; for protection of Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid; and for contributions to deficit reduction from those most able to pay their fair share. The next few weeks are critical in making our voices heard.
Take Action: Tell Congress that the super-committee must protect those with the greatest needs and ensure that those most able to do so pay their fair share.
This fall, additional work is expected on ESEA reauthorization around teacher quality. NEA believes that students and teachers deserve high quality evaluation systems that provide the tools teachers need to continuously tailor instruction, enhance practice, and advance student learning. But, the responsibility for crafting teacher evaluation and accountability systems should lie at the state and local level, not with the federal government.
As Congress recesses for the month of August, it is a perfect opportunity for activists concerned about public education to reach out to Members of Congress and share your views and expertise in advance of ESEA reauthorization.
Take Action this Month:
Check your Members of Congress’ websites to see when they are holding town hall meetings. Go to the meetings and make your views heard.
Call the Members’ local offices and set up a meeting for you and some of your fellow educators. A face-to-face meeting is a great way to make sure Members hear your concerns and is also a great way to build an ongoing relationship with congressional Representatives. This visit should be set the state for future meetings and conversations with your Representatives -- critical steps to ensuring your voice is heard. NEA members – log your scheduled August back-home visits on NEA’s Education Votes website. This site also includes materials you can use to help you prepare for your meetings.
Keep e-mailing Congress. Tell Congress how teacher quality issues should and should not be addressed in an ESEA Reauthorization bill.
Actor Matt Damon, who spoke eloquently in defense of educators at the July 30 SOS March, saying in part, “So the next time you’re feeling down, or exhausted, or unappreciated, or at the end of your rope; the next time you turn on the TV and see yourself called “overpaid;” the next time you encounter some simple-minded, punitive policy that’s been driven into your life by some corporate reformer who has literally never taught anyone anything.… Please know that there are millions of us behind you. You have an army of regular people standing right behind you, and our appreciation for what you do is so deeply felt. We love you, we thank you, and we will always have your back.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who in her House floor remarks on the debt ceiling deal stood up for those who seemed forgotten in the recent political posturing, stating in part, “But I am not concerned about the boardroom table. I am more concerned about the kitchen table. Because this delay and uncertainty has a tremendous impact on America’s families as they sit around the table and talk about how they’re going to make ends meet, how they’re going to pay their bills. Is Social Security going to be intact for them? Will their checks arrive this week or next week, whenever they’re due? Is Medicare and Medicaid something that they can count on?”
Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), who made a courageous and emotional return to the House of Representatives this week, just 7 months after being brutally shot while meeting with constituents in her district.
Jeers to:
Tea Party Conservatives in Congress, who are holding our nation hostage – insisting on balancing the budget on the backs of the middle class, children, and seniors while continuing to protect corporations, oil companies, Wall Street, and the wealthiest individuals.
With less than a week to default on our national debt, negotiations continue between the President and congressional leaders in an attempt to avoid an economic disaster. The President has called for a compromise and a balanced approach that ensures shared sacrifice. But, Tea Party conservatives in the House continue to insist on a deal that includes no revenue increases. The result of such a deal would be to balance the budget on the backs of children, seniors, the middle class, and the poor – without ensuring that corporations, oil companies, and the wealthiest individuals pay their fair share.
Negotiations are continuing throughout the weekend as lawmakers scramble to put together a final deal before financial markets open on Monday. The debt ceiling must be raised by Tuesday, August 2nd to avert a major financial disaster.
We must ratchet up the pressure immediately on Congress to ensure that they protect children, seniors, and the middle class. The political posturing and refusal to compromise has gone on long enough. Reckless political brinksmanship by a small, vocal minority is holding our nation’s financial stability, credibility, and future hostage.
Take Action Today: Tell Congress to compromise on a balanced approach that protects the most vulnerable and ensures those most able to do so pay their fair share.
This week, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing on “Education Reforms: Exploring Teacher Quality Initiatives.” The focus of the hearing was teacher evaluation, with many of the witnesses stressing the importance of including teachers and their representing unions in the development and implementation of evaluation systems.
NEA submitted the Association’s newly adopted policy statement on teacher evaluation and accountability to the Committee in advance of the hearing. The recently adopted Policy Statement – approved by a majority vote of more than 8,000 delegates to the Association’s Annual Meeting earlier this month -- puts NEA on the record, for the first time, as calling for a comprehensive overhaul of both teacher evaluation and accountability systems to advance student learning.
This fall, additional work is expected on ESEA reauthorization around teacher quality. NEA believes that students and teachers deserve high quality evaluation systems that provide the tools teachers need to continuously tailor instruction, enhance practice, and advance student learning. But, the responsibility for crafting teacher evaluation and accountability systems should lie at the state and local level, not with the federal government.
Take ActionToday: Tell Congress how teacher quality issues should and should not be addressed in an ESEA Reauthorization bill.
JOIN THE SAVE OUR SCHOOLS RALLY AND MARCH – JULY 30, 2011
The Save our Schools (SOS) rally and march is a grassroots movement to reclaim schools as places of learning, joy, and democracy. The event will take place this weekend – July 30 – in Washington, DC, but there are also ways to participate in or plan actions in your local area!
For more information and updates, to tell us you will be marching, or to let us know about events in your area, visit the SOS March page on NEA’s Education Votes website.
Educators across the country have been through so much this year. In Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker and his allies have worked relentlessly to undermine public education, and our efforts to fight back have reached a critical point this week. The recall elections on August 9th are the best chance NEA members in Wisconsin will ever have to fight back – removing from office politicians who have used their power to jeopardize our schools, our students, and our future. But now, with less than two weeks before the voting, deep-pocketed opponents of public education are pouring millions of dollars into an all-out effort to hold on to power.
You can make sure they don’t drown out the voices of your fellow educators working in Wisconsin. Help us get the message out to undecided voters in Wisconsin this week by making a donation that will help pay for advertisements and get-out-the-vote efforts.
Donate $10 right now to ensure the defeat of candidates who have done everything in their power to undermine public education.
Imagine what it’s like to be an educator in Wisconsin right now, knowing that in a few weeks you could have a stronger voice. And imagine how much it will mean to know that their NEA colleagues from around the country are standing strong by their side to make that happen.
By acting together, we can end these relentless attacks and put power in the hands of strong, pro-public education candidates. What happens in these recall elections will affect educators nationwide.
Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL), Towns (D-NY), McDermott (D-WA), Rush (D-IL), Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Stark (D-CA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Payne (D-NJ), Filner (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Fudge (D-OH), Fattah (D-PA), Christensen (D-VI), Clarke (D-NY), Robert Brady (D-PA), Frederica Wilson (D-FL), Woolsey (D-CA), George Miller (D-CA), Waters (D-CA), Ellison (D-MN), Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Carson (D-IN), Hank Johnson (D-GA), Chu (D-CA), Hinchey (D-NY), McGovern (D-MA), Cummings (D-MD), Gutierrez (D-IL), DeLauro (D-CT), Roybal-Allard (D-CA), McCollum (D-MN), Conyers (D-MI), Reyes (D-TX), Butterfield (D-NC), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Brown (D-FL), Cohen (D-TN), Olver (D-MA), and Alcee Hastings (D-FL), all of whom signed a letter to President Obama and congressional leaders urging them to protect children in any deficit reduction deal. The letter stated in part, “As August 2nd quickly approaches, and we debate raising the debt ceiling and the economic future of our nation, we must not forget about those who will be called on to create our future prosperity. If children are a national priority, we need to understand whether our spending and revenue choices disproportionately harm or protect them.”
Representative George Miller (D-CA), who at the House Education and the Workforce hearing on teacher quality gave an eloquent opening statement in support of teachers, stating, “It’s a productive exercise to talk about how we can improve and modernize the teaching profession because these conversations will hopefully lead to better policies and improve student success. What is not productive are the attacks we’ve seen on teachers across the country from Republican governors. In trying to strip teachers of all collective bargaining rights except for negotiations over pay, these governors are showing how out of touch they are with today's teaching profession, school reform in America, and, frankly, the American workplace.” Representative Miller also stated, “Any efforts to help teachers must be done WITH teachers not to them. It’s time we treated the teaching profession like any other modern workplace, with support, resources, real professional development, and real rewards.”
Jeers to:
Tea Party Conservatives in Congress, who are holding our nation hostage – insisting on balancing the budget on the backs of the middle class, children, and seniors while continuing to protect corporations, oil companies, Wall Street, and the wealthiest individuals.
July 22, 2011
Save Our Schools March Update
Dear local leaders,
I hope you have had some time to recharge this summer. The school year ahead will be full of challenges and opportunities. I know that many of you are frustrated with the way education “reform” has been barreling down the track, out of control like a runaway train. And most times, without educators’ input. But we don’t have to stand for it. In May, we took a stand and declared a State of Emergency for our schools, which shined a spotlight on the inadequate funding our schools receive, but that isn’t enough. We need to keep the pressure on lawmakers; we need to raise awareness in our local communities; and we need to demand that our country realign its priorities with its values!
That’s why CTA has endorsed the national Save Our Schools March. The march started as just one event in DC, with notables like Diane Ravitch and even Matt Damon signing on, but interest has grown so much that they are now organizing an event at the State Capitol for next Saturday, July 30. I hope you and everyone you know will plan to attend, and if you can’t make it to the Capitol, we hope you’ll find a way to speak out locally.
We need a permanent solution to the funding crisis, and we have to stand together against those that seek to leave us out of the education reform discussion. Together, we can make a difference. Our students and our schools are depending on us.
Dean E. Vogel
CTA President
July 22, 2011
Save Our Schools March Update
Dear local leaders,
I hope you have had some time to recharge this summer. The school year ahead will be full of challenges and opportunities. I know that many of you are frustrated with the way education “reform” has been barreling down the track, out of control like a runaway train. And most times, without educators’ input. But we don’t have to stand for it. In May, we took a stand and declared a State of Emergency for our schools, which shined a spotlight on the inadequate funding our schools receive, but that isn’t enough. We need to keep the pressure on lawmakers; we need to raise awareness in our local communities; and we need to demand that our country realign its priorities with its values!
That’s why CTA has endorsed the national Save Our Schools March. The march started as just one event in DC, with notables like Diane Ravitch and even Matt Damon signing on, but interest has grown so much that they are now organizing an event at the State Capitol for next Saturday, July 30. I hope you and everyone you know will plan to attend, and if you can’t make it to the Capitol, we hope you’ll find a way to speak out locally.
We need a permanent solution to the funding crisis, and we have to stand together against those that seek to leave us out of the education reform discussion. Together, we can make a difference. Our students and our schools are depending on us.
The August deadline looms for Congress to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and avoid catastrophic economic fallout. This week, the House passed the NEA-opposed Cut, Cap, and Balance Act (H.R. 2560), which would write spending caps into law and hold the debt limit increase hostage unless two-thirds of the House and the Senate agree to a constitutional balanced budget amendment. Read NEA’s letter opposing the bill and see how your Representative voted.
Like other proposed spending caps and balanced budget amendments, this plan – which should really be called the “Dodge, Duck, and Dismantle Act” – would result in the largest cuts in federal spending in modern history – slashing education, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs that meet crucial national needs. The proposal does not exempt core basic assistance programs for the poorest Americans from across-the-board cuts, yet seeks to safeguard tax cuts and tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. President Obama has threatened to veto the bill should it come to his desk for signature.
Instead of balancing the budget on the backs of the poor and middle class, policymakers should ensure that any deal includes revenue raised by making the wealthiest in our nation pay their fair share. Elected officials should work together on a bipartisan basis to help Main Street hang on, not help Wall Street get more.
Take ActionToday: Tell Congress that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of the middle class and our most vulnerable populations!
This week, Senator Harkin (D-IA) introduced the IDEA Full Funding Act. The bill would make funding for special education mandatory and gradually increase funding to reach the federal government’s promised level (40 percent of the national average per pupil expenditure of every child in special education) by FY 2021.
For too long, Congress has failed to live up to its commitment to fund special education. This continued underfunding – in combination with current state fiscal crises – forces school districts to either raise taxes or dip into general education budgets to make up for the shortfall, thereby cutting other critical services.
Take Action Today:Urge your Senators to cosponsor and support the IDEA Full Funding Act.
JOIN THE SAVE OUR SCHOOLS RALLY AND MARCH -- JULY 30, 2011
The Save our Schools (SOS) rally and march is a grassroots movement to reclaim schools as places of learning, joy, and democracy. The event will take place on July 30, in Washington, DC, but there are also ways to participate in or plan actions in your local area!
For more information and updates as the date approaches, to tell us you will be marching, or to let us know about events in your area, visit the SOS March page on NEA’s Education Votes website.
President Obama, who issued a veto threat for the House-passed Cap, Cut, and Balance Act – a bill that seriously jeopardizes our nation’s future strength and hurts those in our nation least able to afford further sacrifice.
Representative Petri(R-WI) – the first Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives to add his name as a cosponsor of the Annual National Classified School Employee of the Year Award Act.The bill would provide long overdue recognition for the outstanding contributions to our nation’s schools and the students served by our Education Support Professionals.
Senators Harkin (D-IA), Durbin (D-IL), Lautenberg (D-NJ), Blumenthal (D-CT), Murray (D-WA), Whitehouse (D-RI) and Leahy (D-VT)– the original sponsors of the IDEA Full Funding Act introduced this week.
Jeers to:
Representatives Boren (D-OK), Cooper (D-TN), Matheson (D-UT), McIntyre (D-NC) and Shuler (D-NC) – the onlyfive Democrats in the House of Representatives who voted in favor of the ill-conceived and very dangerous Cap, Cut, and Balance Act.
July 15, 2011
This offensive cartoon ran yesterday in the Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle and the Orange County Register. It is an outrageous attack, implying teachers’ only concern is themselves. The intent of the budget bill alluded to in the cartoon - AB 114 -- was to create some stability for our schools.
The bill was not just about saving jobs, but also about making sure students have teachers to teach them. If more teachers are laid off, class sizes increase even more, students receive less individual attention, and their education is compromised.
Talks continue at the highest levels of the federal government on deficit reduction, spending cuts, and the debt ceiling, as the deadline for raising the nation’s debt limit rapidly approaches. At stake in these talks is the very future of our nation. Will leaders craft a deal that hurts those least able to afford further sacrifice, or will they realize that any deal must include ways to raise revenue from those most able to pay?
There is much to be concerned about in the current debate. Proposed cuts to education funding and Medicaid will harm students and our future. Proposals to tax employer-sponsored health care would cause millions of middle class families to lose their benefits. And, now some policy makers are talking about cutting Social Security as well!
Instead of balancing the budget on the backs of the middle class, policymakers should ensure that any deal includes revenue raised by making the wealthiest in our nation pay their fair share. Elected officials should work together on a bipartisan basis to help Main Street hang on, not help Wall Street get more.
Take Action Today: Tell Congress that the budget should not be balanced on the backs of the middle class and our most vulnerable populations!
I am a dedicated teacher working in a school with near 90 percent of our students in the low- income bracket. In our school we have some amazing students! We have students that show up every day with problems in their home lives, the likes of which most students will never know. Their circumstances are not their fault. Their circumstances are not my fault either. Yet we never show up whining about what we don't have in life. We make the best of what we have, which is significantly less than our more affluent neighboring districts. I spend hundreds of dollars every school year buying learning materials to properly differentiate for all the students in my classroom. The one- size-fits-all curriculum purchased by the district does not work when you have a gifted student and a student who doesn't know how to read basic words in the same classroom all day with no additional staff to help. I have purchased an alarm clock for my 7 year old student with no adult at home to make sure she got to school and no breakfast in her stomach. When she goes home there is no one who speaks English for her to read to and help her with homework. Schools are not the reason for societal ills, they are victims of it. Letting school vouchers and school choice shuffle the focus away from inequitable funding is not the solution. Here's the basic kindergarten way to explain this: 1+1=2. You cannot "take away" and still expect to have more. Even a kindergartener knows that. – NEA Cyberlobbyist, Illinois
This week, the House Education and the Workforce Committee “marked-up” the State and Local Funding Flexibility Act (H.R. 2445). While billed as increasing state and local flexibility, in reality, the NEA-opposed bill would compromise the civil rights of low income, English language learners (ELL), and Native American students. Despite its good intentions, the bill could create a loophole allowing the diversion of already scarce resources from vulnerable populations like those described in the story above. Read NEA’s press release on the bill and NEA’s letter submitted to the Committee.
NEA wholeheartedly supports increased flexibility and relief from the one-size-fits all, test-based, overly punitive accountability system under No Child Left Behind. However, we believe that any increased flexibility and local control must still uphold the federal government’s responsibility to guarantee equal educational opportunity for all studentsand mustcontinue to hold school districts accountable for improving results for all students.
Take Action Today:Remind Congress about the core values reflected in the original ESEA. Urge your Members of Congress to reject “flexibility” proposals that undermine the federal government’s role in targeting resources to those most in need.
JOIN THE SAVE OUR SCHOOLS RALLY AND MARCH -- JULY 30, 2011
The Save our Schools (SOS) rally and march is a grassroots movement to reclaim schools as places of learning, joy, and democracy. The event will take place on July 30, in Washington, DC, but there are also ways to participate in or plan actions in your local area!
For more information and updates as the date approaches, to tell us you will be marching, or to let us know about events in your area, visit the SOS March page on NEA’s Education Votes website.
Representative Courtney (D-CT), who continued his strong leadership role in opposing unfair tax treatment of employer provided health benefits, including by authoring a piece in the Huffington Post in which he blasted the idea of repealing the tax exemption for employment-based health benefits, and sponsoring a briefing in conjunction with labor leaders on the health benefits tax exclusion issue.
Senator Murkowski (R-AK), who addressed participants at NEA’s Republican Leaders Conference this week and stressed the importance of educator voices in the debate on ESEA reauthorization
Representative Murphy (D-CT), who wrote an article for the Huffington Post in which he warned of the dangers slash funding for Medicaid -- a program that 60 million Americans rely on for their basic health care needs.
Jeers to:
Representative Foxx (R-NC), who, at the House Education and the Workforce Committee mark-up of the NEA-opposed State and Local Funding Flexibility Act, argued that there is no need to categorize help for specific student groups (like students in poverty or English Language Learners) because all they have to do is work hard and they will succeed. Watch the full mark-up on the Committee website (click “archived webcast”).
July 12, 2011
Action Alert
Stop Them from Turning Educators into Nurses!
July 12, 2011
CTA-opposed SB 161 (Huff), a bill that would allow non-medical personnel to administer Diastat – a form of valium -- rectally to students in the throes of a seizure passed the Assembly Education Committee on July 6 and is headed to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for a hearingon or after August 15.
Members of Appropriations includeAssemblymembers Fuentes, Harkey, Blumenfield, Bradford, Calderon, Campos, Davis, Donnelly, Gatto, Hall, Hill, Lara, Mitchell, Nielsen, Norby, Solorio, and Wagner.
At this time, making constituent contacts into local Assembly district offices is critical. It does not matter if the contacts are from teachers, classified employees, their family members, your family members, staff members, friends, etc. - particularly registered voters. Please share this request for help with as many individuals as possible. To learn more about the bill and to take action against it, click on http://capwiz.com/nea/ca/home/ The site will both provide information and link you to CTA’s contact your lawmakers site, where you will be able to secure contact information about your lawmakers.
The state budget battle continues with the Governor still searching for two Republican votes in the Assembly and two in the Senate to pass the temporary tax extensions. Republicans are still refusing to engage at all. Last week, the Governor vetoed a budget passed on a majority vote by Democrats.
While we need to keep fighting for more revenues and get the four votes needed for tax extensions we must say NO to an “all cuts” budget which would irreparably hurt our schools, colleges and essential public services.
CTA and the Education Coalition are calling on Governor Brown and lawmakers to keep their promise to make public education a priority and to protect students from more cuts.
We are asking members to call the governor and tell him our students deserve better. Tell him to keep his promise to make education funding a priority and to sign a budget that protects schools, colleges and other essential services.
Hit the "CLICK HERE TO CONNECT" button and a call will be patched through to your phone.
It's that easy.
After a brief recording with instructions, you'll be patched through to the Governor's office. The only thing left at that point is to tell the Governor how you feel. If they don't pick up, you can leave a voicemail and CTA will deliver your message.
*Depending on your carrier and plan, text messaging or data rates may apply
June 24, 2011
This Week's News:
DREAM ACT HEARING SCHEDULED: TELL CONGRESS TO HELP STUDENTS ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN DREAM
Gaby wants to be a teacher. She has three education degrees and dreams of opening a music center for autistic children.
Eric loves being in the lab, he has a full scholarship to Harvard University and wants to immerse himself in cancer research.
Felipe wants to be a high school teacher, he dreams of inspiring at risk kids to go to college.
They also dream of a day in which they won’t live in fear of being deported by immigration authorities. All three are undocumented students who were brought to the United States as children.
On June 28, the Senate Judiciary Committee, Subcommittee on Immigration, will hold a hearing on the DREAM Act (S. 952/H.R. 1842). This important bill, introduced by Senator Durbin (D-IL), will give eligible young people like those described above the opportunity to resolve their immigration status and work towards citizenship. They will have to pass background checks and be of good moral character, graduate from high school, and go on to complete additional requirements related to attending college or completing military service. Leading businesses such as Microsoft have endorsed the DREAM Act because they recognize that our broken immigration system is draining our economy of the talent and resources needed to compete in the global economy.
Take Action Today:Tell your Senators to cosponsor and support the DREAM Act -- a practical, fair solution that upholds the best of our shared American values of fair opportunity, accountability, and strong work ethics.
As the August deadline for raising the nation’s debt ceiling approaches, a bipartisan group led by Vice President Biden continues to negotiate. Failure to raise the debt ceiling would send the national and the world economy into a tailspin. But, some conservatives in Congress are threatening to oppose raising the limit unless it is tied to implementation of budget cuts and spending caps.
The specter of spending caps and/or a balanced budget amendment looms large in these negotiations. Both approaches would be devastating for children, seniors, working families, and our entire nation. They would result in the deepest federal spending cuts in modern history, decimating education funding, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. These proposals are, in reality, attempts to address the nation’s fiscal woes on the backs of those who can least afford to sacrifice – those who have already been struggling to meet even basic needs.
Take Action Today: As educators, NEA members have a unique perspective on the importance of investing in education and protecting the most vulnerable in our nation. The stories you can share with policymakers about the impact of proposed spending cuts on your students, colleagues, and communities can be very powerful. Tell Congress to oppose balanced budget amendments and spending caps!
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND UPDATE: HOUSE COMMITTEE PASSES SECOND BILL
As a twenty-five year veteran educator in a crime-ridden and at-risk area, I can tell you, first-hand, that students in my district come to school with substantial economic, social, and academic challenges. The students and their parents are living at or below poverty levels, which places them at a distinct disadvantage when tackling the core curricular program and navigating the school system. School is, at times, an unwelcoming place for many of these families; not because teachers and school staff don't care, but because often school is difficult, parents are working 2 and 3 jobs just to survive, and many parents do not speak the "language of school.” Many of these children don't learn in "regular ways" but require differentiated instruction and different modes of acquiring the skills necessary for academic success. Yes, they can learn and make remarkable progress but they start out "behind the eight ball" when compared to students from more affluent means. Many of our students have family members who are incarcerated, regularly witness violence in their neighborhoods, and are learning English as a second language. These are not excuses for their lack of achievement – this is their reality and my reality as their educator. The truth is, simply, that you cannot, in all fairness, compare their standardized test scores with peers who do not live these challenges day after day. Come and spend a day with me and I'll show you what these students deal with and how the ones that graduate and "make it" defy logic and are miracles in their own right. -- NEA Cyberlobbyist, California
Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) continues to move slowly, with no action in the Senate and action on only a few pieces in the House. This week, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce passed an ESEA-related bill on charter schools. The bill includes some positive provisions around protections for English Language Learners and students with disabilities and requirements for publicly reported annual audits of charter schools. However, the bill also falls short in a number of areas, including transparency, accountability, and funding equity. The bill is not likely to move to the House floor anytime soon.
NEA supports high-quality charter schools that: operate in a manner that is transparent and accountable to parents and taxpayers; do not increase segregation by family income, ethnicity, or race; and solicit and benefit from input from parents, school staff, and the communities they serve. Read NEA’s letter to the Committee.
While Congress continues to lag in reauthorizing ESEA, schools and students like those described in the above story need relief now. As we reported last week, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has announced that the Department of Education would provide relief from some No Child Left Behind provisions if Congress does not complete work on a reauthorization bill prior to the August congressional recess. But, the Secretary indicated that such relief would be tied to “reform.”
NEA believes that regulatory relief should focus on the students. Any system that positions some students as winners and losers is unacceptable. Every child in every school has felt the effects of NCLB, so relief shouldn’t be selective or conditional.
Take Action Today:Tell Secretary Duncan not to make relief from No Child Left Behind a competition! All students need relief now!
Representative Tierney (D-MA), who, at a committee mark-up of charter school legislation this week, spoke eloquently about the need for oversight and monitoring of charter schools and their authorizers and more charter school accountability and transparency. Representative Tierney also spoke out against attacks on unions.
Representative Lance (R-NJ), who spoke on the House floor in support of public schools in New Jersey identified as “excellent” by Newsweek and congratulated parents, teachers, students, and property taxpayers for supporting the public education system.
Senators Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Menendez (D-NJ) and Representatives Holt (D-NJ) and Payne (D-NJ), who released statements opposing a very troubling health and pension bill under consideration in the New Jersey legislature that would roll back public employee collective bargaining rights.
Representative Murphy (R-PA), who expressed concerns about the impact of a Republican bill to change Medicaid eligibility rules because of the bill’s negative impact on the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Representative Murphy stated that CHIP is still an important program and that Congress needs to talk to states about strengthening it.
June 7, 2011
To all of our members this arrived on 6/6/11
State Council Representatives, Chapter Presidents, and Service Center Council Chairs:
Thank you for the great work you, your members and staff did during State of Emergency Week, May 9-13. Building our on our very successful SOE week of action, the CTA State Council this weekend approved Phase 2 of State of Emergency. (See attached.) This is a more targeted plan designed to zero in on those Republican legislators needed to help pass the temporary tax extensions. Through your efforts and those of our coalition partners, we definitely changed the conversation in California around the state budget crisis and refocused it on the impact of cuts to schools, colleges, and communities. But much work still needs to be done in a short period of time. We have until next Wednesday, June 15, the deadline to pass a state budget, to persuade two Republican legislators in each house of the Legislature—2 in the Senate and 2 in the Assembly—to pass the governor’s May Budget Revision now.
There are a few things that you can do right now to help influence these lawmakers and help save our schools and our state.
1.To stay engaged and active during the Summer sign up to become a Summer Warrior at cta.org beginning Thursday, June 9
The plan has targeted actions for each day of the week including Mail Postcards Mondays; Toll-free (call your lawmaker) Tuesdays; We are One Wednesdays (Labor targeted phone banks to voters and CTA member-to-member phones); Text/Email a Friend Thursdays; Field Office Fridays (Coalition and member visits/protests at legislative home offices); and Strolling (Labor targeted canvass walks) Saturdays. Continue to work within your local chapter and regional structure to build your local actions. We are doubling our efforts with our coalition partners to pressure lawmakers to pass a budget now. Learn more at Stand Up for California.
There are several ways to stay informed and get helpful materials and resources.
We need all of you to contact your lawmakers and urge your members contact their lawmakers, especially those with Republican lawmakers, now!
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
June 3, 2011
This Week's News:
ESEA REAUTHORIZATION UPDATE: WHAT OUR STUDENTS NEED TO SUCCEED
[My elementary school] is situated in a small rural farming community….Many say that if you blink you might miss our quaint little town. Our community's makeup consists mostly of farmers, educators, small business owners, and migrant workers. Being a lifelong resident, I thrive on the knowledge and feeling that our close knit community works hard at taking care of their own. But unfortunately our struggles and limited resources still carry a heavy burden on our educational setting….Our children walk through our classroom doors with minimal knowledge of the expectations that will be required of them. Precious time is spent on teaching the fundamentals of learning, from holding a pencil correctly to learning basic personal hygiene, yet we still find a way to teach the grade appropriate Standards and Benchmarks. With the restrictions and limitations placed on educators by NCLB and other legislative rulings, our children and educators are being drawn out so thin that it feels as if very little is getting accomplished. Never in my 14 years of teaching has education reform taken on such a negative connotation….I challenge every single [Member of Congress] to walk in my shoes for one day, one hour, to see the challenges, the triumphs and the defeats that our children and we, as educators, face on an everyday basis. My doors are wide open and I plead for you to step through them and experience the joys and heartbreaks that we deal with, with the limited resources we have on hand. Our children, our future, are the most precious resource we have, and it is our duty to prepare them for what is to come. Making more rigorous laws and regulations, instead of aiding educators, will only hamper our progress. I truly understand the intentions of NCLB, but unfortunately it has only caused anguish to those who are affected by it. –NEA Cyber-lobbyist, New Mexico
This story submitted to Congress via NEA’s Legislative Action Center illustrates so vividly what we are fighting for as Congress starts to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently known as No Child Left Behind. The one-size-fits-all approach under current law simply does not work in real-world classrooms such as those described above.
This week, the push toward reauthorization continued as the House Education and the Workforce Committee held a hearing on charter schools. Read NEA’s letter and charter school policy briefsubmitted to the committee. The next piece of ESEA-related legislation to be released is expected to focus on “flexibility,” but could include troubling provisions that allow school districts to shift funding among programs, including out of Title I. This would seriously undermine the federal government’s commitment to students with the greatest needs.
Take Action Today:
As Congress moves forward on ESEA reauthorization, we encourage you to share your stories, your ideas, and your dreams for your students with Congress.
Also, remind Congress about the core values reflected in the original ESEA. Urge your Members of Congress to reject “flexibility” proposals that undermine the federal government’s role in targeting resources to those most in need.
Debates in Congress continue on a range of economic issues – including the nation’s debt ceiling, potential spending caps, and funding for the next fiscal year. While much in the media has focused on the political strategies behind these debates, NEA believes that the more important question is the impact on children, working families, the elderly, and others in our nation with the greatest needs. The outcome of these debates will show whether we as a nation are going to make the investments necessary to lift everyone and ensure a strong nation for the 21st century, or whether we are going to continue to use rhetoric and false arguments to prop up Wall Street, oil companies, and the wealthiest individuals.
This week, the House of Representatives held a symbolic but essentially meaningless vote on whether to raise the nation’s debt ceiling. The ceiling must be raised by August in order to avoid default on our debt. Failure to raise the ceiling would send the economy into a tailspin. Many in Congress, however, are threatening to oppose raising the debt ceiling unless Congress passes spending caps or other proposals to cut federal spending dramatically. As expected, the debt ceiling vote failed overwhelmingly, as negotiations continue behind the scenes on an overall deal.
Also this week, the House Judiciary Committee “marked-up” a proposed Constitutional Amendment that would require a balanced budget and severely limit federal spending. Read NEA’s letter opposing this proposal. The proposal would result in the largest cuts in federal spending in modern history. It will not be possible to achieve the spending levels required under balanced budget proposals without massive cuts in education, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs that meet crucial national needs.
Take Action Today:Tell Congress that slashing programs that serve children, elderly, and working families is not the answer to our nation’s fiscal problems.
This week the Obama Administration released final regulations to enforce the federal requirement that career education programs receiving federal student aid “prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.” NEA supports these regulations. Numerous investigations have revealed pervasive abuses by some career education programs: deceptive and aggressive recruiting of students; inflated job placement rates and false reporting to authorities; overstatement of a program’s value and understatement of its high cost; and dismal completion rates. Too many of these programs are preying on low-income students, minority students, and veterans seeking to further their education, who take on insurmountable debt to pursue degrees or certificates that don’t help them get jobs.
The new “gainful employment” regulations will ramp up over four years, giving colleges time to reform while protecting students from exploitative programs. However, some in Congress – spurred on by pressure from for-profit schools – have already tried, and will likely continue to try to block implementation of the regulations.
Take Action Today: Tell Congress to protect students by supporting gainful employment regulations.
Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND), who gave an inspiring speech on the nation’s deficit problems, calling out the need to address revenue as well as spending and specifically focusing on the need to invest in education, stating, “Education is No. 1. I was raised by my grandparents. My grandmother was a schoolteacher. She used to say: In our household, No. 1 is education, No. 2 is education, and No. 3 is education. We got the message.”
Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL), who at a hearing on charter schools raised important questions about the agencies responsible for monitoring charter authorizer performance, how they are monitored, and whether technical assistance is provided to improve authorizer performance.
Jeers to:
House leaders, who scheduled a meaningless vote to raise the debt ceiling, which they knew would fail overwhelmingly, as a further step in their efforts to tie raising the ceiling to implementation of dangerous spending caps.
Representative Martha Roby (R-AL) who, during a hearing on charter schools specifically chastised the Alabama Education Association for their stance on charter schools and asked witnesses for information to “debunk” AEA’s arguments
May 27, 2011
This Week's News:
ESEA REAUTHORIZATION UPDATE: WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR
I am a third grade teacher in a low socioeconomic school. The parents of my students struggle every day with many problems economically, socially, and emotionally. My students live in an environment where these struggles at home impact their emotional health, which of course, impacts their motivation, behavior, and academic potential. I am a dedicated teacher who cares about my students. I have a great track record in the eleven years that I have been teaching. I work long hours for little pay, and I am tired of being blamed as the cause that our students are not high performing.
Imagine, dear Senators, for a minute if all your support staff were removed. You alone were left to field all telephone calls, complete all paperwork, and be personally responsible for the actions of your constituents. You get the picture. Now imagine that your salary was reduced to below minimum wage if you divided the hours you worked per week by your salary. And don't forget to take away your pension, as I fear our new governor is planning. Okay, now we are on even playing field.
How can you help teachers and students perform better? Stop blaming us and telling us we need more training. Stop telling us if we just do it differently, then students will succeed. Instead, give schools that have struggling students more money and staff to help them. Give those schools more support for their families. Stop thinking that rewarding the high socioeconomic schools and penalizing those that have the most challenges is the answer. Teachers are part of the solution, not the problem. Are you part of the solution? – NEA Cyber-lobbyist, Connecticut
The picture painted by this story submitted to Congress via NEA’s Legislative Action Center is repeated every day in classrooms across the nation. It demonstrates what we are fighting for as Congress starts to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently known as No Child Left Behind. And, it shows how powerful your voice can be in influencing the debate. Your stories are critical to showing Members of Congress how their decisions impact real students and educators.
Now is the time to act. This week, the House Education and the Workforce Committee “marked-up” legislation to eliminate a number of ESEA programs. Read NEA’s letter opposing this bill. The next piece of legislation is expected to focus on “flexibility,” but could include troubling provisions that allow school districts to shift funding among programs, including out of Title I. This would seriously undermine the federal government’s commitment to students with the greatest needs.
Take Action Today:
As Congress moves forward on ESEA reauthorization, we encourage you to share your stories, your ideas, and your dreams for your students with Congress.
Also, remind Congress about the core values reflected in the original ESEA. Urge your Members of Congress to reject “flexibility” proposals that undermine the federal government’s role in targeting resources to those most in need.
This week, your efforts led to two significant victories for public education – defeat of the Ryan budget in the Senate and defeat of a private school voucher proposal in the House. We could not have achieved these victories without your help. This year, cyberlobbyists have sent over 150,000 e-mails to Congress on education funding and over 25,000 e-mails to Congress opposing vouchers. Your words have a real impact on Members of Congress – they let your policy makers know you are watching how they vote and whether they are standing up for children and public education.
Both the funding vote and the voucher vote were tests of the fundamental values of our nation. How Members of Congress voted reflects whether they want to continue to funnel taxpayer dollars to private schools and continue to provide tax breaks for corporations and the wealthiest individuals. Or, whether they agree with us that targeting our resources to help those with the greatest needs will help strengthen our nation.
Funding vote: On May 25, the Senate defeated the House-passed Ryan budget for fiscal year 2012 by a vote of 40-57. Five Republicans – Senators Snowe (ME), Collins (ME), Murkowski (AK), Brown (MA), and Paul (KY) – joined Democrats in opposing the budget, although Senator Paul’s opposition vote was due to his belief that the cuts were not deep enough. The Ryan budget would result in more joblessness for the middle class and more tax breaks for the wealthiest in our country. The middle class continues to struggle to find work, pay more for health care, and worry about their children’s education and future. Seniors continue to worry about their retirement security. Yet, the Ryan budget provides rhetoric rather than solutions.
Voucher vote:Also on May 25, the House of Representatives defeated a proposal to provide private school vouchers for students with disabilities in military families. The 203-213 vote came only two weeks after the same proposal had been resoundingly defeated in committee. On the House floor, 35 Republicans joined most Democrats in opposing this unnecessary voucher scheme.
Representative Todd Platts (R-PA), who, during committee mark-up of the ESEA program elimination bill offered, fought for, and successfully secured passage of an amendment to restore funding for Parent Information Resource Centers (PIRCs). PIRCs are the only federal program dedicated to increasing family engagement. The program annually serves 16.4 million parents, primarily within low income and Title I communities where the achievement gap is the greatest. Without this funding stream, parent education and parent outreach programs for these communities could be lost.
Representative Susan Davis (D-CA), who offered an amendment at committee mark-up to restore funding for advanced credentialing, which provides support for teachers working toward certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Representative Davis argued, “If we’re serious about eliminating the achievement gap and graduating more students who are prepared for college and careers, then we need an education system that is serious about getting an effective teacher in every classroom….By cutting master teacher programs, as this legislation does, we’re punishing the most dedicated teachers who want nothing more than to become the best possible instructors for their students. What message does this send?”
Senators Snowe (R-ME), Collins (R-ME), Brown (R-MA), and Murkowski (R-AK) who held firm to their principles and stood up for children, working families and the elderly by voting against the Ryan FY 2012 budget proposal.
Representative Steve LaTourette (R-OH), who during House Appropriations Committee mark-up of the Military Construction–VA funding bill offered, fought for, and successfully secured passage of an amendment to preserve “Davis-Bacon” protections that require payment of prevailing wages on public works projects.
Jeers to:
The four House Democrats – Representatives Ruppersberger (MD), Clay (MO), Richardson (CA), and Richmond (LA) – who voted in favor of private school vouchers for military families, even when 35 Republicans joined the rest of the Democratic Caucus in helping defeat the proposal.
The 40 United States Senatorswho voted for the Ryan budget – a budget that runs completely counter to our values as a nation, by failing to take care of those most in need while sparing those at higher income levels.
May 23, 2011
Congratulations!!!!!
E.C.E.T.A. election results are in and the newly elected officers for the 2011-2013 term are:
President: Shealyn Smith-Barker
Vice President: Daniel K. Edwards
Secretary:Holly Barkalow
Treasurer:Berta Delgado
A big “Thank you” to all of the candidates who ran for office.
The House of Representatives was in recess this week, but will return the week of May 23. The House Education and the Workforce Committee is expected to “mark-up” the first piece of ESEA reauthorization – a bill to eliminate a number of ESEA programs – in the next few weeks.
In addition, Chairman Kline (R-MN) is expected to introduce next week a bill focusing on “flexibility” that could include troubling provisions that allow school districts to shift funding among programs, including moving funds out of Title I. This would seriously undermine the federal government’s commitment to students with the greatest needs. NEA wholeheartedly supports increased flexibility and relief from the one-size-fits all, test-based, overly punitive accountability system under No Child Left Behind. However, we believe that any increased flexibility and local control must still uphold the federal government’s responsibility to guarantee equal educational opportunity for all studentsand mustcontinue to hold school districts accountable for improving results for all students.
Other bills on charter schools, accountability, and teachers/leaders are not expected until later in the year.
Take Action Today:Remind Congress about the core values reflected in the original ESEA. Urge your Members of Congress to reject “flexibility” proposals that undermine the federal government’s role in targeting resources to those most in need.
In the wake of House passage of an ill-advised and dangerous budget proposal for fiscal year 2012, talks continue on a range of funding issues. The outcome of these talks will have significant impact on our nation’s children and working families, as they will indicate whether we, as a nation, will stand up for the most vulnerable or continue to sacrifice our nation’s future to protect Wall Street and our most wealthy.
On the budget end, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) is contemplating bringing the House budget up for a vote in the Senate the week of May 23 in order to put the chamber on record against the proposal. At the same time, a bipartisan group led by Vice President Biden continues to negotiate on broader funding and debt issues.
In addition, proposals are still on the table to implement federal spending caps, the impact of which would be devastating for children, the elderly, and working families. As we have reported in recent weeks, the proposed caps are reminiscent of state-level fights a decade ago over the “Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR), under which state-wide referenda established state-wide budget ceilings. In Colorado, TABOR resulted in a drop in per pupil K-12 education funding from $200 less than the national average in 1992 to $1000 less than the national average in 2006. The federal caps under consideration would force the largest cuts in federal spending in modern history – for education, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other critical programs. Future Congresses would be unable to provide needed funding in case of emerging needs or changing priorities.
We need your help to keep the pressure on in support of children, the elderly, and working families.
Take Action Today:Tell Congress that slashing programs that serve children, elderly, and working families is not the answer to our nation’s fiscal problems.
As we reported a few weeks ago, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) have introduced the National Classified School Employee of the Year Award Act (S. 547/H.R. 1704) This important legislation would provide long overdue recognition for education support professionals – including paraeducators, clerical assistants, school bus drivers, custodians, food service workers, technicians, custodians, school nurses, and security professionals — for their outstanding contributions to our nation’s schools and the students they serve. As an integral part of the public education system, classified school employees promote student achievement, ensure student safety, and contribute to the establishment and promotion of a positive instructional environment.
In the face of escalating attacks on public education, now is the time to stand strong. As you read this, anti-worker politicians and the corporate interests that back them are doing everything they can to undermine educators’ rights. In response, we have to make it clear that we are standing strong for our students, our schools, and our future.
Standing strong for public education means:
Fighting to defeat Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker’s drive to undermine collective bargaining, weaken support for working families, and strengthen the grip of powerful corporate interests.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with educators and public schools under attack in Ohio, Florida, Idaho, and across the country.
Pressing to ensure reform of No Child Left Behind includes the voices of educators.
And it means electing pro-public education candidates at the local, state and national level in 2012 is absolutely essential to our future.
Make it clear to those waging this assault on public education that we’re ready to fight for our future and we won’t back down. Join with teachers and school support personnel all across the nation in standing strong for our public schools. Sign the “I’m Standing Strong for Public Education” Petition right now. When you sign the petition, you will get a special “Standing Strong” Facebook badge.
The nine Senators and ten Members of the House who have added their names as cosponsors of the National Classified School Employee of the Year Act, including Senator Grassley (R-IA) and Representative Herrera Beutler (R-WA) – the first Republicans to cosponsor the bill.
Jeers to:
House leaders, who have announced possible plans to bring a proposal for private school vouchers to the full House next week for a vote, even after the proposal was resoundingly defeated in committee last week.
This is NOT a test. This is a State of Emergency.
For the past three years, Californians have endured devastating cuts coming from Sacramento -- including $20 billion stripped from education!
This state, its finances and its schools are in a State of Emergency.
That's why CTA and our allies are calling on you to join in a week of action at the Capitol in Sacramento and in cities and towns near you.
Join us May 9-13 to demand that lawmakers pass the tax extensions to prevent deeper, more painful cuts. We'll be making calls, holding rallies and taking the Capitol by storm.
There are ways all week long -- and in every corner of California -- for you to demonstate how serious you are about stopping further cuts that harm our schools, hold back our children and hinder our future in the world. The word to remember is LEARN:
Focus on LEGISLATIVE activities
Reach out to EVERY PARENT
Use Day of the Teacher to APPRECIATE educators and ALLIES activities
Promote the need for REVENUE for schools and other essential public services
Good evening! Tomorrow begins our State of EmergencyWeek of Action! To keep you up to date and in the know, we’ll be sending an email every day from the CTA Insider with highlights from the day and scheduled happenings for the next day. Thank you for all the work and planning you’ve already done and thank you for what you’ll be doing during the week. Together, partnered with other education and labor groups, we will show everyone our commitment to California’s children and our state’s future as we advocate for temporary tax extension.
TOMORROW’S HAPPENINGS
·Sacramento – State of Emergency Kick-off news conference followed by a march to the Capitol to drop off materials that highlight school districts in each legislator’s district. 12 Noon
·San Francisco – UESF members gather at State Public Utilities Commission building for a march to school district office where superintendent and UESF President will speak before loading the bus. 7 AM
Your help is urgently needed to defeat three CTA-opposed bills that attack teachers directly. The bills will hurt students, as well. The three measures are set in the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday, May 11. It’s vital that all members of the committee are contacted and urged to vote against these measures.
All three bills avoid the real issue facing schools: more than $18 billion in cuts have undermined public education and harmed students. It is vital that the cuts are stopped and schools receive the vital resources they need. Reducing teacher protections in the guise of “cutting costs” will make things even worse. The situation is already so desperate that CTA has declared a State of Emergency. More than 300 CTA members are heading to the Capitol to urge lawmakers to extend the temporary taxes that will help fund our schools. An all-cuts budget would cost schools another $4.1 billion.
Background:
·SB 266, by Sen. Bob Dutton (R-31), proposes paying pink-slipped teachers at the lower substitute rate even when they fill positions for over 20 days. Currently, these teachers receive their standard pay rate when working in a long-term substitute capacity. The change will discourage laid-off teachers from remaining in the profession, and it will cost our students a generation of skilled and dedicated teachers.
·SB 355, by Sen. Bob Huff (R-39), proposes to virtually eliminate seniority as a consideration when layoffs are required and institute a test-driven system the author calls “performance-based” layoffs. It would allow administrators to practice favoritism under the guise of “keeping the best.” It would gut one of the most important protections that helps ensure academic freedom and allows students to learn from experienced teachers.
·SB 871, by Sen. Sharon Runner (R-17), prohibits compensation increases in a school district if the school year is shortened. The bill is a full-on attack on collective bargaining and local control.
·These proposals would move California in the opposite direction of proven reforms that are helping our students and schools. They would make it more difficult for districts to attract and retain quality teachers.
Key Points:
·The real problem in our schools is not seniority protections or teacher pay. It’s the chronic underfunding that has provoked a fiscal crisis and is threatening our students’ education.
·These bills would foster discrimination and favoritism.They would undermine districts’ ability to find and keep quality educators.
·Research overwhelmingly shows that teacher quality improves over time and that students benefit.
Here’s what you can do to help!
Call all members of the Senate Education Committee at their district and Capitol offices. Ask them to vote NO on SB 266, SB 355, and SB 871 that attempt to eliminate teacher due process, cut teacher pay, and eliminate local control.
After you have made your two calls, close the loop by e-mailing lfeldman@cta.org to let us know:
1) Who did you meet or reach by phone or e-mail?
2) What was the response?Will the lawmaker commit to voting against the bill?
For more information, contact Legislative Advocate Seth Bramble or GR Communications Consultant Len Feldman at 916.325.1500.
Dangerous Spending Caps Proposed: Déjà Vu All Over Again!
Proposed “global spending caps” that would severely limit federal spending for decades are reminiscent of state-level fights a decade ago over the “Taxpayer Bill of Rights? (TABOR).”
Under TABOR, state-wide referenda established state-wide budget ceilings and very high thresholds for exceeding the limits. They effectively nullified election results by tying the hands of state elected officials and reducing services across the board. As a result, voters and elected officials were held hostage by simplistic formulas perpetrated by their predecessors – when new, unanticipated need emerged, they couldn’t respond!
Today, this pattern threatens to repeat at the federal level. Some in Congress are proposing overall caps on federal spending that would tie Congress’ hands for decades. These caps would force the largest cuts in federal spending in modern history – for education, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other critical programs. Future Congresses would be unable to provide needed funding in case of emerging needs or changing priorities.
Take Action Today:Tell Congress that slashing programs that serve children, elderly, and working families is not the answer to our nation’s fiscal problems. Urge them to oppose global spending caps.
ESEA Reauthorization On The Horizon: Tell Policymakers To Listen To The Experts – Educators!
Congress could take up reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in the next few months. In fact, a House bill on at least part of an overall reauthorization is very likely to move by summer. And, Senate Education Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) has indicated that he would like to move a bill through the Senate by this summer. With so many new Members serving in the 112th Congress, it is essential that the experts – educators working every day in public schools across the nation – are front and center in the debate. Members of Congress need to be educated about the flaws in the No Child Left Behind Act and what is really needed to ensure great public schools for every student.
Take Action Today:Tell Congress that every child deserves a great public school, and that legislators need listen to educators if they want to learn how to make that happen.
Cheers to: President Obama, who said in a radio interview this week,“Let’s certainly not blame public employees for a financial crisis they had nothing to do with. And let’s not use this as an excuse to erode their bargaining rights.So whether it’s Wisconsin, the state of Ohio, I strongly disapprove.”
April 14, 2011
California is in a State of Emergency
Join and LEARN
California is in a State of Emergency and we all need to sound the warning. Following the vote by CTA’s State Council of Education, plans are underway for a special week of action, May 9-13, to draw attention to the drastic state budget cuts destroying our public schools, colleges and communities, and calling on the Legislature to pass the temporary tax extensions.
Lawmakers have already cut more than $12 billion from the state budget, but have not extended the revenue portion of Governor Brown’s proposal. Legislators need to finish their jobs and pass the revenue extensions. It’s time to say enough is enough and mean it. We are asking educators to participate in a sit-in at the State Capitol during that week. To help focus local activities each day, we are using the acronym LEARN.
Monday, May 9: Focus on LEGISLATIVE activities Tuesday, May 10: Reach out to EVERY PARENT Wednesday, May 11: Use Day of the Teacher to APPRECIATE Educators and ALLIES Thursday, May 12: Promote the need for REVENUE for schools and other essential services Friday, May 13: It’s NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. Attend a regional rally.
We are reaching out to other education, labor and community groups to join us. The Association of California School Administrators is already on board. So please work within your local chapter to make this week a success and then join others on Friday for a regional rally near you. Rallies are being planned in Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Fresno, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego. And while we are focusing on this week, the actions and outreach need to start long before then and continue long past the week of May 9-13. CTA will be holding its annual Chapter President’s Lobby Day on May 18.
The time is now to make our voices heard and speak up for our students, our schools, and the future we all want for California. WE ARE ONE!
Honoring Teachers and ESP
“Great Teaching Lasts a Lifetime” is CTA’s theme this year for California Day of the Teacher, which falls in the middle of our week of action. Be sure and use that day to honor the great work of educators. A number of materials will be available on the CTA website. And then the following week, take time to honor Education Support Professionals on California ESP Day on May 17.
Get the Facts on Educator Retirement
Whether it is Wisconsin or Sacramento, some politicians are trying to use the state budget crisis and the collapse of Wall Street to scapegoat teachers, public employees and their secure retirement benefits. The misinformation campaign is rampant and you need to arm yourself with the facts. The new Truth about Teachers’ Retirement section on www.CTA.org gives you all the information you need. There is a great new brochure, and lots of resources and research. Be sure to click on all four tabs to get all the information.
Do you have a great teaching idea for your classroom or school, but lack the funds to make it happen? The CTA Institute for Teaching is offering grants to members and local chapters to support strength-based, teacher-driven reforms for students and public schools. The IFT grants are designed for CTA members and teacher teams who want to take a leadership role in school improvement. Grant amounts may vary. The application deadline is April 30. Award winners will be announced in June.
April 8, 2011
This Week's News:
STUDENTS, EDUCATORS, RETIREES: NO ONE IS SAFE FROM DAMAGING HOUSE BUDGET!
A budget proposal for fiscal year 2012 released by House Budget Committee Chair Paul Ryan (R-WI) would attempt to balance the budget on the backs of the middle class and our most vulnerable populations. The House proposal would, among other things:
Make deep cuts to non-security “discretionary” spending – which would cause dramatic reductions in education services to students and ballooning class sizes;
Dismantle health care for the poor, disabled, and elderly by turning Medicaid into a block grant program. Fifty percent of Medicaid enrollees are children and one-third of all children receive their health care through Medicaid;
Cut the maximum Pell Grant award, dashing the dreams of higher education for millions of students;
Extend the District of Columbia Voucher Program, funneling scarce taxpayer dollars to private schools while slashing funding for programs serving public school students;
Convert Medicare into a voucher system in which recipients would purchase insurance. Under such a system, insurance companies could reject the sickest patients or charge higher premiums to the oldest.
The proposal passed out of committee on April 6 and the full House is expected to vote on it the week of April 11.
Take Action TODAY: Tell your Representative to vote NO on a proposal to balance the budget on the backs of the middle class and the poor. Read NEA’s letter opposing the budget proposal.
At the same time, discussions continue on a continuing resolution for the current fiscal year (FY2011). To avoid a government shutdown, Members of Congress must reach an agreement this weekend. With many in Congress pushing for deep cuts in education and other programs, congressional supporters of public education must hold firm and stand up against such cuts. At stake is funding for critical education programs like Title I, IDEA special education, and Pell Grants – programs that are critical to ensuring every student the opportunity to succeed in the 21st century. Your voice is critical to keep up the pressure for investments in education.
Take Action TODAY: Tell Congress to craft a full-year continuing resolution that invests in education for our nation’s future.
Discussions around the continuing resolution have included proposals to eliminate all “earmarks,” including funding for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). We need your help to save this important funding! The NBPTS improves teaching and student learning. National Board Certified Teachers are highly accomplished educators who meet high and rigorous standards. Elimination of this funding would decrease the ability of over 20,000 teachers and other educators annually in all 50 states and D.C. to seek National Board Certification, and impede the participation of Board Certified Teachers in school improvement efforts.
Take Action TODAY:Tell Congress to protect funding for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.
BILL TO REPEAL UNFAIR SOCIAL SECURITY OFFSETS INTRODUCED!
The Social Security Fairness Act, (H.R. 1332) which would repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, was reintroduced this week with 49 original cosponsors . The GPO and WEP unfairly cut or eliminate Social Security benefits that public employees or their spouses have earned. Learn more about these unfair offsets
Take Action TODAY:Tell your Representative to cosponsor and support passage of the Social Security Fairness Act.
As we reported last week, the House has passed legislation to renew and expand the District of Columbia private school voucher program. NEA strongly opposed the bill, which diverts millions of scarce taxpayer dollars to private schools through a program already proven ineffective. Senator Lieberman (I-CT) is expected to try to move the voucher bill in the Senate by trying to attach it to multiple pieces of legislation coming to the Senate floor.
Representative Mike Honda (D-CA), who sponsored and fought for an amendment in the budget committee to protect our students’ and our nation’s future by blocking proposed deep cuts to education and Head Start. The amendment, which failed on a 16-22 party line vote, was an important attempt to correct the backward priorities espoused in the Chairman’s proposal.
Representative Tim Ryan (D-OH), who spoke eloquently in the budget committee in opposition to a budget that does nothing but ask the poor and middle class to sacrifice. Representative Ryan cited studies backing wise cost-effective investment in early childhood education and argued that we should be investing more in education. Representatives Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Howard Berman (D-CA), who stood up for educators and other public employees by reintroducing the Social Security Fairness Act -- to repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision.
Jeers to:
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI), who proposed a budget that runs completely counter to our values as a nation, by asking our children, working families, elderly, and disabled populations to make greater sacrifices than others. A particular jeer to Chairman Ryan’s characterization of safety net programs for the disabled and elderly as “hammocks” that allow people to become comfortable rather than helping themselves.
Representative Reid Ribble (R-WI), who, in speaking against Representative Honda’s budget committee amendment to protect education funding, argued that money isn’t what matters in education, what matters is holding schools and teachers accountable.
Chapter Presidents:
There’s no debating that our schools, colleges and communities are suffering because of continued state budget cuts. California has the 8th largest economy in the world, but continues to shortchange our students of the education they need and deserve. What’s worse, some Republican California lawmakers hijacked state budget negotiations in order to block a June ballot public vote to extend tax revenues, which were part of Governor Brown’s balanced budget plan. Enough is enough.We must take bold action designed to force legislators to do their job and pass the tax extension outright. That will take a 2/3rds vote of the legislature and a lot of pressure from us and other supporters.
State Council today approved a State of Emergency statewide week of action for May 9-13, 2011 (The plan is attached and below). This week is designed to put pressure on legislators to finish their work on the state budget and pass the temporary tax extensions outright. Please work with your members to begin immediately preparing for this week. More information will be coming as materials are developed and organizing is planned in your regions.
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
State of Emergency
A recommendation for statewide action the week of May 9-13, 2011
OVERALL GOAL: Protecting public education and essential public services.
SHORT TERM GOAL FOR THIS WEEK OF ACTION MAY 9-13:
Force legislature to pass tax extensions to prevent deeper cuts to schools, colleges and other essential public services.
OBJECTIVES:
·Short-term: Convince the Legislature to pass the state budget with tax extensions.
·Long-term: Educate and convince communities to change tax structure and achieve tax fairness in order to achieve adequate, stable and ongoing funding for public education and essential public services.
In order to achieve our immediate objective and, at the same time, build support for our long-term goal, the joint leadership and staff workgroup proposes the following:
Between now and May we need to educate, energize and organize members; educate and outreach to community; and coalition building.
May 9-13, 2001, will be a week of escalating action ending in a bold statewide unifying activity. The entire week of action will involve a broad coalition of the Education Coalition (this includes PTA, California School Boards Association, School Administrators, School Employees, SEIU, County Offices and County Administrators, School Business Officials and Superintendent of Public Instruction), parents, all other labor unions, faith and community groups. The week begins and ends with a group of educators (with others invited to join) taking over the State Capitol.
To guide our internal organizing through this week of action, we are using the acronym L.E.A.R.N.
L.E.A.R.N.
LegislativeEvery ParentAppreciation and Allies RevenueNot Business as Usual
MONDAY, MAY 9
Focus on LEGISLATIVE activities
·Calls, visits, emails, target Republicans in critical areas
Use Day of the Teacher to APPRECIATE educators and ALLIES
·Partner with PTA to thank educators, fieldtrips to fire stations, and other ally activities.
THURSDAY, MAY 12
Promote the need for REVENUE for schools and other essential public services
·Educate members and community about TAX FAIRNESS. “Refrain from Shopping” day.
FRIDAY, MAY 13
It’s NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. Declare a STATE OF EMERGENCY.
·300 volunteers needed to sit-in/occupy the state capitol (beginning Monday, May 9) and regional rallies calling on legislators to “free the occupants by passing the tax extensions and protecting public education and other essential public services. Regional rallies are in Sacramento, San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, Fresno, Inland Empire, San Diego and Palm Springs.
There were many great ideas for activities and community outreach that can be incorporated into this week of action. CTA will compile a list and share it in the coming days.
The Committee recognizes that this is just the start of a long-term, cohesive plan, and the committee will be convening again to complete that process.
On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis as he labored to bring economic justice and respect for 1,300 city sanitation workers.
On Monday -- the anniversary of Dr. King’s death – the National Education Association and other labor unions, civil rights organizations, and religious leaders will stand together across this country for the same human rights and human dignity for working men and women. Find suggested activities and information about what’s happening in your area at http://www.educationvotes.nea.org/weareone/
On Monday, we will remind our elected officials that workers’ rights are human rights. These groups will host a range of community and workplace-focused actions across the country starting this weekend.
On Monday, remembering the courage and determination of Dr. King and those Memphis sanitation workers who endured assault and arrest as they walked a picket line for two months, we will stand together with public workers across this country whose bargaining rights are under attack, with private workers who can’t get bargaining rights, and against those politicians and their allies who want to silence our political voice.
On Monday, we will fight back against those who are trying to silence the voices of workers and the middle class in Wisconsin, Ohio, Idaho, Florida, Tennessee and countless other states. How will you stand up for workers on April 4?
No matter where you are, there is an April 4th We Are One event near you!
On April 3, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. traveled to Memphis to support AFSCME union sanitation workers. The next day, he was assassinated.
Carrying forward in the indomitable spirit demonstrated by Dr. King, working women and men across this nation will rally in their cities and towns to continue that march toward economic fairness, justice and equality.
Please show that spirit this Monday. Join your fellow educators in We Are One mobilizations across California.
19,000 pink slips have already hit teachers, counselors, librarians and school nurses and the budget breakdown in Sacramento means it could get much, much worse.
But it's about more than that. It always is.
It's about the future of public education. It’s about making our colleges and universities affordable. It's about the future Dr. King dreamed of...and that we're still working toward.
Our state's very future is at stake. Our families, our communities and our students can't afford for any of us to sit this day out.
Bakersfield March 5:30pm from the Plaza at Rabobank Arena to the Liberty Bell
In addition to the list above, there are also events in Eureka, Contra Costa/Napa/Solano/North Bay, Redwood City, Santa Cruz, Salinas, Stockton, Merced, Modesto, Visalia, Orange and San Bernardino...just to name a few!
*Depending on your carrier and plan, text messaging and data rates may apply.
This Week's News:
We Are One, We Are Everywhere: Stand Up For Workers’ Rights On April 4
On April 4, 1968, 43 years ago in Memphis, a long struggle for human rights and human dignity ended in the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but it brought economic justice and the respect that all people deserve to 1,300 city sanitation workers. On April 4 this year, the anniversary of Dr. King’s death, labor unions, civil rights organizations, and religious leaders will stand together across this country for the same human rights and human dignity for working men and women.
We have stood together as one with public workers across this country whose bargaining rights are under attack, with private workers who can’t get bargaining rights, and against those politicians and their allies who want to silence our political voice. On April 4, 2011, on the job, in our schools and in our communities, we will remind our elected officials that workers rights are human rights, and that those rights will not be destroyed.
Tell Supporters Of Public Education To Stand Firm On Education Funding
The current short-term continuing resolution (CR) funding government programs will expire on April 8. To avoid a government shutdown, Members of Congress must reach an agreement on a funding bill to cover the rest of this fiscal year (through September 30). While reports earlier this week indicated that the Administration and congressional negotiators had reached a broad deal, later reports were that no deal had been reached and negotiations were continuing.
With many in Congress pushing for deep cuts in education and other programs, congressional supporters of public education must hold firm and stand up against such cuts. At stake is funding for critical education programs like Title I, IDEA special education, and Pell Grants – programs that are critical to ensuring every student the opportunity to succeed in the 21st century. Your voice is critical to keep up the pressure for investments in education.
Take Action TODAY: Tell Congress to craft a full-year continuing resolution that invests in education for our nation’s future.
House Passes Voucher Bill: Tell The Senate To Stand Up For Public Education
It is no April Fools’ joke -- the House of Representatives this week passed legislation to renew and expand the District of Columbia private school voucher program by a vote of 225-195. NEA strongly opposed the bill, which diverts millions of scarce taxpayer dollars to private schools through a program already proven ineffective.
Thanks to the tremendous efforts of NEA cyberlobbyists, we were able to keep the vote close and secure the votes of eight Republicans, who bucked their Party leadership tooppose the voucher bill –Representatives Biggert (IL), Dold (IL), Graves (MO), Griffith (VA), Johnson (IL), LoBiondo (NJ), Paul (TX), and Reichert (WA). Representative Platts(R-PA), who voted against the bill in committee, missed the vote due to an important conflict, but inserted in the official House record a statement that he would have voted against the bill had he been present. Only one Democrat – Representative Lipinski (IL) – voted in favor of the voucher bill. See how your Representative voted.
Action now shifts to the Senate, where Senator Lieberman (I-CT) is expected to try to move the voucher bill either as a stand-alone bill or as an amendment to other bills under consideration. Senator Lieberman may try to attach the voucher bill to multiple pieces of legislation as they come to the Senate floor.
Tell your Senators to VOTE NO on renewal and expansion of the DC voucher program, when it comes up for a vote in that chamber. Remind them that, instead of taking taxpayer money out of public schools for private schools, Congress should be investing in strategies to improve student achievement, such as increasing parental involvement, strengthening teacher training, and reducing class size.
All the Members of Congress who stood up for public education and spoke eloquently on the House floor against the DC voucher bill. Read the full debate and see if your Representative spoke up.
Representative Charlie Bass (R-NH), who in testimony to the House Budget Committee,called for fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) at the federal government’s promised 40 percent of the cost to educate students with disabilities. Representative Bass stated, “the federal government’s failure to live up to its promise and fully fund its share only diverts local education resources that either have to be made up through cuts to other programs or by raising local taxes. We all agree that students with special needs deserve these extra services, but insufficient federal IDEA funding continues a broken promise that has a direct impact on each and every school district across the country.”
Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)and Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), who introduced legislation in support of the National Women's History Museum, the organization working to secure support and permission for a privately-financed museum near the National Mall dedicated to celebrating and teaching about the lives, achievements, and contributions of American women.
Jeers to:
Representative Joe Walsh (R-IL), who during debate on the DC voucher program accused teachers unions of being “scared to death” of the voucher program because “they don't want kids to be able to escape.”
Representative Phil Roe (R-TN), Chair of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, who during his subcommittee hearing on “The Future of Union Transparency and Accountability” derided the “culture of union favoritism that dominates the workforce policies of the current administration.”
Instead of taking money out of public schools for private schools, Congress should be investing in strategies to improve student achievement, such as increasing parental involvement, strengthening teacher training, and reducing class size. We need to be focusing on getting all students ready for the jobs of the future, not allowing a few students and parents to choose a private school at taxpayer expense. When public schools are struggling and teachers are being laid off, the last thing we need is to spend money on private schools. As Congress is proposing drastic reductions in federal spending, including a House-passed bill slashing billions from core education programs, there is no reason to divert millions of dollars to vouchers.
Take Action TODAY: Tell your Representative to oppose renewal and expansion of the DC voucher program.
From Pre-K to Post-Graduate—Students are Counting on Congress for Support!
This week, Congress agreed to another short-term continuing resolution (CR) through April 8 to avoid a government shutdown. But, the new three-week CR is expected to be the last short-term solution, as many Members of Congress have stated opposition to any additional short-term CRs. This means Congress will have come to agreement on a spending bill for the remainder of the fiscal year (through September 30) or risk a shutdown.
Compromise will be necessary to get any bill passed. But, conservative Members will be pushing for deep cuts in education and other programs. Your voice is critical to keep up the pressure for investments in education.
Take Action TODAY: Tell Congress to craft a continuing resolution that invests in education for our nation’s future.
Forty years ago, educators and students stood together and fought to give young adults the right to vote. In doing so, they amended the Constitution and empowered millions of American citizens to have a say in our democracy.
To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 26th Amendment, Rock the Vote, in partnership with the National Education Association, brings you the first annual Democracy Day.We are kicking off Democracy Day on March 23, 2011, asking educators, principals, school support staff and community organizations nationwide to commit to teaching Rock the Vote’s Democracy Class lesson to students before the end of the school year. Sign up to receive the Democracy Class lesson plan, a video on the history of voting and how elections connect to young people, and additional materials to make Democracy Day a day that your students never forget.
Attacks in States Continue –Stand Strong and Join the Fight!
As attacks against dedicated public employees continue in statehouses across the nation, educators are speaking up and standing up for the students we serve:
In Michigan this week, thousands gathered at the statehouse to protest state takeovers of schools and municipalities and a push to outsource education jobs.
In Maryland, 15,000 people rallied in Annapolis to support educators and public workers opposing budget cuts that would threaten the quality of the Maryland public school system and other vital public services.
And, in Wisconsin, roughly 100,000 converged yet again on the state’s capitol to protest the overreach by the governor and state legislators. Elsewhere throughout the state, thousands converged at a number of locations.
Take Action Today! Keep up the drumbeat! Remind America that teachers, school support staff, firefighters, and other workers play a vital role in protecting and strengthening our communities. Let’s take a united stand against politicians who seek to vilify unions and take away our rights.
Senators Conrad (D-ND) and Collins (R-ME), who introducedlegislation that would more closely target federal funding to rural schools – to provide them with the necessary resources to support technology upgrades, teacher training, and other activities. The REAP Reauthorization Act of 2011 would allow the nation’s poorest, smallest, and most geographically isolated rural schools to receive additional funding and flexibility to undertake significant reform.
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Representative Ron Kind (D-WI) who introduced the Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act (FIT Kids Act) tocombat childhood obesity by strengthening physical education programs in schools throughout the country.
Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who introduced the Full Service Community School Act. The bill aims to improve student achievement by helping schools use resources more efficiently and improving the coordination of health, dental and nutrition services for children and their families, career counseling for parents, and early childhood education programs.
Jeers to:
Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA), Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, who this week announced that Republicans will not cooperate in moving forward on reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act if the President refuses to sign legislation to renew and expand the District of Columbia voucher program.
March 18, 2011
March 17, 2011
We Are One!
“We Are One” has become the slogan uniting teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers across the state and country. The battle over teachers and other public employees having a say in their workplace took center stage as Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin passed legislation eliminating collective bargaining rights for some public employees. Thousands of California workers joined in rallies of support sponsored by CTA and the California Labor Federation on February 22. A candlelight vigil at the State Capitol highlighted actions. Some lawmakers are using the state budget deficits as an excuse to wage war against union workers and the middle class. Similar battles are being fought in Ohio, Michigan and Idaho. We must all stand together and stand strong against these attacks. Do not lose faith and do not lose hope. Together we can make a difference. Sign the NEA national petition to protect worker rights. Donate to the NEA’s 51 Fund to help defeat these attacks. Join CTA, NEA and labor unions across the country and take a Stand for Solidarity on April 4. April 4 is the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination in Memphis as he marched in support of sanitation workers demanding their right unionize. We’re asking everyone to wear a “We Are One” sticker to school that day, participate in local labor rallies, or use that day to teach about labor history in your classroom.
Contact Your Lawmakers on the State Budget
Both the Assembly and Senate are voting on the Governor’s proposed state budget and revenue extensions. Contact your lawmakers today and urge them to support the budget package in order to prevent even deeper cuts to our schools and colleges. More than 19,000 layoff notices were issued to educators by the March 15 deadline. CTA led actions with Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and the statewide Education Coalition. If the current taxes are not temporarily extended, our schools and colleges are facing another $4 billion in cuts. The governor has called for a June special election to let voters decide, but so far Republican lawmakers are holding the budget plan hostage, despite public opinion in support of an election. Use any of these resources to reach out to your colleagues and parents.
State Board of Education to Consider New Statewide Tests
Following the adoption of the Common Core State Standards, the State Board of Education will soon be considering a new statewide testing system for California. Two groups developing assessments pitched their proposals to the State Board this month. The Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers and SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium were awarded federal grants last year to develop tests that adhere to the common core standards. California is currently a member of PARCC, but the State Board has until May to reconsider an agreement signed by the former administration. California faces large financial struggles implementing either of the proposed testing systems as they rely on computer-based testing and must be ready by 2014. CTA’s Testing and Assessment Committee will review the proposals at the next State Council meeting.
Help Improve Teacher Evaluation
CTA is collecting information from members about methods of evaluating teacher effectiveness in order to improve the teacher evaluation process. The CTA Teacher Evaluation Workgroup has been working to develop a new state framework for evaluating teachers and wants to hear from you. Please take few minutes to fill out this survey on the CTA website. Also be sure and read CTA’s article on teacher effectiveness in the San Francisco Chronicle.
Honoring Our Labor History
With the rights of workers under attack, CTA is proud to join the entire labor community in commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire that led to a national social justice movement to protect workers. March 25 marks the centennial of the fire in a New York factory. Please join any of the commemoration ceremonies taking place this month. For list of events in Northern California visit www.laborfest.net. For events in Southern California visit www.lalaborfest.org. March is also Women’s History Month. Please also take a moment to honor the work of women and their struggle for equal rights.
Join the California State PTA
For more than a century, the PTA has focused on connecting homes and schools to help all children succeed. It also helps connect parents to teachers. I’m encouraging you to recommit to joining your local PTA or to joining the Golden State PTA directly. As all of us in the education community gear up for a critical fight to protect education funding from deeper cuts, the voice of the PTA will be crucial — and that voice is stronger with teachers involved.
This week, the attacks continued in an ideological war to silence public employees:
In Wisconsin, using what’s being called “the nuclear option,” Governor Scott Walker and the state’s Senate Republicans stripped out the financial components of the governor’s unpopular budget repair bill. That allowed them to vote on provisions to eliminate collective bargaining without the presence of the 14 Senate Democrats who had fled to Illinois to prevent its passage.
In Idaho, the state legislature passed several bills to overhaul education, including a bill to strip teachers’ rights and end decades of positive collaboration between teachers and their districts.
Similar attacks are underway in states across the country.
Despite these setbacks, we will not be silenced.
Educators continue to stand up for their rights. This week, Ohio teacher and NEA member Courtney Johnson testifiedbefore a House panel about how attacks on workers’ rights and cuts to education will affect her students.
In a statement released immediately following the Wisconsin vote, NEA President Dennis Van Roekel said, This is an affront to teachers, nurses, students, firefighters, construction workers and other everyday people who stood up, spoke out, and learned how much their voice mattered to their elected leaders. The response will be unified and the collective voice of millions of working Americans from all across this nation will only grow louder.”
Outrage over the Wisconsin vote went out in shockwaves from Madison Wednesday night and reverberated across the country. Statements of support for public employees’ rights poured in from Members of Congress as well as other lawmakers and allies.
Take Action Today!: It's time to remind America that teachers, school support staff, firefighters, and other workers play a vital role in protecting and strengthening our communities. And it's time to take a united stand against politicians who seek to vilify unions and take away our rights.
Tune in to MSNBC on Saturday, March 12 for news coverage of the "We Are Wisconsin" rally, which is slated to be the biggest day of protesting in Madison since the stand-off between Governor Walker and Wisconsin's middle class began.
On March 17, the House of Representatives will vote on legislation (H.R. 471) to renew and expand the District of Columbia private school voucher program. As Congress looks for ways to reduce federal spending, including a House-passed bill cutting billions from core education programs, there is no reason to divert $60 million in scarce resources to a pilot program that has been proven ineffective by numerous studies.
Take Action TODAY: Tell your Representative to oppose renewal and expansion of the DC voucher program.
This week, the Senate rejected a House-passed “continuing resolution” (CR) that contained draconian cuts to education and other priorities. The Senate also rejected a Democratic alternative that included significantly fewer cuts and would have increased funding for education. Both measures fell short of the 60 votes needed for passage.
All Democrats voted against the House-passed measure. However, three Republicans – Senators Jim DeMint of South Carolina, Mike Lee of Utah, and Rand Paul of Kentucky – also opposed the measure as a signal of their support for even deeper cuts. The Democratic alternative failed as all Republicans, 10 Democrats, and Vermont Independent Bernard Sanders voted in opposition. While some Democrats opposed even the smaller budget cuts in the Democratic alternative, others voted against it because they favor deeper funding cuts. See how your Senators voted on the House bill and the Democratic alternative.
As lawmakers continue to look for a compromise, the Senate will likely agree to another short-term CR to avoid a government shutdown when the current CR expired on March 18.
Your voice is critical to keep up the drumbeat for investments in education.
Take Action TODAY: Tell Congress to craft a continuing resolution that invests in education for our nation’s future.
Representatives Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Ron Kind (D-WI), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), George Miller (D-CA), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Senator Harry Reid (D-NV), and other lawmakers and allies, who released statements supporting public employees and decrying the vote in Wisconsin to strip educators’ and others’ rights. Read all the statements of support.
Representative Todd Platts (R-PA), who stood up for his principles and went against his Party, by joining with Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee in voting against legislation to expand the District of Columbia private school voucher program.
Wisconsin State Senator Dale Schultz (R), who was the only Republican to vote against the bill to strip public employees of collective bargaining rights.
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), who reintroduced this week legislation to create a National Classified School Employee of the Year Award, honoring the contributions of education support professionals to their students, schools, and communities.
Jeers to:
Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA), Chair of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, who held a mark-up and passed out of Committee a bill to renew and expand the District of Columbia private school voucher program. Chairman Issa supports funneling $60 million to private schools through ineffective vouchers while at the same time supporting deep cuts to proven programs like Title I and Head Start that serve students with the greatest needs.
Representative Virginia Foxx (R-NC), who at a hearing in the House Education and Workforce Committee this week asserted that federal education programs have “achieved nothing” and questioned the necessity for a federal Department of Education.
March 11, 2011
Contact State Senate Education!
Urge Panel to Kill Two CTA-opposed Bills that Would Hurt Students, Teachers
Your help is needed now to kill two bills that are either slated for a hearing next Wednesday in the state Senate Education Committee or likely to come up in the committee within weeks. The first bill, SB 161 (Huff), would have non-medical personnel – including teachers – administer a rectal injection to students during class time.The second bill, SB 266 (Dutton), would reduce the pay of pink-slipped teachers who are recalled to work as substitute teachers.
Background: The CTA-opposed Huff bill is slated to be heard on Wednesday, March 16, in Senate Education.
SB 161 would allow non-medical school personnel to administer Diastat by injecting the medicine into the rectal cavity of a student. The drug is designed to treat epileptic seizures, and the bill could result in teachers and other non-medical school personnel administering Diastat in their classrooms during instructional hours.
CTA and organizations representing school and registered nurses believe Diastat should be administered only by medical personnel.
Passing this bill is no substitute for the real solution: to provide funding to ensure that students have access to school nurses.
Key Points on SB 161 – Diastat bill:
·SB 161 would create problems instead of alleviating dangers to students.
·SB 161 could harm students and put non-medical personnel at liability risk if Diastat is not administered correctly.
·SB 161 specifies training for these non-medical personnel, but it does not identify the source of the funds.
Heads Up: SB 266 Could Come Up Soon
SB 266 was originally expected to be heard on March 16, but it could come up in the next several weeks.
SB 266 aims to reduce the pay of teachers who are laid-off and then recalled to serve as substitute teachers. Current law provides that after 20 days of substitute service, these laid-off teachers are to be paid at their scheduled salary.
Sen. Dutton’s bill would deprive students of experienced teachers, penalize veteran teachers, and undermine efforts to recruit and retain quality teachers in our classrooms.
Here’s what you can do to help! Contact members of Senate Education by phone at their local offices and use our CTA legislative portal to contact them electronically, too. Find it at: http://www.capwiz.com/nea/ca/issues/alert/?alertid=34970501
Urge your legislators to kill SB 161;Be Prepared to Act Quickly Against SB 266
Contact Senate Education right now in opposition to SB 161 (Huff).(Contact nos. are listed below.) Be prepared to act on short notice to contact these same lawmakers on SB 266 (Dutton) once that bill is scheduled.Then close the loop by e-mailing lfeldman@cta.org to let us know what response you received from the lawmaker or her/his legislative staffFor more information, contact Legislative Advocates Toni Trigueiro (SB 161) and Seth Bramble (SB 266) or GR Communications Consultant Len Feldman at 916.325.1500.
Senate Education Committee Contact Information
Lowenthal, Alan (D), chair (562) 495-4766 or (916) 651-4027
Runner, Sharon (R), vice chair (661) 729-6232 or (916) 651-4017
Alquist, Elaine (D) (408) 286-8318 or (916) 651-4013
Blakeslee, Sam (R) (408) 277-9461 or (916) 651-4015
Hancock, Loni (D) (510) 286-1333 or (916) 651-4009
Huff, Bob (R) (909) 598-3981 or (916) 651-4029
Liu, Carol (D)(626) 683-0282 or (916) 651-4021
Price, Curren D., Jr. (D)(213)745-6656 or (916) 651-4026 Simitian, S. Joseph (D)(650) 688-6384 or (916) 651-4011 Vargas, Juan (D)(619) 409-7690 or (916) 651-4040
March 7, 2011
Next Tuesday, March 15, is the deadline for teacher layoff notices and, as in the past two years, thousands of our members will be faced with pink slips that place their jobs and the instructional program for millions of students at risk. I am encouraging you and your chapter to join us and participate in a day of action to raise awareness in your community and to begin building support for the governor’s proposed tax extensions. There is a lot you can do, and you can find lots of resources in the CTA State Budget Resource Center and on the March 15 Day of Action Page to help. Don’t miss the customizable Member Flyer and the Parent Flyer (in Spanish too).
Among the suggested activities that will help raise awareness:
Wear Red for Ed—every Tuesday from tomorrow until the election (and especially March 15).
Distribute flyers to members, parents and community members.
Share your local budget cut stories and publicize your local budget awareness activities through the CTA Facebook Page. Use your own Facebook page to link to ours and spread the word among your friends.
On March 15, the CTA Board and I will hold a media event in the Bay Area with our Education Coalition partners. We hope that you will join our efforts with a local action of your own. Passage of these tax extensions is critical to protecting important instructional programs and thousands of jobs.
Your efforts--starting now--can help make that happen.
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
Note: Updated Link! You can reach lawmakers via cta.org or via our CapWiz center. Click on the link below to take you directly to the on-line edition of this LegAlert and connections to your legislators. Your help is needed now to stave off additional devastating cuts to public education and other public services. Get in touch with your state Senator and state Assembly Member at their district offices and urge them to support Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed budget that would protect public education from more cuts.
Also urge your lawmakers to extend the temporary taxes or put the issue before the voters during a June special election. Lawmakers have a choice between extending the temporary taxes or authorizing billions of dollars more in devastating cuts to public schools and other public services.
Background: To prevent a potential cut of $2 billion or more to our schools, the Legislature must agree to extend the temporary taxes or to place a measure on the June ballot to allow voters to extend them. Either option takes a 2/3 vote of the Legislature to achieve the goal, and it will require at least three Republicans in the state Senate and two in the state Assembly to join with all Democrats to extend the taxes or put the measure on a June special election ballot.
Your efforts can help convince both Democratic and Republican lawmakers to pass the governor’s proposed budget and extend the temporary taxes. The governor’s proposal will help erase the state’s $25 billion budget deficit while protecting schools and other essential services from further cuts.
Key Points:
·K-12 schools and colleges have already been cut over $20 billion over the last three years--$1,900 per K-12 student. ·Class sizes are soaring, programs are disappearing and entire school years are shrinking in many school districts. ·More than 30,000 California educators and 10,000 other public school employees have been laid off over the past three years. ·The governor’s plan to extend temporary taxes for five years will help prevent further cuts to schools, public safety, health and other vital state programs. ·Without an extension of current revenues, public schools and colleges will lose more than $2.3 billion. ·The governor’s balanced budget approach will help protect students and essential services, create jobs, and stabilize the economy.
Here’s what you can do to help!
Contact your legislators in their local offices by phone and use our CTA legislative portal to contact them, too. Urge your legislators to support the governor’s budget plan and extend the temporary taxes. If they are unwilling to do so, ask them to let the voters decide by putting the issue before the electorate as a June 2011 ballot measure.
Then close the loop by e-mailing lfeldman@cta.org to let us know:1) Who did you meet with or reach by phone or e-mail?
2) What was the response?Will the lawmaker support the governor’s budget?
For more information, contact Legislative Advocate Estelle Lemieux or GR Communications Consultant Len Feldman at 916.325.1500.
What you can do:
Your help is needed now to stave off additional devastating cuts to public education and other public services. Get in touch with your state Senator and state Assembly Member at their district offices and urge them to support Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed budget that would protect public education from more cuts.
Also urge your lawmakers to extend the temporary taxes or put the issue before the voters during a June special election. Lawmakers have a choice between extending the temporary taxes or authorizing billions of dollars more in devastating cuts to public schools and other public services.
Background: To prevent a potential cut of $2 billion or more to our schools, the Legislature must agree to extend the temporary taxes or to place a measure on the June ballot to allow voters to extend them. Either option takes a 2/3 vote of the Legislature to achieve the goal, and it will require at least three Republicans in the state Senate and two in the state Assembly to join with all Democrats to extend the taxes or put the measure on a June special election ballot.Your efforts can help convince both Democratic and Republican lawmakers to pass the governor’s proposed budget and extend the temporary taxes. The governor’s proposal will help erase the state’s $25 billion budget deficit while protecting schools and other essential services from further cuts.
Key Points:
·K-12 schools and colleges have already been cut over $20 billion over the last three years--$1,900 per K-12 student. ·Class sizes are soaring, programs are disappearing and entire school years are shrinking in many school districts. ·More than 30,000 California educators and 10,000 other public school employees have been laid off over the past three years. ·The governor’s plan to extend temporary taxes for five years will help prevent further cuts to schools, public safety, health and other vital state programs. ·Without an extension of current revenues, public schools and colleges will lose more than $2.3 billion. ·The governor’s balanced budget approach will help protect students and essential services, create jobs, and stabilize the economy.
Here’s what you can do to help!
Contact your legislators in their local offices by phone and use our CTA legislative portal to contact them, too. Find it at htttp://www.capwiz.com/nea/ca/issues/alert. Urge your legislators to support the governor’s budget plan and extend the temporary taxes. If they are unwilling to do so, ask them to let the voters decide by putting the issue before the electorate as a June 2011 ballot measure.
Then close the loop by e-mailing lfeldman@cta.org to let us know:1) Who did you meet with or reach by phone or e-mail?
2) What was the response?Will the lawmaker support the governor’s budget?
For more information, contact Legislative Advocate Estelle Lemieux or GR Communications Consultant Len Feldman at 916.325.1500
Message from CTA President David Sanchez February 25, 2011
It’s no secret that our profession is under attack and state budget cuts are taking their toll on our public schools and colleges. It’s come to a head this week for our colleagues in Wisconsin - and others in Ohio, Indiana and Idaho are bracing for similar attacks. For those of you that joined me at the vigil in Sacramento, attended others across the state, or showed your support on Facebook, I want to say thank you. We must all stick together during these times. We must educate ourselves about the issues, and we must be willing to take a public stand and to lead. And that is what I’m asking you to do about the funding crisis California public schools and colleges are facing.
This economic crisis has been building for some time and will take several solutions to turn around. We must address the immediate funding issues while planning for a long-term, fair and stable tax solution. First, we must spend the next month educating our members, parents and communities about Governor Brown’s budget proposal. This is a balanced plan of $12.5 billion in spending cuts and $12.5 billion in revenue that relies on voters to approve a 5-year extension of existing taxes. No one will pay more taxes than they are now, but given the current economic climate, passing the proposal is no small task. Voters support public education and don’t want to see further cuts—especially when they understand how the past three years of more than $20 billion in cuts have affected neighborhood schools and community colleges. That’s where we need your help—getting the word out.
We’ve created a State Budget Resource Center (3rd tab) full of materials to help you educate your members and communities about the CTA-supported state budget proposal by Governor Brown. Those materials include:
Please take a look at the Local Event Ideas and plan something for this year’s March 15, pink slip notice deadline. (I will be joined by the CTA Board as we hold a media event in the San Francisco Bay area.) Share the flyers with members and parents. We will be adding to these materials—including the Parent Flyer in a number of languages—so check the State Budget Resource Center often. And work with your local CTA staff to design the best local approach for sharing this information.
Thank you for taking the lead in educating our members and your community about the state budget and the need to approve Gov. Brown’s balanced plan.
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
This Week's News:
Workers are Under Attack: Stand with Educators Fighting for Their Rights!
Wisconsin Governor Walker continues to push his anti-worker agenda as he refuses to negotiate. Educators in Wisconsin have repeatedly stated that this fight is not about pay and benefits – it is about the right to be heard.
This week, Governor Walker showed his true colors – an ideological agenda to silence workers. In a taped conversationwith someone posing as his supporter, billionaire David Koch, the Governor bragged about using layoff threats to bully and intimidate working families into submission.
While the nation seems to have its eyes and ears on Wisconsin, attacks are happening all across the country. Teachers, school support staff, nurses, firefighters, and middle class workers and families are under relentless attack in state after state by an unprecedented, well-funded, and coordinated national campaign. But, as the fight continues, workers and their supporters are standing up and demanding to be heard. Rallies with unprecedented turnout have been held in states across the nation. Read about rallies around the nation.
The labor movement in this country has been responsible for safety standards, the minimum wage, fair employment practices, and more. For educators, our collective bargaining rights allow us to raise concerns about class size, school safety, and other important teaching and learning conditions. To express your support for workers’ rights across the country, please sign our national petition and follow the latest news about the attacks on our rights.
Tell the Senate to Stand Strong against House-Passed Education Cuts
The House of Representatives has passed a “continuing resolution” (CR) for the rest of the current fiscal year (FY 2011). The draconian education cuts contained in the House CR would dash the dreams of countless American students, put additional strain on state budgets already cut to the bone, and stall the engine that drives our economy. Thousands of students would lose Title I services and Head Start slots; local tax burdens would increase as education costs are shifted to state and local levels; millions of students would lose Pell Grant assistance; and thousands of education jobs would be lost. See how much your state would lose. See how your representative voted.
But, the fight is not over! Congress returns on February 28 with a looming deadline, as the current CR is set to expire on March 4. The House will have to negotiate with the Senate and the President in order to craft a CR that can be enacted into law. Your voice is critical as negotiations continue – particularly to tell the Senate to stand firm against the cuts.
Take Action TODAY: Tell the Senate to reject the House-passed education funding cuts and to invest in education for our nation’s future.
The American public, who, according to a new USA TODAY/Gallup Poll strongly oppose laws to take away collective bargaining and silence workers’ voices and rights.
Jeers to:
The 235 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives who voted against the interests of children, educators, and our nation when they passed the full-year continuing resolution (CR) for the rest of this fiscal year. The CR contains draconian cuts to programs like Title I, IDEA, Pell Grants, and Head Start that will crush the dreams of millions of students and take our nation backward.
Educators are under attack like never before and we must fight back. While Wisconsin has national media attention, it’s important to know colleagues in Idaho, Indiana and Ohio are facing similar immediate threats.
Join CTA and other unions in the California Labor Federation at the state Capitol Tuesday evening to show that We Are One with educators and public employees who are under attack in Wisconsin and across the country. The event at 5:30 p.m. is part of a national day of support for our Wisconsin colleagues whose collective bargaining rights are being threatened by Gov. Scott Walker.
What you should know about Wisconsin
·This protest is about public sector employees retaining a voice in their profession and Wisconsin's future. The proposed legislation strips away worker rights and destroys the collaborative partnerships that have been established between labor and management in Wisconsin. It's not about pay and benefits, pensions and health care.
·What is happening right now in Wisconsin is historic. Tens of thousands of citizens -- unprecedented numbers -- are gathering and speaking out to show their support for the state's public servants. They want to voice support for the third grade teacher who stays late to help a student with math -- for the nurses who work every day to care for patients -- for the firefighters who keep us safe -- and for the snow plow drivers who plow streets through the night so their neighbors can get to work in the morning. These public workers are on the front-lines everyday to support us -- and they should have a say in their profession.
·The people of Wisconsin are asking the Governor and legislature to hear them out -- and work with them to find bipartisan solutions that will address Wisconsin's challenges. Silencing the voices of public sector employees by busting up their unions is not going to help Wisconsin move forward -- and it will only divide the people of this state.
What you can do to help
1.RSVP to the vigil in Sacramento tomorrow night. Can’t attend in person? Virtually attend by posting a message on CTA’s Facebook Page. You can also follow the action on our Twitter feed.
2.Wear red tomorrow and every Tuesday this spring in support of working families.
6.Talk to family and friends. Tell them why this is important. Ask them to join the fight.
Teachers and workers across America have been watching Wisconsin.
Tomorrow -- Tuesday, February 22nd at 5:30 pm -- we act.
CTA will join with other workers and families who care about fairness and Democracy for a Candlelight Vigil at the state Capitol in Sacramento Tuesday evening.
"We Are One" with educators and all public employees who are under attack in Wisconsin. The event at 5:30 p.m. is part of a national day of support for our Wisconsin brothers and sisters whose collective bargaining rights are being threatened by Gov. Scott Walker.
To join us for this important display of solidarity -- and to spread the word to your friends -- TEXT "ONE" TO 69866.
If you cannot attend the vigil in person, you can “virtually attend” by posting on our Facebook page, sending a message on Twitter, and sharing information far and wide about this attack on workers and our united stand.
You can spread the word even more quickly by texting "ONE" to 69866 and using the forward feature to tell a friend. Just enter their phone number when asked, and they'll get the message.
So, don't wait until tomorrow.
Here are three things you can do RIGHT NOW to stay informed, spread the word and stand with Wisconsin's teachers, workers and famiies:
Be a part of the event online and help spread the word via Facebook.
If you're a Twitter user, click here to tweet out a message about Tuesday's vigil.
Sign up for text messages about this campaign by texting 'ONE' to 69866.
Please plan to stand with us and our colleagues in Wisconsin on Tuesday evening. Their struggle is truly our struggle
This Week's News:
Workers are Under Attack: Stand with Educators Fighting for Their Rights!
Workers across the nation are under attack as governors and state legislatures seek to decimate collective bargaining rights and slash pensions and health care benefits. Wisconsin Governor Walker wants to silence educator voices. He has refused to negotiate with educators, who have repeatedly, publicly stated their willingness to sacrifice for the good of the state and the future of their students. For educators, this fight is not about pay and benefits – it is about the right to be heard.
At the statehouse and online, public school supporters are sending a message that cannot be ignored. As tens of thousands march in solidarity in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and Idaho, countless others prepare to fight in other states.
Read the latest news and learn how you can add your support for educators and other workers across the nation.
Cyberlobbyists – thank you for your incredible response to our calls to action. Together, you have sent over 40,000 e-mailsto Members of Congress in the past few weeks urging investment in education.
The good news: This week, President Obama released his budget proposal for the next fiscal year (FY 2012). K-12 education receives one of the only significant funding increases in the President’s budget. Read NEA’s response to the President’s Budget Proposal.
The bad news: The House of Representatives is expected to pass shortly a “continuing resolution” (CR) for the rest of the current fiscal year (FY 2011). The draconian education cuts contained in the House CR would dash the dreams of countless American students, put additional strain on state budgets already cut to the bone, and stall the engine that drives our economy. Thousands of students would lose Title I services and Head Start slots; local tax burdens would increase as education costs are shifted to state and local levels; millions of students would lose Pell Grant assistance; and thousands of education jobs would be lost. See how much your state would lose.
But, the fight is not over! The Senate and the President will not support the House-passed CR. In fact, the President has already issued a veto threat should the bill come to his desk for signature. The House will have to negotiate with the Senate and the President in the coming weeks in order to craft a CR that can be enacted into law. Your voice is critical as negotiations continue – particularly to tell the Senate to stand firm against the cuts. Congress will be back at home next week for the congressional recess. Make sure they hear your voice.
Take Action TODAY: Tell Congress to reject education funding cuts and to invest in education for our nation’s future.
Representatives Gwen Moore (D-WI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Ron Kind (D-WI) for standing up for Wisconsin workers. All three issued strong public statements of support for public employees fighting the governor’s outrageous attacks and have been active in helping support and organize workers’ efforts.
Representative Baldwin: “In Wisconsin, Governor Walker and Republicans in the legislature have launched an economic assault on those who teach our children, care for the sick and elderly, and maintain our roads. They seek not only to impose financial hardship, but also to silence these workers and to deny them the opportunity to negotiate fair contracts….My team is working hard to help organize efforts to fight these unprecedented attacks on working families. I am proud to stand with those speaking out in support of Wisconsin workers.”
Representative Moore: “The Governor is cavalierly trying to eliminate rights that Wisconsin workers have historically fought and died for. Public workers are not the enemy. They are skilled and trained workers. They are taxpayers, volunteers, neighbors, and friends. They should be invited to the table and treated with respect – just like they have been historically by Republican and Democratic governors alike. Just like we do in Washington, leaders in Wisconsin need to make some tough budget decisions. But eliminating the rights of our public workers is an attack on Wisconsin’s middle class. It’s an attack on our state’s rich history. And it’s a crushing blow to our working families who are struggling to climb out of this recession.”
Representative Kind: Collective bargaining -- the chance for employees to negotiate for fair wages with management – is key to our state’s success. It is a time-tested, reasonable process. And let’s be clear, public employees are not the reason state budgets are in trouble. We need to address the budget, but we can’t just fix it by cutting the salaries and robbing the retirement funds of our nurses, teachers, and public safety professionals.”
Representative George Miller (D-CA) who spoke out strongly against proposed House cuts to programs that serve our most vulnerable populations. Representative Miller said on the House floor, “You want to do something tough? Take away tax breaks from the hedge fund managers that don’t’ deserve it…Make the oil companies pay the royalties that the taxpayers of this country are owed. That’s tough. You know why? Because they can fight back. Head Start parents don’t get to fight back very much....Poor children don’t get to fight back very much."
Representatives Hirono (D-HI), Bishop (D-GA), and Andrews (D-NJ) for standing up with educators at a press conference this week highlighting the devastating impacts that proposed education cuts will have on educators and the students they serve.
Jeers to:
Governors Walker (R-WI) and Kasich (R-OH), lawmakers in Indiana, and Idaho School State Superintendent Luna. They have attacked public education and workers and put forward ill-conceived proposals that will take education and our nation backward and stall economic recovery. These lawmakers want to take away educators’ voices so you won’t be able to speak up about school safety, class size, school conditions, the need for more counselors and nurses to serve students, and all the other areas where you have a right to be heard.
February 18, 2011
To CTA Chapter Presidents and Staff,
CTA will join unions within the California Labor Federation for a Candlelight Vigil at the state Capitol Tuesday evening to show that We Are One with educators and public employees who are under attack in Wisconsin. This will be a show of force and I strongly urge you and your members to attend. The event at 5:30 p.m. is part of a national day of support for our Wisconsin colleagues whose collective bargaining rights are being threatened by Gov. Scott Walker. (Download Flyer)
If you cannot attend the vigil in person, I encourage you to “virtually attend” by posting messages on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/californiateachersassociation as well as sharing information far and wide about this attack on workers and our united stand. You can follow the action on Twitter as well. Follow www.twitter.com/cateachersassoc.
Governor Walker's proposal is nothing more than a cynical attempt to undermine the rights of teachers and public sector workers to have a say in their profession, and it affects all of us. We know the ability of teachers to collectively bargain their contracts has not only resulted in improved working conditions, but in improved learning conditions for students as well. We’ve seen the impact in terms of class sizes, safety, and school environment. Even further, the governor’s proposals directly attack working families and will diminish America’s middle class, I am certain of that.
Please plan to stand with us and our colleagues in Wisconsin on Tuesday evening. Their struggle is truly our struggle.
Friends ~ I traveled to Wisconsin on Thursday to join members of the Wisconsin Education Association Council in rallying against attacks on the state's working families.
All eyes are now on Wisconsin, but we know all too well that there are battles raging across the country.
In Idaho, educators and parents are helping to put the brakes on one of the most destructive and ill-conceived education proposals in the country. In Ohio, thousands of teachers, state employees, small business leaders, and community members filled the Statehouse to show their opposition to Senate Bill 5 and Gov. Kasich's anti-worker agenda. In Indiana, supporters of public education rallied against potentially damaging legislation currently facing the General Assembly.
Teachers, school support staff, nurses, firefighters, and middle class workers and families are under relentless attack in state after state by an unprecedented, well-funded, and coordinated national campaign.
Support our NEA family and working people across the country who are in the fight of their lives to preserve the rights of working Americans and the stability of middle class families. Together, we will not be silent or denied!
--Dennis
February 17, 2011
Governor’s Balanced Budget Plan Prevents Deeper Cuts to Public Education, Public Safety and Other Essential Services
Upon approval of State Council, CTA is working with lawmakers to approve Governor Brown’s proposed state budget plan that mixes $12.5 billion in budget cuts with a five year extension of four temporary taxes to stop even deeper cuts to public education and other services. CTA is working with the Education Coalition and labor partners to support the budget plan and revenue extensions. Brown has called for a special election in June.
According to the state’s Legislative Analyst, if the temporary taxes are not extended, K-12 schools and community colleges would face another $5.2 billion in cuts; CSU and UC schools would be cut an additional $2 billion. The Legislative Analyst also outlined a few examples of those deeper cuts: eliminate the state’s Class Size Reduction program, eliminate all home-to-school busing, double community college fees and eliminate all sports in community colleges, increase CSU tuition 10% and UC tuition 7%, reduce CSU enrollment by 5%, and reduce the number of CalGrants available to low-income students.
Various state budget resources are available on the CTA website. CTA encourages local chapters to work with their Education Coalition partners to host local events and to encourage lawmakers to support the governor’s budget plan. A Special Election Campaign Committee has also been formed.
RIF Support
The state budget disaster is also causing local school districts to issue Reduction in Force notices before the March 15 deadline. Many school districts are submitting two budget plans: one that assumes the state revenues are extended and another that details potential cuts should the revenue extensions fail. The CTA Legal Department is again assisting chapters and all members who receive a RIF notice.
Tax Fairness
While the tax extensions proposed by Governor Brown are desperately needed to avoid additional cuts to students and schools, California also needs to look for long-term budget solutions. To give members real information about how taxes work in California, CTA has created a Tax Fairness presentation and a resource section at www.CTA.org/taxfairness. The presentation outlines education funding, who pays and who doesn’t pay taxes, and how the current tax system has shifted the tax burden onto working Californians and away from big corporations and the wealthy. Please review the information and share it with your colleagues.
New SPI and State Board of Education Move into Place
Myself, along with several other educators, community members and business leaders are serving on the transition team for Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson. The group, which is chaired by Stanford University Education Professor Linda Darling-Hammond, outlined a collaborative process to drive education reform discussions in the state.
Meanwhile, the State Board of Education put the brakes on the confusing temporary regulations regarding the new “Parent Trigger” law. Condemning the faulty rules that were rushed into place before Gov. Brown took office, the State Board called for a comprehensive review and clarifying legislation. So far, only one parent group in Compton has tried to use the law and the process has generated intense criticism both from advocates of the program as well as local district officials, educators and parents.
Federal Budget, ESEA Reauthorization and Education Attacks
President Obama announced his federal education budget this week. While it calls for a small increase in funding, much of the additional dollars are targeted for Title 1, early childhood programs, Special Education and a new Race to the Top competition for local schools. Congress and NEA are gearing up for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The Obama administration continues to stand by its Blueprint for Reform released last year. Committee hearings could start as early as this Spring.
NEA is also putting together a plan to support state affiliates as the November elections brought new attacks across the country on public education, public employees and union rights. Legislation is pending in four states – Wisconsin, Tennessee, Idaho and Indiana – that would end or curtail collective bargaining for public school educators. The vote could come soon in Wisconsin. Please send your support for Wisconsin educators. In addition, nearly every state, including California, is facing attacks on secure retirement systems for public employees.
Get Ready to Read!
Designated as a national day to celebrate reading, NEA-CTA’s Read Across America is scheduled for March 2. This year’s theme is “Serve Up a Good Book!” and again comes from the book Aramadilly Chili. Food Network stars Tom Pizzica and Doreen Fang are serving as California honorary co-chairs. This year's activities include breakfast read-ins, book drives and chili cook-offs. Bookmarks, bookplates, reading certificates, brochures and other resources in multiple languages are available for download. Enjoy the day and have fun reading.
February 11, 2011
This Week's News:
Keep up the Drumbeat: Education Cuts Hurt Students and the Country!
Cyberlobbyists – you have been doing an amazing job reminding Congress about the importance of investing in education. You have sentthousands of e-mailsto Members of Congress in the past few weeks, but we still need your help.
The week of February 14 will be critical. President Obama will release his budget proposal for the next fiscal year (FY 2012). At the same time, the House of Representatives will consider funding levels for the current fiscal year (FY 2011). This is necessary as the last Congress never completed action on a funding bill for this fiscal year and the current “continuing resolution” – which temporarily continued program funding – is set to expire on March 4.
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan has already proposed deep cuts, including to education programs. And, some conservative Members are pushing for even deeper cuts. Now is the time to make your voice heard!
Take Action TODAY: Tell Congress to reject education funding cuts and to invest in education for our nation’s future.
Congress is expected to take up reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act this year. Tell Congress to end the obsession with high-stakes, poor-quality tests and insist upon rich, 21st Century skills and better assessments. Tell them that the federal government should be a partner to states, not a micro-manager. And, tell them that students need reliable support from educators, parents, communities, and their policy makers. Struggling students and schools that need help shouldn’t be forced to compete for it—help should be a guarantee.
Take Action Today:Tell Congress that every child deserves a great public school, and that legislators need listen to educators if they want to learn how to make that happen.
Senators Enzi (R-WY) and Alexander (R-TN). The Ranking Members of the Committee and Subcommittee with jurisdiction over ESEA reauthorization released this week a list of key areas of focus for ESEA reauthorization, including revamping prescriptive “Adequate Yearly Progress” requirements, reviewing use of assessments and the addressing the focus on testing, examining how sanctions impact rural schools, revisiting ‘highly qualified” teacher requirements, and involving parents in childhood education.
Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA), who forcefully challenged unsubstantiated assertions about the success of the District of Columbia voucher program at a House Education Committee hearing on Thursday.
Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), who spoke at a Thursday committee hearing in support of comprehensive services, such as nutrition and health programs, as critical to ensuring students are ready to learn.
Jeers to:
Andrew Coulson, Director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Educational Freedom, who testified at the House hearing that no federal education programs other than the District of Columbia voucher program have been shown effective in increasing student achievement. Coulson also testified that supports such as nutrition and health programs are not important to student success and, as evidence of his contention, related an anecdote about a charter school where a student without lunch was advised to wash dishes at a restaurant in exchange for food!
Council Decides
February 4-6, 2011
Electing Brown, Torlakson Are Huge Wins For Our Students, Sanchez says
In the first State Council since the November elections, CTA President David A. Sanchez praised delegates meeting in Los Angeles for their hard work in electing Jerry Brown governor and Tom Torlakson as state superintendent of public instruction.
“You made recommendations, you approved a plan and resources, you showed up to the polls in record numbers – and our students won,” Sanchez said. “All your hard work around the election is paying off.”
He cited the governor’s willingness to meet with CTA and teachers as a good sign. And he praised Brown’s quick appointments to the State Board of Education of real educators as a breakthrough. “This act alone will put an end to the teacher-bashing and blaming that the past State Board participated in.”
He noted that one Brown appointee – Sacramento County educator and CTA legislative advocate Patricia Ann Rucker – will also represent California on the National Common Core Standards Commission.
The governor’s budget proposal is a balanced approach of cuts and revenues to resolve the state’s $25 billion deficit, in part by extending certain taxes, Sanchez said. “We recognize the governor’s attempt to limit cuts to K-12 schools as our students have suffered a majority of the state’s budget cuts in the last few years,” he said. “Extending current revenues is critical to having any hope for maintaining a quality public education system in this state.”
Electing Torlakson means students and educators have a true advocate in Sacramento. “He has already declared a state of financial emergency for California’s schools and urged Californians to come to the aid of schools across the state,” Sanchez said.
He pointed out Torlakson’s public distress over a recent Education Week study that gave California’s education system a C-grade overall – and a D-minus in education spending, ranking the state 43rd in per-pupil spending.
Torlakson, as a legislator in 2006, also authored the landmark, CTA-sponsored Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA). The largest education reform of its kind, QEIA provides $3 billion over eight years for proven reforms in nearly 500 of the state’s lower-performing schools. Thanks to funding for smaller class sizes, more counselors and quality professional development for teachers and administrators, QEIA schools are succeeding, Sanchez said. Council delegates received a 40-page CTA report by an independent researcher that documents the steady preliminary progress at QEIA schools.
Academic Performance Index (API) scores are rising at QEIA schools, but so is collaboration among all stakeholders, Sanchez said. “Learning and working together have taken center stage.”
Vogel was unopposed. His education career spans 37 years. CTA President David A. Sanchez remains president through June 25, when Vogel’s term begins. “President Sanchez and I are more hopeful for the future of public education now that we have a governor who understands that state budgets should not be balanced with more devastating classroom cuts,” Vogel said. “Jerry Brown’s balanced approach of cuts and revenues are what teachers and all Californians need to help resolve the budget crisis and get the state back on track.”
Delegates will elect the new CTA secretary-treasurer and vice president at the April 1-3 State Council meeting.
Read the CTA news release about Vogel’s background and election.
Council Delegates Back Governor’s Proposed Budget Plan
Council delegates endorsed the governor’s budget proposal aimed at resolving the state’s $25 billion deficit.
The CTA endorsement of the governor’s budget plan includes his call for a June election to extend certain temporary taxes. Delegates were alarmed that, without an extension of current revenues, public schools and colleges would lose at least another $2.3 billion on top of the more than $18 billion in devastating cuts they have suffered over the past three years.
“Educators and all school employees are making a stand to protect our students and classrooms,” said CTA President David A. Sanchez. “The governor’s plan to extend temporary taxes for five years is a necessary and viable option to prevent further cuts to schools, public safety, health and other vital state programs. California voters must be allowed to decide whether they want to make our schools a priority and start rebuilding a world-class public education system or whether they want a world-class state budget catastrophe.”
Educators also approved their 2011-12 state budget principles. They oppose any mid-year or additional cuts to schools and colleges; support a balanced approach of cuts and revenues to resolve the budget crisis; support extending current temporary taxes for five years with a June ballot measure; support the governor’s plan to eliminate redevelopment agencies – generating about $1 billion in new funding for schools; and oppose fee hikes for college students that are making a higher education unaffordable.
Read the CTA budget vote news release. Read the complete budget principles in the Financing Public Education Committee section (pg. I) of the full State Council report.
Without permanent, long-term solutions to funding, our public schools and the entire state will continue to suffer from more state budget deficits, Council learned in a special presentation about a new CTA online resource dealing with tax fairness issues.
Offering school funding facts, data about tax loopholes and information about how educators can spread the word about tax reform that will help students and schools, the site will be regularly updated with the latest research. California is a moderate tax state, ranking 15th in taxes and fees compared to other states, even though we have the eighth-largest economy in the world.
The new site includes a revealing PowerPoint about tax fairness and the state budget process. It notes that, with California ranking 43rd in per-pupil spending, education is not the problem: in the last seven years, California K-14 education budget spending has only increased 5.7%, compared to 39.5% for prisons. In California, residents in the 20% bottom income level pay 11.1% of income in taxes. The wealthiest top 1% are paying only 7.8% of their income in taxes.
Loopholes mean that Proposition 13 unfairly “subsidizes” big corporations that can use complicated ownership changes to avoid reassessment – costing the state about $5 billion a year in lost tax revenue. Join the conversation about tax fairness by reading and sharing the research and studies posted at www.cta.org/taxfairness.
Doggett: Beware of the ‘Billionaire Boys Club’ of Education Reformers
Billionaires like Bill Gates and Eli Broad are backing misleading films like Waiting ForSuperman and destructive education “reforms” that threaten our public schools, CTA Executive Director Carolyn Doggett warned in her speech to Council.
“These corporate reformers are not interested in democracy,” she said. “They promote mayoral control and the elimination of local school boards, because it’s easier to dictate reform when no one is there to watch.”
Doggett quoted at length from a revealing investigative article by reporter Barbara Miner that was written for the website www.NOTwaitingforsuperman.org. The reporter asks the question: “Should the American people put their faith in a white billionaire boys club to lead the revolution for our schools and on behalf of poor people of color?”
Doggett declared, “And while their education agenda calls for all sorts of accountability for teachers, the billionaire boys club is accountable to no one.”
The article is titled, “The Ultimate Superpower: Supersized dollars drive Waiting for Superman agenda.” That agenda includes the privatizing of public schools with private charters, scapegoating teachers and their unions, and fanning the flames of standardized testing mania.
Doggett said Miner’s article boldly connects the dots. It shows the relationship of the Gates Foundation and others to the Obama administration and to “so-called grassroots reform organizations” like StudentsFirst, Democrats for Reform, Stand for Children, Education Reform Now, and Teach for America.
The need for CTA members’ vigilance in California is great, she said, because Michelle Rhee’s StudentsFirst is based in Sacramento, and former state Senator Gloria Romero launched a West Coast office of Democrats for Education Reform in our state. Six former Gates Foundation staffers hold high-level positions in the U.S. Department of Education and seven graduates of the Broad Leadership Academy are working in LAUSD, with their salaries paid for by Broad.
Doggett said the revealing news article “shows how these groups and foundations are interlinked with billionaire hedge-fund operators who are investing in and making millions off charter schools, and then turning around and supporting policies to expand private charter schools.”
Teachers and parents are pushing back. Films like the Race to Nowhere documentary – which was shown at State Council one evening -- tell the real story about how “the standardized testing mania is destroying student learning,” said Doggett. (Learn more about the film at www.racetonowhere.com.) She praised educators for standing up for their due process rights in California and rejecting Romero’s support for the flawed Race to the Top concept that students and schools must compete for education resources.
To read Carolyn Doggett’s entire speech, log in to the Members-only section of www.cta.org and go to State Council section.
State Council Takes Action
Other actions taken by Council include:
·State Council recommended the following candidates for the February 15th Special Primary Election: Senate District 17, Darren Parker; Senate District 28, Ted Lieu.
The following other leadership elections occurred at Council:
·Doreen McGuire-Grigg elected NEA Director - District 1
·Sue Cirillo elected NEA Director - District 6/14
·George Sheridan elected NEA Director - District 12
·Gayle Bilek elected NEA Alternate Director - Seat 3
Council was informed about a new section of the CTA website that allows anyone to monitor progress on legislation affecting students and educators. Select the option: “Making the Grade: A Progress Report on Legislative Action.” Council delegates took positions on many pending bills, including these:
·A support position on State Constitutional Amendment 5 by state Senator Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto, to lower the threshold for voter approval for a local parcel tax from a two-thirds vote to a 55 percent majority.
·A support position on Assembly Bill 124 by Assembly member Felipe Fuentes, D- Los Angeles, to establish an English Language Development (ELD) Standards Advisory Committee to align ELD standards to the State Board’s English Language Arts common core standards and present their recommendations to the board by August 31, 2012; requires the board to act by September 30, 2012; and the Superintendent of Public Instruction and board to develop and present to the Governor and Legislature an implementation plan to integrate the ELD standards.
February 4, 2011
This Week's News:
Tell Congress: Education Cuts are Bad for Students, Communities, and our Nation
This week, the House Appropriations Committee announced the funding allocations for its subcommittees. Subcommittees will use these allocations to draft funding bills for the rest of this fiscal year (FY 2011). The Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee – which has jurisdiction over education programs, health programs, and many programs serving vulnerable children and families – will receive $6.5 billion less than last year. As bad as that cut would be, the actual loss could as much as double, since the allocation level does not address a deep shortfall in Pell Grant funding.
These cuts will be devastating to education programs like Title I, IDEA, and Pell Grants; will leave millions of students without the services and resources they need to succeed; and will place additional financial burdens on states and local school districts.
The House will vote on these cuts, and possibly even deeper cuts, the week of February 14. Members of Congress need to hear from you now about how devastating these cuts would be to the students in your school and for millions of students across the country. You are the experts and you know what your students need to succeed. Make sure your voice is heard.
Remind Congress that Investing in education is an investment in our nation’s future. Tell them that students get only one shot at an education and it is not their fault they are in school during a devastating economic crisis.
Take Action TODAY: Tell Congress to reject education funding cuts and to invest in education for our nation’s future.
Congress is expected to take up reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act this year. In fact, Senate Education Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) has indicated that he would like to move a bill through the Senate by this summer. With so many new Members serving in the 112th Congress, it is essential that the experts – educators working every day in public schools across the nation – are front and center in the debate. Members of Congress need to be educated about the flaws in the No Child Left Behind Act and what is really needed to ensure great public schools for every student.
Take Action Today:Tell Congress that every child deserves a great public school, and that legislators need listen to educators if they want to learn how to make that happen
Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME), who introduced this week the No Child Left Behind Flexibility and Improvements Act (S. 280). The bill would make common-sense changes to the No Child Left Behind Act to give states greater flexibility in measuring student progress, assessing students with special needs, and helping teachers of multiple subjects meet “highly qualified” teacher requirements.
Jeers to:
House Budget Committee “Czar” Paul Ryan (R-WI), who has announced a budget cap that would slash domestic funding immediately, including cutting billions of dollars for education and decimating services for millions of students.
January 28, 2011 from NEA Education Insider
This Week's News:
Tell Congress: Investing in Education is an Investment in Our Nation’s Future
This week, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to slash federal funding. If applied to education, these cuts would result in a loss of over $9 billion for education programs, devastating programs like Title I, IDEA, and Pell Grants and leaving millions of students without the resources they need to succeed.
While the Senate is not expected to act on these cuts, this House vote was the first step in a plan to reduce funding even further, with even more damaging consequences for students, schools and our nation.
Investing in education is an investment in our nation’s future. Research shows an inextricable link between investment in education and economic strength. Investing in education:
Increases productivity and ensures a competitive workforce
Leads to higher earnings for educated workers, thereby generating higher tax payments at the local, state, and federal levels
Reduces dependence on public assistance programs
Raises wages across the board, as all workers, regardless of education level, earn more when there are more college graduates in the labor force.
Students get only one shot at an education. It is not their fault they are in school during a devastating economic crisis.
Take Action TODAY: Tell Congress to invest in education for our nation’s future.
In his January 25 State of the Union Address, President Obama called focused on education, encouraging increased investment in public education with a focus on career and college readiness. The President stressed a number of key education initiatives, including:
Replacing the No Child Left Behind Act with “a law that is more flexible and focused on what’s best for our kids.”
Making permanent the American Opportunity Tax Credit, worth $10,000 for four years of college.
Strengthening America’s public higher education system, with the goal of ensuring that America has the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by the end of the decade. Obama stressed the important role community colleges play in training workers for new careers.
Reforming immigration laws to ensure talented and responsible students can work in the United States after graduation.
The President’s emphasis on education foreshadows a likely focus on ESEA reauthorization early in the new Congress. Many new Members of Congress have little expertise on education issues and all Member of Congress need reminders of how their decisions impact educators and the students we serve.
Take Action Today:Tell Congress that every child deserves a great public school, and that legislators need listen to educators if they want to learn how to make that happen.
Have you ever thought, "If my representatives in Congress spent just one day in my shoes, they would understand better what they can do to help America’s students – and where federal laws and regulations hamper rather than help?”
Here's your chance to tell them what they would see in your classroom or school, and how they can help your students succeed. Congress is getting ready to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Act, known as NCLB, so your input is timely.
Send your Members of Congress a letter right now. NEA will get copies of your letters and we will share some of your messages through our publications and web sites. Your letter doesn't need to be long, but it should include an experience or experiences you've had in school.
Here's one way to start: "Dear ...., I'd like to tell you about my school [or my students].
..." And here's one way to end: "The best way you can help my students succeed is to..."
You're the education expert! Share your knowledge with Congress.
New Governor Making Changes State Board Overhauled, Budget Announced
It was a quick start to the new year as Governor Jerry Brown took office on January 3. I and the other CTA officers attended the inauguration in Sacramento, where Brown made history as both the youngest and oldest governor to lead California. He talked honestly about the challenges facing the state, the need for everyone to join in the solutions and again recognized the importance of public education in building a better California.
Public School Educators, Including CTA Advocate, Named to State Board
Two days later, Gov. Brown proved his commitment to public schools by returning classroom educators to the State Board of Education, including CTA legislative advocate Patricia Rucker. Rucker is a former Sacramento County Teacher of the Year and a respected expert on pedagogy and education issues. Brown appointed seven new members to the State Board – all of them have ties to public schools and colleges. Stanford Professor Emeritus Michael Kirst will take over as State Board chair. Brown also announced he will not fill the position of Secretary of Education, something CTA has long advocated as the position is unnecessary and wastes taxpayer money on just more administrative bureaucracy.
State Budget Proposal Includes Revenues
Recognizing that the state’s $28 billion deficit cannot be closed by cuts alone, Brown this week announced a balanced approach to solving our state’s budget problems that includes much needed revenues. Brown has proposed a special election in June to simply extend the taxes that were approved in 2008 for five years. Still, the 2011-12 budget proposal includes some very painful cuts. We appreciate the governor’s attempt to maintain current funding for K-12 schools, as he recognized that public education has borne the brunt of budget cuts the last three years with a loss of more than $18 billion. However, there are more than $2 billion in K-12 education funding deferrals and about $1.3 billion in cuts to higher education that will directly impact students. CSU and UC enrollment fees have seen triple-digit increases that are pricing many students out of college. And we all know that investing in education is key to improving our economy and creating jobs.
CTA legislative and financial experts are reviewing all the budget details and the proposed special election will be discussed at the State Council of Education meeting in February. Without the additional revenues, public schools and colleges are looking at another $2.3 billion in cuts.
Torlakson and Other Elected Leaders Take Office
I also had the pleasure of representing CTA members as Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson and other CTA-supported candidates were sworn into office. We met with Torlakson last week to discuss a variety of education issues facing the state and I can tell you that educators will have a voice at the table. He recognizes the hard work teachers are doing every day, plans regular visits to public schools, wants to revisit the state’s testing and assessment system and has many concerns about the so-called education reforms being pushed down by the U.S. Department of Education. While in Sacramento, we also met with legislative leaders, including the new chair of the Senate Education Committee, Alan Lowenthal, who said it was time to end the rhetoric and teacher bashing.
QEIA Symposium Showcases Proven and Teacher-led Reform
More than 200 participants attended CTA’s symposium, QEIA: Initial Successes from the Classroom. The symposium unveiled a new report by Vital Research highlighting the progress of lower-performing schools in the program and showcasing 10 lessons learned. For the 2009-10 school year alone, QEIA schools, on average, experienced nearly 50 percent higher growth on the California Academic Performance Index (API) than similar, non-QEIA schools. The report shows QEIA is helping to close student achievement gaps with African-American and Hispanic students, English Learners, and socioeconomically disadvantaged students. The report also shows that proven reforms like smaller class sizes, quality professional development, including educators in decisions and additional resources make a difference. Higher growth schools engaged in more teacher collaboration time to develop lesson plans and teacher training, create common assessments, and analyze student data. About 500 California schools are currently part of QEIA. CTA’s radio campaign also highlighted the success of these schools.
Conferences and Scholarship Opportunities in the New Year
Open enrollment for the income protection plan that is sponsored by CTA runs through the 31st. of December. This means that if 15 members sign up for the plan no one will be requirred to have a physical in order to obtain the policy. I will have more information concerning this on Monday the 29th. and will be contacting the members that are not currently enrolled. As always new hirees have 120 day from their initial date of hire to apply without a physical.
Holly
It has come to our attention that everyone needs to change their address with STRS and California Credentialing Commission every time they move. If you have not done this please be advised to take care and do so promptly.
You may also need to update your beneficiary with the member benefits department at CTA and NEA if your marital status or dependant status has changed.
To do this go to the CTA web site, log on through the members only section (You will need your CTA member number to sign in the first time) and then click on the member benefits section.Next click on the insurance section “more” choice.Part way down the page is the : CTA Death & Dismemberment Beneficiary Registration.Click on it and pop up window appears.It has the form you need to fill out.
The NEA member benefit section link is also on the CTA site directly under the member benefits link.
November 10, 2010
CTA Lesson Plan for Victory Scores Election Wins for Brown, Torlakson, Boxer and Local School Board Candidates
Overall, it was a good election for students, public schools and educators and CTA members helped make that happen. The election of Jerry Brown as Governor and Tom Torlakson as Superintendent of Public Instruction is certainly a step in the right direction for our public schools and colleges. Their election also sends a strong message to those who want to play the politics of blame, as both of these candidates support proven education reforms that start with including educators in the conversation. Both of them opposed top-down, one-size-fits-all mandates that focus on student test scores and punish teachers and schools. The re-election of Senator Barbara Boxer also sends a strong education supporter back to Washington as Congress gets ready to reauthorize NCLB.
CTA scored victories in hundreds of local school board races, as well as in state legislative and congressional districts. Nearly 200 CTA-supported school board candidates who received assistance from CTA’s Association for Better Citizenship Committee were elected. CTA funding also helped districts pass 18 local school bonds and parcel taxes to support public education. For a full list of election results visit www.cta.org.
Prop. 25 Passed, Prop. 24 Defeated It was a mixed bag on statewide initiatives. California voters approved CTA-supported Proposition 25 to bring some sanity to the state budget process by allowing a simple majority vote to pass the state budget and docking lawmaker pay if they fail to pass the budget on time. Deceived by false claims of a “jobs tax”, voters rejected CTA’s Proposition 24, which would have repealed three tax breaks to the state’s wealthiest corporations and prevented deeper cuts to California schools and colleges. CTA remains committed to looking at ways to reform the state’s tax structures to ensure that during these tough economic times, everyone is paying their fair share.
Turnout was Key: Thank You! I want to thank everyone who turned out at the polls, who made phone calls, who talked to their neighbors, who attended rallies, who displayed window signs – everyone who voted for public education. It was a long campaign season this year, but our schools, colleges and students will come out ahead, thanks to your efforts. Turnout was key in the final weeks, and your hard work and voice made the difference.
Looking Ahead CTA is already preparing for the transition of Brown and Torlakson into their respective offices. With the state facing a $12 billion deficit next year, there will be many challenges and tough decisions to be made. The passage of Propositions 22 and 26 will further complicate the state budget process and will mean another $1 billion in cuts to our schools. But we look forward to working with all of the newly-elected leaders in the hopes of making public education once again a priority in California.
QEIA Symposium to be Held in Sacramento
CTA will host a special symposium, QEIA: Initial Successes from the Classroom, later this month to showcase the initial outcomes of the CTA-led program that is improving student achievement at lower-performing schools. On average the nearly 500 QEIA schools are showing 50 percent higher growth on the state’s Academic Performance Index compared to similar non-QEIA schools. However, the symposium will go beyond test scores and will also share lessons learned from successful QEIA schools. The symposium will be held November 30 in Sacramento.
Bullies Aren’t Welcome
More than 225 CTA members attended the Second Annual GLBT Conference in Palm Springs last month. The recent suicides of four gay youths are the latest tragic examples of the bullying and harassment gay and lesbian students often face in our schools. According to the latest GLSEN survey of middle and high school students; nine out of ten reported being harassed during the last year, while only 18 percent of schools nationwide have comprehensive anti-bullying programs. The CTA conference offered sessions on Bullying, Unconscious Bias, Welcoming GLBT Parents and much more.
Celebrate American Education Week and Special Educators
American Education Week is November 14-20. Take time to celebrate the achievements you have made for our students and public schools. There are many resources available on the NEA website. Use this week to engage in the education reform discussion and to push back on those who champion the “schools suck industry.” And then on December 3, be sure to celebrate Day of the Special Educator and recognize the dedication and hard work of those who teach students with unique challenges and needs.
Dear CTA Leaders:
I decided to hop on to this final Campaign Update to express my sincere appreciation for all your hard work during the 2010 campaign. Take it from me, CTA members made a big difference in this election. And your work to mobilize our members was the key to making that happen. So, thank you for all that you did to help elect a slate of candidates who see educators as part of the solution. Our students and state will surely come out ahead thanks to your efforts.
Sincerely,
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
Nov 3, 2010 – WE did it! CTA leaders, members and staff all contributed to a hard-fought campaign to elect pro-education candidates to public office.
Spotlight
By electing Jerry Brown as governor and Tom Torklakson as the state’s top school official, and re-electing Barbara Boxer to the U.S. Senate, California’s voters showed strong support for California’s public schools and colleges. Read CTA President David A. Sanchez’s message to members.
This week’s challenge: Get some much-needed rest!
Don’t Miss
“Every kid has so much potential, and we have to make sure society keeps that at the forefront of whatever we do,” Governor-elect Jerry Brown said in his acceptance speechTuesday night.
Meanwhile, CTA-supported Tom Torlakson, who defeated school administrator Larry Aceves for schools chief, hopes to bring a diverse coalition together to improve schools in California.
CTA was also successful in helping to pass Prop. 25, which will make it easier for the Legislature to approve a budget, but it’s still not going to be a walk in the park.
Unfortunately, the CTA-sponsored Prop. 24 didn’t pass. We can only hope big corporations will use this savings to create more jobs in California.
Resources
For anyone keeping score, CTA-supported candidates won big in Tuesday’s election. Those candidates include Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Controller, Treasurer, Secretary of State, and Insurance Commissioner. For complete state election results check out the California Secretary of State’s website. Californians also showed support for education by passing almost 70 percent of school bond measures.
Campaign News
Local CTA chapters who worked to change their school boards also pulled off many big wins. Among those was the Sacramento City Teachers Association, which backed three out of three successful candidates. The Lodi Education Association’s four candidates all won seats on the school board, giving teachers a solid majority on the board. In an early counting, 40 school trustee candidates recommended by 23 local chapters in CTA’s Region 2 were elected Tuesday. Among the Region 1 chapters that were successful in local campaigns were the Hayward Education Association, which won two (out of two) board seats; the Pittsburg Education Association, which won three out of four trustee candidates, and helped pass a school bond; and the Fremont Education Association (Santa Clara) which gained three teacher-supported seats on the board. Also winning a seat on the board in West Contra County was Elaine Merriweather, a leader with UESF and a State Council representative. On the heels of a successful strike in Region 4 earlier in the year, the Capistrano Unified Education Association changed a negative school board by working to elect two new trustees in a recall election. A third candidate will mean that there is a 4-3 education-friendly majority on the board. The Fullerton Secondary Teachers Organization helped three friendly incumbents hold their seats on the board. The Imperial Valley College CCA chapter’s two candidates won seats on the board of trustees and a bond measure. More election results will be available in the coming days in the Election section of CTA’s website.
Welcome to the GOTV Edition of the CTA Insider.
The CTA insider is an online news brief designed to give you information about the issues affecting public schools, teachers and CTA. This GOTV edition contains useful resources and information for the November 2nd Election.
On Tuesday, November 2nd, you have the opportunity to make a difference for our students, our schools and our state. The election is not just about our own vote, but outreach to friends and neighbors—call them, stop by for a visit or post to your wall on Facebook. Investing in California begins with choosing the right people and policies. CTA recommends:
Oct. 27, 2010 – One week until the Election. We’re in the final stretch. Let’s do everything we can to elect Jerry Brown for Governor and Tom Torlakson for Superintendent of Public Instruction, and pass Prop. 24.
Spotlight
Are you one of the 7 million people who requested vote-by-mail ballots? And are you one of only 1 million to return them so far? If you are, don’t dawdle. It’ll feel good to know that your votes are in the bank. Remember, it’s all about turnout this election, and mailing in your ballot is part of that turnout. If you prefer to cast your ballot in the voting booth, don’t forget to bring along a list of all of CTA’s recommended candidates and propositions.
Don’t miss your opportunity to do just a little more to make sure education wins on Nov. 2. This past weekend, CTA’s State Council collectively made 8,700 phone calls to voters likely to vote for our education candidates and issues. Find out where the CTA phone banks are from your chapter president or CTA staff person, and pass along our video to encourage educators to vote.
Resources
We know this election is serious business, but we couldn’t resist having a bit of fun creating our own Meg Whitman Sampler video, which is on our website and YouTube. While you’re at it, you take an even closer look at what Whitman has in store for schools.
For you avid social networkers, now you can reach out to your Facebook friends to encourage them to vote with a new Friend Out the Vote app, courtesy of the California Democratic Party. The app, as explained in the California Majority Report, combines the power of technology, public voter information and social networking.
Campaign News
The differences between state schools chief candidates Larry Aceves and CTA-supported Tom Torlakson are becoming more clear, as Aceves starts speaking out against teachers unions while Torlakson continues to advocate for more funding for schools. You can also check out Tom Torlakson’s latest video…
The L.A. Times features a revealing profile of an “older and wiser” Jerry Brown…In addition to endorsements by the state’s major newspapers, Jerry Brown was also endorsed this week by the state’s largest Spanish-language paper, La Opinión, which wrote, “Either we all have a part in saving our state or it won’t be saved. Jerry Brown has the qualities needed to lead us through this difficult time.”
Oct. 20, 2010 –Two weeks until Election Day… can you believe it? Let’s keep those phone banks buzzing, and remember, it’s Jerry Brown for Governor, Tom Torlakson for Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Yes on Prop. 24.
Spotlight
Did you know teachers vote more often and more regularly than the rest of the general public? The appearance of teachers at the polling booth is a public affirmation of our belief in the democratic process – and a great lesson to our students. It has been estimated that approximately 80 percent of all teachers vote in every election. And when teachers vote, our schools win. If you’ve chosen to vote by mail, fill out your ballot and send it in. If you prefer to vote amid the excitement of Election Day, go for it. Either way, just vote!
This week’s challenge: Send out our new video to encourage your colleagues to vote.
Don’t Miss
Former President Bill Clinton made several campaign stops in California on behalf of Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsom over the weekend, including one at San Jose State University, where, according to the L.A. Times, he urged students to use social networking tools like Twitter and Facebook to urge people to vote. You can also find election information on CTA’s Facebook page and on Twitter.
The race for Superintendent of Public Instruction has not received as much attention in the media as the campaign for governor, but it’s important to elect Assembly Member Tom Torlakson. Tom delivered on several major pieces of legislation, including CTA’s-sponsored Quality Education Investment Act, which is showing amazing results in the schools of greatest need that were targeted to receive additional resources.
Resources
Want to talk to your friends and colleagues about Prop. 24? Scripts to help you are now available on the CTA website…This month’s California Educator magazine has everything you need to know about CTA’s election recommendations, including articles on Jerry Brown, Prop. 24, and a roundtable discussion with members. Community college faculty can also find campaign material in the latest issue of the CCA Advocate.
Campaign News
We’re still out there with our message on the necessity to pass Prop. 24 to close corporate tax loopholes and to use that money for education and human services. Our ad continues to air on TV, and this week, all CTA members will receive a mailer on Prop. 24 in advance of Election Day…And what’s the difference between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Meg Whitman? Not that much. Check out this video from Jerry Brown’s website.
Oct. 14, 2010 – Just three weeks until the election, and there is lots and lots of campaign excitement going on. C’mon, CTA, let’s keep it going!
Spotlight
Even though multi-billionaire businesswoman Meg Whitman has now put more than $140 million of her own money into her campaign, CTA’s recommended candidate, Jerry Brown, is edging her out in the polls. But we want a larger spread, so this is no time to let up. It’s going to be a close election, no matter how you slice it, and our votes can make the difference. So what about hitting the pavement for your candidate? Check out California Labor Federation precinct walks and phone banks.
This week’s challenge: Talk to three people about why educators are supporting Jerry Brown for governor.
Don’t Miss
CTA’s new Proposition 24 TV and radio ads are now on the air around the state. The ads feature classroom teachers speaking about how Prop. 24 will “give our classrooms a break, not the corporations.”
Teachers also speak out on behalf of Jerry Brown in a TV ad, produced by CTA as part of its Independent Expenditure effort. It will be shown for the next two weeks in Los Angeles, San Francisco, the Central Coast and Sacramento.
CTA also has an ad in support of state Assembly Member Tom Torlakson for superintendent of public instruction that is posted on our website and airing on stations around the state.
Oh, and for a bit of fun, check out Bobblehead Meg. We didn’t produce it, but thought it was well done.
Feel free to share any or all of these videos with your friends.
And today, Brown called on Whitman to justify her plan to eliminate the capital gains tax, which would result in up to $2.2 billion in cuts from California classrooms. Brown said her proposal was “an unconscionable attack on our schools” that would mostly benefit “the very wealthiest people in our state, namely millionaires and billionaires like Meg Whitman.”
Resources
Our Proposition 24 area in the CTA website election section now includes a new flier and signs on Prop. 24. Also read CTA President David A. Sanchez’s op-ed piece on Prop. 24 in the Sacramento Bee. While you’re thinking about it, why not write your own letter to the editor or op-ed using these tips.
Campaign News
Tuesday night’s gubernatorial debate at Dominican College in San Rafael may have gotten a bit too confrontational for some, but despite the grenades hurled back and forth, Jerry Brown continued to show his support for California educators. That occurred when moderator Tom Brokaw asked Brown about the role of the teachers union in California. Brown responded: “It is a very important role, since they represent, through free elections, hundreds of thousands of teachers in California classrooms. They’re a very strong advocate for more money for schools. And that’s very important, particularly when you have people like Meg Whitman coming around wanting to cut the capital gains tax and put a $5 billion hole, which a certain amount of that will certainly come from schools.”
Protect Social Security and Fight for Social Security Fairness
The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform is meeting behind closed doors deciding the fate of Social Security. It looks like it could recommend deep cuts to Social Security – and justify those cuts by saying that it’s necessary to reduce the deficit.
If it reaches agreement, its plan has been guaranteed a fast track up-or-down vote in Congress in December.
Social Security has not contributed one dime to the federal deficit – it actually has a surplus of $2.6 trillion today. Social Security belongs to the people who have worked hard and paid taxes to the program. It should not be cut to reduce the deficit.
The retirement age has already been raised from 65 to 66, and it will go to 67 in 2022. Some in Congress want to raise it to 70. That would cut benefits by 20 percent!
There are several crucial efforts underway in Congress. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is circulating a letter to President Obama opposing any Social Security benefit cuts and efforts to privatize the program. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) is sponsoring a House Resolution that opposes any increase in the retirement age. Senator Sanders (I-VT) is sponsoring a Senate Resolution opposing any Social Security benefit cuts.
Take Action Now: Tell Congress: No Social Security cuts. No retirement age increase. No risky privatization schemes. Also urge them to repeal the unfair Social Security offsets that threaten the retirement security of far too many educators, police, firefighters, and other public employees.
You can also submit comments directly to the Commission at commission@fc.eop.gov. Tell them that Social Security Social Security is the cornerstone of the social safety net for America’s retired workers and that the program and its benefits must be protected. Urge Commission members to oppose privatization of Social Security and mandatorysocial security coverage. Tell them how important Social Security is to you. And, ask them to call for repeal of the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision. Share with the Commission your story about how the offsets have impacted you, or will impact you, when you retire.
Is Financial Clutter Overwhelming You?
Take These Simple Steps to Get Organized.
How can you identify if you have financial clutter? Ask yourself these questions:
1.Do you have multiple bank accounts?
2.Do you have multiple credit cards?
3.Do you receive too many bank and other business type statements monthly?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you may be suffering from financial clutter.
You can free yourself of financial clutter—similar to having a garage sale or donating unwanted items to charity—and gain a rewarding payoff. Your payoff can be lowering banking fees (and/or eliminating fees), reducing your exposure to identity theft, and saving time and the environment. Below are some simple steps to take to reduce your financial clutter.
1.Identify the clutter – make a list of all of your financial accounts, credit cards, and other assets and debts. This will show you what you own and what you owe, helping you figure out what you don't need.
2.Consolidate bank accounts – review your list of the accounts (see above); research which accounts offer the best services at the lowest cost and stop or transfer any automatic deposits or payments on the less attractive accounts, and instruct the financial institutions to close those accounts.
3.Get rid of high-rate credit cards – use only credit cards with a low interest rate and close other accounts to free yourself from paperwork, advertising catalogs and identity-theft risk.
4.Shred bank statementsand use online banking – most banks and credit unions offer online banking, bill payment and eStatements at no cost. Not only is online banking environmentally-friendly, it also greatly reduces identity theft from occurring.
Article courtesy of First Financial Credit Union. This article is not intended to represent First Financial Credit Union’s views or opinions, nor does it represent First Financial as an expert on the subject discussed. This article should be used for information purposes only.
During this benefit enrollment period, make sure you choose plans from providers you can trust. CTA endorses only one Disability and Life Insurance provider – The Standard. And more than 80,0001 of your peers have chosen to protect their loved ones with the CTA-endorsed plans from The Standard. To learn more about CTA-endorsed coverage available through The Standard, or to apply, contact the dedicated CTA Customer Service Department at 800.522.0406 from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or write to them at ctaservice@standard.com with any questions or concerns. To learn more, visit Member Benefits at www.cta.org and click on the Member Services tab.
1 Based on figures developed by Standard Insurance Company as of May 1, 2010
Switch your coverage to the CTA-endorsed plans
From October 1 to November 30, 2010 you can switch your disability and life insurance coverage to the CTA-endorsed plans offered by Standard Insurance Company without having to provide proof of good health. It’s easy. Simply provide proof of your existing coverage with your application and you can transfer coverage. Call The Standard’s dedicated CTA Customer Service Department at 800.522.0406, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to get started.
Enrollment opportunity for new hires
If you’re a newly hired CTA member, or if you have transferred to a new district, you have a special, limited-time opportunity to get Disability and Life insurance coverage from the only CTA-endorsed provider, Standard Insurance Company. During your first 120 days of new employment, you can apply for Disability Insurance and/or up to $200,000 of Life Insurance – without providing proof of good health. Don’t miss this limited-time opportunity. Call The Standard’s dedicated CTA Customer Service Department at 800.522.0406 to learn more.
Dear NEA Colleague:
Have you visited Thinkfinity.org recently? Consider this your invitation to take a few minutes to point your browser to www.thinkfinity.org and explore all this award-winning site offers.
Thinkfinity.org offers thousands of premium lesson plans, interactive learning games and activities, professional development programs and more all at no cost to you—all from leading educational organizations including the International Reading Association, the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics, the Council for Economic Education, the Kennedy Center and the National Geographic Society. Thinkfinity resources are always free and that stretches classroom and instructional budgets.
• Resources for every core curriculum subject, K–12 •Standards-aligned and searchable by theme, content, grade level, resource type and content partner • Professional development
If you've been looking for that one right site to find amazing, engaging, effective resources for your students, you've found it!
Less than three weeks to Election Day and CTA’s “Lesson Plan for Victory” is well under way. I want to thank all of you for your hard work and ask you to please keep it up! This election gives us an opportunity to elect a governor who will once again make public education a priority, change tax structures in the state to ensure everyone is paying their fair share, and bring some common sense solutions to the state budget mess.
According to recent polls, CTA’s recommended candidate for governor, Jerry Brown, has a slight lead over billionaire Meg Whitman. When it comes to supporting public education and educators, the choice is clear. Brown believes teachers must be part of any education reform effort. He wants to overhaul the state’s testing system and calls for a well-rounded education curriculum for every student. Whitman’s plan would cut another $7 billion from our schools and colleges. She supports paying and evaluating teachers based on student test scores. And she has joined the “blame teachers and their unions’ crowd for all that is not working in public education.”
CTA is recommending Tom Torlakson for Superintendent of Public Instruction. He’s one of us — a science teacher and coach. Like this entire election, this race is going to come down to who gets out and votes.
CTA’s initiative Proposition 24 is also locked in a dead heat right now. The Tax Fairness Actwould prevent more cuts to public schools and colleges, and more educator layoffs by stopping $1.3 billion in tax giveaways to the state’s wealthiest corporations. It’s time to give our students a break, not the big corporations.
CTA is also supporting Proposition 25 which will allow a majority of lawmakers to pass the state budget and will dock lawmakers’ pay for every day the budget is late.
As I said, this election is going to be about turnout, turnout and turnout. We must Get Out and Vote! There’s an easy voter guide that you can tear out and share in this month’s California Educator. Volunteer with your local chapter to make phone calls to CTA members or volunteer to work with our labor coalition partners to walk a precinct in your neighborhood.
State Budget: 100 Days Late and Still Hurts Students
No one needs to look any further than this year’s state budget battle to see the need for passing Propositions 24 and 25. Setting an all-time record, the state budget was finally approved more than 100 days late, and it essentially just kicks our problems down the road, while still cutting education funding. This budget continues to shortchange California’s students, and CTA could not support it.
In good news for local districts, the final budget does restore some of the funding cuts proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger in May. However, it also suspends Proposition 98, creates a maintenance factor of $4.3 billion, and defers nearly $2 billion in education funding for K-12 schools and community colleges to the following year. It’s important to remember that the temporary taxes approved in 2008 expire next year, meaning bigger budget shortfalls are already expected. In addition, while lawmakers postponed a couple of last year’s corporate tax giveaways, they also handed out some new ones.
CSU and UC campuses did get additional funding in this state budget. The California Faculty Association called it an important first step.
I’m sure most of you have heard about the latest film attacking teacher unions, Waiting for Superman. Like many of Arne Duncan’s education reform ideas, this movie is half-baked. Unfortunately, traditional public schools — along with their students and their teachers — are absent from the film. If you want to make a documentary about improving education, and if you want to make a documentary about daily feats of heroism, you shouldn’t ignore public schools. That’s why we must engage in the conversations around this film.
We must tell the real story of classroom heroes who work in our schools every day, and we can even talk about the villains that the movie makers ignore: slashed budgets, overcrowded classrooms, and a lack of time for training and mentoring. You don’t have to see this movie to let your friends and neighbors know about the challenges, the rewards and the realities you encounter in a California school. We must speak up.
As an example of how education reform works best when it is led by teachers and grounded in solid research, CTA’s Quality Education Investment Act continues to show progress for the nearly 500 schools that are part of the program. For the second consecutive year, QEIA schools have increased their API scores at a more accelerated rate than non-QEIA schools. On average, QEIA schools increased their schoolwide API scores by 42 points — 11 points higher than their non-QEIA counter-parts. Congratulations to all involved in the program. It shows that proven reforms like smaller class sizes, teacher-led professional development, collaboration, additional counselors, increased parental support, and more resources can make a difference.
But since we all know that test scores never tell the entire story, CTA is hosting a QEIA symposium on November 30 to showcase the first three years of the program. It will include case studies from participating schools.
And finally, in a small sign that we may be getting through to Congress, I met with Rep. George Miller last month in Washington, DC and it was a completely different reception than earlier this year. He praised CTA for its work with QEIA and admitted that the ESEA Blueprint released by Education Secretary Arne Duncan needed a lot of work. The reauthorization is now expected some time next year.
Breast Cancer Awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A comprehensive study shows that California teachers have a higher-than-expected rate of breast cancer. Be sure and get annual check-ups and support breast cancer survivors.
Election Day is less than three weeks away, and we still have a lot of work to do! The outcome of this election will have enormous consequences for educators, students and schools, so I want to encourage you to make sure our members are doing everything we can throughout this state to make sure public education prevails on Election Day. We can’t let up now. In addition to electing Jerry Brown and Tom Torlakson, we must ramp up the effort to save schools from more cuts and layoffs by passing Proposition 24, the Tax Fairness Act. This is CTA’s initiative. We sponsored it and collected enough signatures to put it on the ballot, and now we must continue the work to make sure it passes on November 2. Passing Prop. 24 will ensure that California’s largest corporations continue to pay their fair share. It will help save 22,000 teacher, nurse and firefighter jobs, keep class sizes small, and protect education programs, public safety and other services.
To help you, we have created a new Take Action Page just for Prop. 24. You and your members can help get the word out during this final push:
First and foremost, talk to family and friends about why passing Prop 24 is so important to our schools and communities.
Share CTA’s Yes on 24 webpage with all of your members. There, they can get ideas of how to help using CTA’s social networks, get the latest on Prop. 24, and print and download posters to display and share.
Vote YES on 24 on your mail-in ballot or at your polling placeon Nov 2!
It’s time to give students and educators a break, not big corporations. Let’s all make sure Prop 24 passes on November 2. Thank you for your leadership in this effort.
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
In Loving Memory
of a teacher, colleague, and friend Amber Bryant. A couple of years ago, Amber and I worked the morning duty, during Summer School. We were suppose to be on opposite sides of the field, but Amber would sneak to my side, in order to have a "girlfriend's moment." After a few “sneaking arounds”, she demanded I sneak to her side, too! I did... many times. She was so vibrant. Any encounter with her, was pleasant and full of laughter. It seemed that Amber and I, without planning it, would meet at Costco on paydays. We would joke about how wonderful it was to have a job, and even more so getting paid for it. On this particular payday (September 30th, 2010), I had a dinner date with my husband and a friend at SOBE's Restaurant. Minutes later, Amber walked in with her family: husband and son. She re-introduced her family to everyone there. They all seemed happy. I told her "what are you doing here? Costco is going to mark you absent!"Without missing a beat, she replied: "not this time; I am going after dinner to buy me a dress for my reunion!" That was the last time, I saw her.I will miss her! Sincerely, Susana Gilkison
General Meeting for the purpose of taking a vote on a contract agreement Friday, June 4, 2011 @ McKinley School starting @ 3:45
MAY 10, 2010—It’s a big election year for us. And to help keep CTA leaders informed we will be emailing you updates on both the June Primary and the November General Election. We’ll be sending out three emails before the June 8 primary and re-join you later as we approach November.
SPOTLIGHT
Superintendent of Public Instruction: Assembly member Tom Torlakson is our recommended candidate. He just gets it. A former teacher, Tom has been a champion of public education in Sacramento and was also the author of our ground-breaking legislation that implemented the Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA). We’re not a fan of the other leading candidate’s policies. Sen. Gloria Romero favors merit pay based on test scores, supports funding schools based on student outcomes, and opposes accountability for charter schools—none of which is good for our schools or students. Learn more.Read the comparison.
DON’T MISS
New Radio Spots: Listen to the new radio ads (Ad 1, Ad 2) promoting Tom Torlakson for Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Was Steve Poizner A Teacher? If you didn’t hear Ira Glass’s brilliant piece on candidate Steve Poizner recently on American Public Radio’s “This American Life, you missed a classic. Glass does a bit of fact-checking about Steve Poizner’s stint as a teacher and finds it’s all an urban legend. Read the script or listen to the show.
This week CTA will be mailing our first mail primer to all members. This mail piece will set the stage for the June 8 Primary Election, list all the CTA Statewide candidate recommendations and information about our opposition to the deceptive Proposition 14, and announce CTA’s new email and text messaging sign up for election news.
The San Francisco Chronicle (5/1, Tucker) reports California will "throw its hat into the ring for the chance to win $700 million in the second round of federal Race to the Top funds despite the state's arguably long odds and dismal showing in the last round, state officials said Friday." State Secretary of Education Bonnie Reiss said the state "would need to vault from 27th place - out of 40 applicants - in round one to a spot among serious contenders - something that will require a complete revamp of the application." This time, "six district superintendents, representing more than 1 million students in California, will craft the application rather than Sacramento policy wonks," and it will "shine a spotlight on what those districts are already doing to turn around struggling schools, evaluate and support teachers and principals and measure student performance."
The Los Angeles Times (5/1, Blume) reports the "names of the three largest districts, including L.A. Unified, had been disclosed in an article this week in The Times," and Long Beach Unified and Fresno Unified "also were taking part." But officials "revealed Friday that three other districts wanted to be involved as well: San Francisco Unified and two Fresno-area districts: Clovis Unified and Sanger Unified." The state "developed a new strategy: A few districts would pursue reforms more specific and more aggressive than in the original state submission."
NEA Education Insider: April 30, 2010
PRESIDENT OBAMA CALLS FOR HELP TO SAVE EDUCATOR JOBS!
President Obama has recognized the need to save educators’ jobs. At the April 29 White House ceremony honoring the National Teacher of the Year, the President said, “Recovery efforts must continue as states face budget shortfalls that put hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk, because we need—our children need—those teachers in the classroom.”
The President is right! Congress must act now to save educator jobs.
NEA member Jeniffer from California shares her story:
I have been a teacher for the last 5-1/2 years. They have been the most challenging and gratifying 5-1/2 years of my life. This year, I was the recipient of a pink slip along with 315 other certificated and classified employees of our school district. I went through the office the other day and a parent of one of my former students stopped me to ask if she could request to have her second son in my classroom next year. I had to tell her no.
I love my job, I will miss working with students, I will miss the challenge and excitement of finding lessons that help students learn new things.
However, this is nothing compared to what the students have to look forward to. Our district is shutting two schools down, moving 6th grade back to the elementary schools and combining all middle schools with their neighboring elementary schools to create K-8 schools. Due to the massive teacher layoffs, the schools will no longer look anything like what the students are used to seeing. They will not recognize half of the teachers that they were used to seeing and greeting every day. My school alone had 17 out of 30 teachers pink slipped. The students are confused. The parents are angry. The teachers are devastated. We are not only being pushed out into a job market that has non-existent teaching jobs, there are no jobs at all! We cannot even go back to school because California State universities and community colleges are so full and underfunded, they aren't taking anymore students. Programs have been cut in every level of education.
I don't want another career. I wanted to teach, it is my passion. That passion is being ripped from me. I will no longer be able to see students’ eyes light up when they "get it.” This to me is a tragedy.
Cyberlobbyists – The situation is urgent. This is an education jobs emergency! The dire budget constraints of states across the country spell danger for public school students. States are already making dramatic program cuts-to art, music, afterschool programs, and even shortening the school day and week-that shortchange our students and jeopardize our ability to compete in the global economy. Layoffs lead to more crowded classrooms, and fewer counselors, nurses, reading specialists, and other critically needed educators who help ensure that every child gets individual attention. Educators who lose their jobs won’t go to work, but students will still show up for school this fall. They will find fewer teachers, bus drivers, and counselors, reading specialists or nurses – essential personnel to help provide our students with a quality education. Students need individual attention, not crowded classrooms and fewer educators, to succeed in the 21st century and help keep America competitive.
YOUR MESSAGE IS GETTING THROUGH!Senator Tom Harkin‘s (D-IA) Keep Our Educators Working Act (S.3206) would provide $23 billion to help stave off educator layoffs. Thanks to your efforts, the bill now has 24 sponsors. A similar proposal, the “Jobs for Main Street Act,” already passed the U. S. House of Representatives in December 2009. But, to save jobs, the Senate needs to pass this bill NOW!
TAKE ACTION: Tell Congress that America will never get ahead by shortchanging our kids and underfunding our schools.
Urge your Senator to cosponsor the Keep Our Educators Working Act and to push for its immediate passage.
Urge the President to support immediateaction to save and create hundreds of thousands of education jobs.
Urge your Representative to cosponsor the Local Jobs for America Act, which Representative Miller (D-CA) has introduced in the House. Although the House has already acted, the Miller bill sends a strong message about the need to get an education job package done and enacted into law.
Share your story. Is your job in jeopardy? Have you already received a “pink slip?” Tell us what is happening in your school and how it will impact your students.
Read what your colleagues across the country are saying about layoffs in their schools.
Visit our new Education Votes site to share your story and read about other actions you can take to make sure your voice is heard on the issues that matter the most.
Forward this e-mail to at least five friends who support public education!
Additional Information:
Read the testimony of Iowa State Education Association President Chris Bern on “Education Funding and the Education Jobs Crisis,” presented to the Senate Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Labor-HHS-Education, on April 14, 2010. U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, also testified at this hearing and added his support for an education jobs bill.
Check out NEA’s education jobs advocacy packet, including estimates of layoffs and program cuts by state, stories from real educators who have lost or fear losing their jobs, and news clips and videos from around the country on the education jobs crisis.
See how many education jobs a jobs bill will save/create in your state.
See how much more money your state would get under the jobs bill than it would have a chance to “win” under the competition for “Race to the Top” Funds.
See how much funding your state will lose once monies under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expire, unless Congress provides more funding in a jobs/economic recovery bill.
ESEA/NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND REAUTHORIZATION: TELL CONGRESS TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR KIDS
Reauthorization of ESEA has kicked into high gear. NEA isurging Congress to work with educators to craft a reauthorization package that:
Promotes innovation and 21st century skills in public schools, using research-based approaches and strong collaboration among stakeholders;
Provides students with a rich, challenging curriculum that allows multiple ways to show what they have learned;
Elevates the profession to attract great educators and leaders for every public school;
Facilitates greater parental and community involvement and engagement in all schools; and
Champions adequate, equitable, and sustainable resources/opportunities for all public schools.
Read NEA’s letter and supporting materials submitted to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee for the April 28th hearing on “Meeting the Needs of Special Populations.” Materials address the needs of students with disabilities, English language learners, homeless students and students from migrant families.
Read NEA’s letter and supporting materials submitted to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee for the April 27th hearing on “Standards and Assessments.” Materials include a one-pager and supporting documents on NEA’s position on effective assessment systems.
Read NEA’s letter and supporting materials submitted to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee for the April 22nd hearing on “Meeting the Needs of the Whole Child.” Materials address issues such as student health, safety, and well-being; teaching and learning conditions; parental and community engagement; equity in resources and opportunities; and class size reduction.
Read NEA’s letter and supporting materials submitted to the Senate HELP Committee for the April 19th field hearing on “Innovation in Public Schools.” Materials include NEA papers on elevating the profession and ensuring every child a quality teacher and links to articles and stories on innovative programs to ensure great educators.
Read NEA’s letter and supporting materials submitted to the Senate HELP Committee for the April 15th hearing on “Teachers and Leaders.” Materials include NEA papers on elevating the profession and ensuring every child a quality teacher and links to articles and stories on innovative programs to ensure great educators.
Read NEA’s letter and supporting materials submitted to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee for the April 14th hearing on “School Turnaround.” Materials include examples of successful collaborative transformation models and links to videos highlighting successful transformation programs.
***Congratulations to ISEA Member Sarah Brown Wessling, who was honored this week in the Rose Garden by President Obama as the National Teacher of the Year***
Dear Local Leaders:
Thank you for engaging your members, other school employees, administrators, school board members, parents, students and community members and urging them to stand together and Start the Day for Students and California’s Future on March 4. The day was an overwhelming success in getting the word out about the pain the state budget cuts are causing our students, schools and colleges. You should be proud of our collective actions! Now, we must keep the momentum and message going.
Thanks to your efforts, our work with other unions and coalitions, and thousands of us standing together, our voices were heard in every community across California. Whether it was kicking off the day with early morning activities including leafleting, picketing, mock funerals, disaster drills, and bake sales; afternoon rallies, demonstrations and marches; or candlelight vigils that evening, we made an impact. The message was loud and clear: The cuts to public education and critical community services must stop. It’s time to rescind the tax breaks to big corporations and oil companies and have everyone pay their fair share. A sampling of photos, videos and news clips is posted on www.standupforschools.org and on YouTube.
March 4 was an extraordinary success, but we can’t stop there. We must continue to build on that momentum and take every opportunity to organize and mobilize in our local chapters and communities. Here are a few things you can do to continue to engage and inform your members and the public.
Use local bargaining efforts to highlight the impact of the state budget cuts.
March 15 is just around the corner, and early estimates show more than 20,000 RIF notices have already gone out. Create a flier and put a real face on program cuts and layoffs in your local community. Post the cuts on your association website.
Continue gathering signatures on the Repeal Corporate Tax Loophole Act petitions. Contact your regional CTA office for more information on how to get petitions, when and how they should be returned.
Continue to contact your legislators using the toll-free hotline: 1-888-268-4334.
Build on the coalitions that you started in your area and work together on different activities and events.
Hold a relational meeting to discuss next steps in your area. Hold a 10-minute meeting at your school site.
Continue communicating with members—gather their personal e-mail addresses, create an expanded section on your website, use social networking to spread the word and share what you’re doing at www.standupforschools.org.
Support other coalition efforts like the CFT March for California’s Future (www.fight4cafuture.com)
To help you continue our collective efforts, the Stand Up for Schools website and materials will be updated. Again, thank you for all your support on March 4. Let’s keep moving forward together and keep standing up for our children and their future. Together, we can demand that public education and other essential services must be a priority. Together, we can demand that the tax structures in California must be changed, that corporate tax loopholes must be repealed, and that it’s time for everyone to pay their fair share.
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
Start the Day for Students
Joining the March 4 Start the Day for Students protests has taken on a new urgency since I first wrote to you about the importance of joining this statewide day of action to protest budget cuts to public education and other essential services.
That’s because the governor is not only proposing to cut an additional $2.5 billion from public education in his 2010-11 budget plan, he is also trying to renege on the budget agreement and constitutional statute he signed last year to repay schools $11.2 billion that they were shortchanged. This is on top of the $17 billion that schools were cut over the last two years. The governor’s new broken promise to public education is egregious.
On March 4 we must take action and tell lawmakers no more cuts to schools, colleges and other essential services. We are also calling on lawmakers to repeal the corporate tax breaks they handed out to large corporations and oil companies last year. CTA has activated the legislative hotline so members and parents can call toll-free. That number is 1-888-268-4334. We also encourage you to collect signatures that day for the Repeal Corporate Tax Loopholes initiative that is now being circulated for the November ballot. (Important Note: The toll-free hotline included in these materials is not operational yet. It will be by the end of the week.) CTA has also launched a statewide radio advertising campaign about the impact of the state budget cuts on schools and colleges, encouraging everyone to join in on March 4.
This is a day for parents, administrators, school board members, college faculty, education support professionals and educators to unite against state budget cuts that are destroying the future for a generation of students. Make your voice heard in your community on March 4 and Start the Day for Schools and California’s Future.
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
March forth on March Fourth!!! The following is from CTA President David Sanchez
Our March 4th. "Start the Day for Students and California’s Future" is quickly approaching, and momentum is building around organizing activities and engaging members, administrators, parents, students and community members to get the word out about the pain billions in cuts are causing our schools.
It is crucial that we get as many members and local chapters to participate in this statewide day of action as possible. Our schools and students are suffering due to drastic budget cuts, and the additional $2.5 billion that the governor is proposing to take from schools in his 2010-11 budget will make things even worse.
On March 4th, we have an opportunity to mobilize with other educators, parents, faculty, students and unions up and down the state in a massive protest against further cuts to education and other essential community services, and for changing the debate around the need for additional revenues.
March 4th is also about reminding corporations that it’s time for everyone to pay their fair share in this time of crisis. That is why State Council voted to support the Repeal Corporate Tax Loopholes Act now being circulated to get on November’s ballot. It will rescind the $2 billion in tax breaks that were given to big corporations and wealthy oil companies last year by the Legislature.
Each CTA Board member will be contacting their chapter presidents to find out what kinds of activities are being planned for that day.
Employees eligible for retirement incentive under contract Chapter VIII Article 1 Section F and the additional incentive being offer by the District as agreed to in the MOU are advised to attend Group Orientation meeting on Feb. 2 and sign up with the District for individual SERP counseling sessions Monday through Wednesday Feb. 8-10 from 2:30-7:30 at the District office, and sign up with the District for a CALSTRS benefits counselor mini-review to be held at the Uniserv office on Tuesday and Wednesday Feb. 9th and 10th.
CTA President David Sanchez released the following information at the Imperial County Uniserv/Service Center Council meeting held on Wednesday, January 20, 2010. This is a follow-up press release I received today. Please reserve the half hour prior to your school starting on March 4th.to participate!
Holly
We’re just one month into the New Year and it is already a tough budget year for public education with the governor’s recently proposed budget shorting public schools and colleges by more than $2.4 billion — that’s on top of the $17 billion cut over the last two years. CTA is taking a stand against these cuts by joining in a statewide day of action for our students and the future of Californiaon March 4th.
The CTA Board of Directors approved the recommendation from State Council to participate in a spring statewide day of action to support funding for public education and other social services. We are asking every member to participate in demonstrations and activities at their school on the morning of March 4 before school starts. We are asking you to help lead this effort and “Start the Day for Students” as part of our ongoing campaign to make our voices heard about the painful effects of these cuts on students and teaching, and to engage our communities in supporting public education and building a better California for all of us.
CTA’s “Start the Day for Students” actions will be part of a larger day of protests that includes college students, faculty and other labor unions. Local chapters and schools will have the flexibility to do various actions and activities, but we are targeting our actions in the morning to encourage and make it easier for more members to participate, and to capitalize on the early morning news coverage. We need an immense number of actions across the state that morning to convey just how desperate the situation has become in our schools. CTA also supports the other activities going on throughout the day and encourages members to attend those events as they like. I know some local chapters have already planned events on that day.
You will be getting more information soon, but we need everyone to save the date and start planning now. March 4 is a key opportunity for every CTA member to “Start the Day for Students” to bring attention to the real victims of education cuts and to encourage parents and community members to do the same.
We must also use this day as part of our first step toward reforming the state’s tax structure and providing additional revenues for schools, colleges and other critical services. This starts with closing the corporate tax breaks that were handed out to the state’s largest corporations last year. When class sizes are increasing, educators are being laid off and taxpayers are paying more, everyone must be paying their fair share.
Take urgent action now to save our students and our future. Join “Start the Day for Students” on March 4! We must stand up for students, public education and our future.
Former UCLA Graduate School of Education lecturer and 28-year teaching veteran Walt Gardner wrote in an op-ed in the Sacramento Bee (1/17), "If schools were allowed to be truly run like businesses, they (employers) would be able to deny enrollment (hiring) of students (workers) who have neither the ability nor desire (qualifications) to be there. But public schools, unlike private and religious schools, must accept virtually all who show up at the schoolhouse door." According to Gardner, "This is the antithesis of how business operates. ... If taxpayers were to spend time in the classroom, they might gain more respect for the work that public schools do in the face of daunting challenges. At the least, they'd come away realizing the futility of running schools like businesses.
Attention!!!!!!!
NEA Education Insider: January 8, 2010
Tell Congress And The President: Absolutely No Excise Tax On Health Insurance Plans!
Now that the House and Senate have each passed different versions of health care reform legislation, the two chambers are currently working out a final health care bill.
The Senate bill would pay for needed reforms by imposing a 40 percent excise tax on high-cost insurance plans. The White House has expressed support for the excise tax. The House bill includes no such tax.
The excise tax is bad policy. It would have a devastating impact on exactly the type of good, comprehensive health care plans reform should be promoting. At the same time, despite President Obama’s promise that those with employer-sponsored health insurance could keep what they have, the excise tax would lead to large-scale upheaval in many workers’ current coverage, including increased costs and reduced benefits.
The excise tax will disproportionately hurt women, who are more vulnerable to high health care costs than men.
The excise tax would affect workers who, for decades, have sacrificed salaries for health care benefits, and would be so devastating that entire types of coverage would likely be stripped away.
Tell the White House and the Senate that the House is right! Taxing working families benefits is just plain wrong.
Contact your Members of Congress and the President Today!
We are reminding everyone to use, if possible, the mail in prescription plan. This will help to lower our experience factor and thus keep our rates at the current premium. If you have questions ask your building rep., or call Dave West at 760-352-3411.
Thank you for your attention to this issue.
January 4, 2010
The following needs your immediate attention!!!
Please contact V. Manuel Perez @ 760-336-8912 or in Sacramento @ 916-319-2080 or by e-mail at his web site http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a80/ and click on the "contact us" at the bottom of the page.
Subject: Urge Assembly members to vote NO on new RTTT bill, SBx5 4 by Romero!
Happy New Year. This first week back is going to be a busy one. While the Governor is scheduled to deliver his State of the State address on Wednesday, the Assembly Education Committee today is scheduled to hear another bad Race to the Top (RTTT) bill by Sen. Gloria Romero. This new version--SBx5 4-- goes beyond the requirements of Race to the Top and contains onerous provisions that will create chaos in local school districts, drain resources from local classrooms, and punish lower-performing schools without providing them with assistance.
If the bill escapes from the Education Committee, the full Assembly could vote on the bill today. That’s why it’s urgent that you make contact with your Assembly Member right now. E-mail your Assembly Member and urge your members to do the same. The message is short and simple: Vote against SBX5 4 (Romero).
Read CTA’s Legislative Alert to find out more about why the new Romero bill it still bad for our students and schools.
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
Special Alert: House Voting on Jobs Package Tomorrow - Urge Inclusion of Education Funding
December 15, 2009
SPECIAL ALERT:
HOUSE TO VOTE TOMORROW ON JOBS PACKAGE:
URGE INCLUSION OF CRITICAL EDUCATION FUNDING
The House of Representatives is scheduled to consider an economic recovery/jobs package as early as TOMORROW(Wednesday, December 16).
It is urgent that this package include funding for education, and particularly an Education Jobs Fund to help save and create jobs that help students achieve, run our schools, and strengthen the middle class.
Investment in public education is the best investment for the nation’s economy, both in the short run and the long run.
·An Education Jobs Fund to maintain investments in public education, and save andcreate jobs. Additional federal money for public education will have an immediate impact on improving the employment picture because it is one of the most labor intensive industries. Such a Fund will also help keep schools fully staffed and help address the negative impacts on student learning of economic distress.
·An infrastructure investment program that will modernize schools, put Americans to work, and help students learn.
See how much funding your state will lose once monies under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expire, unless Congress provides more funding in a jobs/economic recovery bill.
Our U.S. and state Senators need to hear from educators on two important issues.
1.The current U.S. Senate version of the Health Care bill contains a provision which would tax premiums. The provision would inevitably lead school districts to reduce the medical benefits to their employees to avoid paying the excise tax. Some districts will decimate current benefit plans and some may even decide to eliminate specific benefits — such as dental and vision — for educators.
HOW YOU CAN HELP ON HEALTH CARE!
·Please urge your members to contact U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein and tell them to say NO to the excise tax on working families and educators. Dial 1-800-294-9811 to be connected to U.S. Senators Boxer and Feinstein.
2.With your help, CTA-supported Assembly Bill X5 8 by Assembly Education Chair Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica), which puts California in the best position to apply for federal Race To The Top (RTTT) funds, cleared the Assembly yesterday and is now on its way to the state Senate for debate and a vote. While the governor is threatening to veto this version, we must let our state Senators know this is the best bill to help California submit a successful RTTT application.
HOW YOU CAN HELP ON RTTT! Contact your state Senators and tell them to approve the Brownley bill.
NEA Education Insider: December 11, 2009
Keep Up The Drum Beat: Support Education Funding In Jobs Package
As we reported last week, Congress is considering a second economic recovery package, focused on job creation. A bill could be taken up in the House of Representatives as early as next week. Critical to such a package is the inclusion of an Education Jobs Fund to help save and create jobs that help students achieve, run our schools, and strengthen the middle class.
Investment in public education is the best investment for the nation’s economy, both in the short run and the long run. Therefore, NEA is proposing an emergency jobs package that includes:
An Education Jobs Fund to maintain investments in public education, and save and create jobs. Additional federal money for public education will have an immediate impact on improving the employment picture because it is one of the most labor intensive industries. Such a Fund will also help keep schools fully staffed and help address the negative impacts on student learning of economic distress.
An infrastructure investment program to modernize schools, put Americans to work, and help students learn.
Contact your Representative Today! Urge Congress to include funding for education in any jobs package.
See how much funding your state will lose once monies under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act expire, unless Congress provides more funding in a jobs/economic recovery bill.
Tell Congress: No Excise Tax On Health Insurance Plans!
The United States Senate is currently debating the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590) – a health insurance reform bill that would pay for needed reforms by imposing a 40 percent excise tax on high-cost insurance plans.
Although the tax would be paid by insurance companies and plan administrators (employers), not by employees, the ultimate result would be a dramatic reduction in benefits as the excise taxes payable would be so high that insurance companies and employers would do everything in their power to avoid paying it.
The excise tax is bad policy. It would have a devastating impact on exactly the type of good, comprehensive health care plans reform should be promoting. At the same time, despite President Obama’s promise that those with employer-sponsored health insurance could keep what they have, the excise tax would lead to large-scale upheaval in many workers’ current coverage.
The health care bill passed by the House of Representatives last month contains no excise tax.
Contact your Senators Today!Tell the Senate to reject any excise tax on high-cost plans in health insurance reform legislation.
NEA’s newest interactive website, “NEA Today Action” gives NEA members a chance to speak out on education issues. Visit http://www.neatodayaction.org/ and check out the featured articles on education policy by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and top congressional policymakers. Share your comments on their statements and tell us what you think the Obama Administration’s top education priorities should be
Today NEA launched NEA Today Action. We've created this new Web site at a time when we expect education reform to begin to move to the forefront of the national agenda. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act is up for reauthorization, and the Obama Administration is fully engaged in the Race to the Top and School Improvement Grants.
We invited Education Secretary Arne Duncan and the leaders of the Congressional education committees -- Democrats and Republicans -- to share their vision for federal education policy. We also reached out to a governor for perspective from the state level.
But this conversation is not complete without you! So check out the site. Consider what the policymakers have to say, then let us know what you have to say. NEA has opened up the channels of communication. Now's the time to talk back and let decision makers know what you think.
I want to hear from you!
Dennis
Help!!! Help Needed Today. Tell Assembly to Support Brownley Bill.
Urge your Assembly Member to approve a CTA-backed Race to the Top (RTTT) bill--Assembly Bill X 5 8 by Assembly Education Chair Julia Brownley (D-Santa Monica). At the same time, your quick action is needed to urge these same lawmakers to reject Senate Bill 5x 1 by Senator Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles), which hurts schools and doesn’t help California’s application for RTTT funds.
The Assembly Education and Appropriations Committees are scheduled to consider both measures on Wednesday, Dec. 9. The full Assembly could vote as early as Thursday, Dec. 10.
That’s why it is urgent that you contact your Assembly Member right now.
CTAINVEST.ORG IS UP AND RUNNING
Educators who want to take more control over their financial futures now have a new tool at their disposal. CTA's financial education Web site, ctainvest.org, launched in late August. This financial resource, developed exclusively for California educators, provides information about voluntary retirement savings plans and education on financial and investing topics. Educators can find the answers to questions such as: "Will I have enough money to support my retirement lifestyle?" "What types of investments should I consider?" and "How does my 403(b) plan work?"
"We've created this resource for educators to help them make informed choices about retirement planning and investing," says David A. Sanchez, CTA president. "We know that our members are eager to learn more about what is available to them, and this site provides a wealth of information in one convenient package. The ctainvest.org Web site features:
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Financial articles on a range of topics, including CalSTRS and CalPERS basics, 403(b) and 457 plan basics, investing strategies, saving for education, insurance, estate planning and much more.
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10 calculators licensed through Standard & Poor's that can help educators estimate everything from retirement income needs to college savings to the potential benefits of refinancing.
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Webinars, also licensed through Standard & Poor's, that take a step-by-step approach to explaining asset allocation, investment risk, managing debt and credit, and understanding mutual funds.
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Case studies, which are real-life stories from educators navigating the waters of retirement planning and investing.
CTA developed this site for California educators. So visit ctainvest.org soon to learn more about taking control over your financial future.
CTA Member Benefit of the Week:
CTA Member Benefits is highlighting the CTA Well-Baby Program which provides expert resources to eligible CTA members and their pregnant spouses or domestic partners. This program offers The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy Book, access to the Ask Mayo Clinic 24-hour toll-free nurse line, and access to a Mayo Clinic Pregnancy Advisor nurse available by phone throughout the pregnancy and three months post-partum. This benefit is available free to eligible CTA members enrolled in either the voluntary CTA group life or disability plan with The Standard and to their spouses/domestic partners. Please note, enrollment is only acceptable through the 20th week of pregnancy. However, if you are a CTA member or the spouse/domestic partner of a CTA member who is past 20 weeks of pregnancy, a one-time late enrollment opportunity will be accepted as long as the CTA member is within the first 120 days of new employment. For enrollment in the CTA Well-Baby Program, contact 800-906-1064.Please visit Member Benefits at www.cta.org for additional information or contact us at 650-552-5200.
NEA Member Benefit Article of the Week:
TIPS ON HOW TO NEGOTIATE WITH YOUR CREDITORS
Let’s face it—we live in a credit-dominated society. Most of us can pay cash for our daily living expenses, but when it comes time to make a major purchase such as a house or a car, we need a thick credit file with a long history of responsible payments. Credit is a convenience that keeps us from having to carry large amounts of cash, and also allows us to buy now and pay later. Admittedly, many people have taken that perk to an extreme, but used appropriately, credit can be our friend.
Many consumers are now faced with having their existing lines of credit impacted by changes to the terms of their account. Higher interest rates, lower spending limits, increased minimum monthly payments, or even closed accounts have put many on the financial ropes. If the terms of your account have been altered, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) makes the following recommendations:
Ask for an explanation. Everyone deserves to know why the terms of their account were changed, so definitely inquire. Among other things, the creditor may close an account due to inactivity, because you no longer fit their business model, because you’ve become too much of a risk, or you’re no longer profitable.
Fight to get your previous terms reinstated. If you’ve had a sporadic pay history, are at or near your credit limit, or rarely use the card, you may not have a leg to stand on. However, if you’ve been a good customer, it’s worth it to call the issuer and plead your case, but you must have your financial ducks in a row before picking up the phone.
Build your case before you call. Know how long you’ve been a customer, the amount you usually charge each month, and underscore your good payment history.
Prove that you’re worth having. Get your credit report for free from www.annualcreditreport.com. Review it for accuracy. After all, you want to make sure that you and the creditor are seeing the same information. Next, pay the few dollars it costs to get your credit score. If you have a solid credit report and high credit score, you should be just the kind of customer any issuer wants.
Be prepared to negotiate. Know what you want before you call, and be willing to negotiate if you have to. In other words, if your interest rate has been raised and your credit limit has been lowered, start off asking that both be returned to the previous levels. However, figure out in advance which is more important to you. Do you need a low rate because you carry a balance over from month-to-month, or does a high line of credit matter more to you? If you end up in a stand-off with the creditor, you’ll know where to give.
Ask for a supervisor. If you’re not getting the answers you want, move up the ladder until you either get what you’re after, or are convinced they are going to stand firm with their decision.
Inquire about the opt-out clause. If it makes more financial sense to do so, ask to have your account closed, with you continuing to pay the balance under the former terms. This option is often the right one for consumers who have had their interest rate or minimum payment raised to an unmanageable level. If it’s going to be a true financial hardship to meet the new terms, then it’s better to close the account.
Even though having more plastic can equal more temptation, it might be smart to have a back-up card in case you lose charging privileges on your primary card. Another card can be a safety net that will keep your access to credit open. Credit can be difficult to obtain, so testing the waters by applying for one more card – not a wallet full - before you actually need it will provide a degree of comfort during these uncertain times.
For help making sound financial decisions, building a budget you can live with, or assistance digging out of debt, reach out to a trained and certified counselor at an NFCC Member Agency. To find the location closest to you, call toll-free to the NEA dedicated line at (866) 479-NEA2 (6322), or go online to the special Web page for NEA members at www.neamb.com/debtadvice.
If you are dealing with pressing financial issues or simply have some financial questions, NEA Member Benefits (NEA MB) has a solution. NEA MB has teamed with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) to provide both free and very affordable financial tools and services to NEA members and their families. Whether it’s one-on-one counseling or an educational workshop, an NFCC member agency can provide you with the financial assistance you need. Take the first step towardsecuring your financial future—call the dedicated NEA member line toll-free at 866-479-NEA2 (6322) or visit the special Web page for NEA members at www.neamb.com/debtadvice .
Have a great week!
Good Evening,
State Senator Gloria Romero is trying to rush action on unnecessary legislation that she claims the state needs to be eligible to apply for federal Race to the Top funds. She is pushing a hearing and a vote on this bill as early as Monday ? even though the U.S. Department of Education has not released final regulations for RTTT. CTA and the entire education community believe no additional legislation is needed in order for California to apply for these funds. Senator Romero?s bill would do more harm than good.
We are asking you to take time this weekend and Monday to contact your state senator. Ask your senator to oppose Senate Bill 5x 1.
This education legislation should not be voted on without an opportunity for input from parents, educators and the community; or until we have seen the final federal regulations.
Please see the Legislative Alert below. And thank you for your quick action.
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
CTA LegAlert
Block Effort to Turn Race to Top into Rush to Failure
CTA needs your help right now to stop legislative efforts to turn the Race to the Top into a rush to failure.
State Senator Gloria Romero (D- Los Angeles ), a candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction, is using the federal Race to the Top (RTTT) program to push through unnecessary legislation that will hurt teachers, students and schools. CTA is asking you to call your State Senators and ask them to reject Senate Bill 5x 1.
Background: Hastily Amended Bill, Short Notice
Under the cover of the special session on education called by Gov. Schwarzenegger, Sen. Romero has amended her measure and worked with Sen. President Pro TemporeDarrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) to put the bill on a ?fast track.? The bill was amended Thursday night with the intention of having the Senate Education Committee pass it on Monday, followed immediately by a vote of the full Senate. Not only is this ?short cut? suspect, it also prevents lawmakers from giving the measure and its major education changes the careful study they deserve. Members of the education community and the public deserve time to review and have input on this legislation.
What?s even worse ? the bill would change state law before the RTTT federal regulations are even finalized. Those regulations may not be finalized until December. It makes no sense to pass the Romero bill now.
SB 5x 1 has numerous problems:
It locks into state law unnecessary changes Sen. Romero claims are needed to implement RTTT even before the federal regulations governing the program have been adopted.
It repeats the mistakes of the fatally flawed No Child Left Behind Act, including the overreliance on test scores as the only measure of student achievement.
It modifies regulations governing the entire School Improvement Grant Program in hopes of helping California get one-time RTTT funds, but it would also cause schools to lose SIG money if they do not comply with the new state regulations.
It forces irresponsible and punitive changes in teacher and administrator evaluations.
It allows unfettered increases in under-regulated charter schools that are not responsible to the community.
It substitutes narrow compliance in place of innovation and local flexibility vital to schools? success.
It increases costs and mandates at a time schools are staggering under $17 billion in cuts and 20,000 educator layoffs.
CTA Coordinators: Contact Senators
Contact your State Senator today and over the weekend, and urge other CTA members at your school to do the same. The message is short and simple:
?Vote against SB 5x_1.
?Don?t change state law before federal RTTT regulations have been finalized.
ARTICLES – read about your CalSTRS plan, 403(b) investing and financial planning
Plus, SIGN UP for e-mail updates on your choice of 403(b) and investing topics.
Happy Halloween! News from The Standard
Fall is here and as always, The Standard is available to answer any of your questions about coverage. Their dedicated CTA Customer Service Department can be reached at 800.522.0406 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pacific Time or write to ctaservice@standard.com with any questions or concerns.
Have voluntary Disability or Life Insurance with another carrier?
From October 1 to November 30, 2009 you can switch your coverage to the CTA-endorsed plans offered by The Standard - without proof of good health. Members can transfer to a coverage amount equal to their current coverage or if an equal amount is not available, they can choose to transfer to the next closest higher option or any lower option. Simply provide proof of your existing coverage with your application.
You can find forms online at MyCTA at www.cta.org. Call The Standard's dedicated CTA Customer Service Department at 800-522-0406, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with any questions.
Newly hired CTA member, or new to your district?
If you're a newly hired CTA member, or transferring to a new district now's the time to get coverage. During your first 120 days of new employment, you have a one-time opportunity to apply for Disability Insurance and/or up to $200,000 of Life Insurance – without showing proof of good health. Don't miss this great opportunity - call The Standard's dedicated CTA Customer Service Department at 800-522-0406 for more information.
Wedding or baby due this fall?
Congratulations! Remember that within 31 days of a Family Status Change, you can add or increase Life Insurance coverage up to $200,000 and/or add Disability coverage, all without providing proof of good health. For more information about filing a maternity Disability claim, visit us at www.cta.org and click through to The Standard to get our helpful Maternity Guide.
Organizing your desk?
Make sure to call The Standard if you're moving to a new address or needing to make changes to your beneficiary designation. It's important to keep your records up-to-date, and it's easy to do. Simply call The Standard's dedicated CTA Customer Service Department at 800-522-0406.
Jack-O-Lantern Jar – a fun and easy craft project from The Standard
Supplies: jar (pickle jar works best), candle, orange poster paint and black electrical tape.
Instructions: Paint the outside of the jar with orange poster paint. Once dry use black electrical tape to create eyes and any other facial features you want. Place a candle in the jar and you have a cute jack-o-lantern for your window.
Questions?
Call The Standard's dedicated CTA Customer Service Department at 800.522.0406 (TTY), 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Or, email ctaservice@standard.com. And if you haven't taken a look at CTA's Web site, visit MyCTA at www.cta.org.
Greetings! There are many new ideas out there to help teachers. NEA has created a web-site called “Works-4-Me” which are tried and true teaching hints suggested by NEA members. Each week you will receive an e-mail with six helpful (and short) hints to help you in your teaching. They will fall under the following categories:
Teaching Techniques
Content
Getting Organized
Managing Your Classroom
Relationships
Using Technology
In addition, you will get information about your CTA andNEA Member Benefits that are available to you through your membership in the Association. Click on the link or visit www.cta.organdwww.neamb.com.
Teaching Techniques
Class Generated Books
"My students make numerous class generated books throughout the year. On the last day of school, I allow the students to choose one of the books to take home. The collective books make nice mementos for the students."
Content
Bean Bag Count
"I use a bean bag for my students to throw and catch as they count. It's also useful when counting by 2's, 5's and 10's. The beanbags keep the students' interest and make learning fun. This is also good for problem solving because if they drop the bag, they have to start over. Pretty soon they figure out that they should toss it to the person closest to them. It's fun to see them figure out these everyday problems on their own."
Getting Organized
Highlighted Names
"I have a problem with my students remembering to put their names on their papers. To solve this problem I tied a string to a highlighter and taped it to our "in work" box. Students must highlight their name on the paper when they put it in the box. If they forgot to write their name, they can add it and then highlight it. The kids love to use highlighters and it saves time trying to figure out what paper belongs to what student."
Managing Your Classroom
Pocket Attendance
"I quickly take attendance by using a pocket chart. I write each student's name on both sides of a card in two different colors. As the students walk in, they flip their name card over. I know which students are absent because their names are in a different color. Writing the names on both sides in two different colors eliminates the need for me to switch all the cards over each day because I only need to turn over the cards of those students who were absent. I color code the heading at the top of the chart so that students who can't remember whether or not they switched their name can see what color it's supposed to be."
Relationships
Teacher Business Cards
"I had business cards made up with my name, school address, phone and fax numbers and email address. Originally, I just gave them out at the meetings and conferences I attended but now I give them out to my students too. I laminate them and glue a magnet strip to the back. I get the magnets as freebies from business donations. Each family has the magnet on their refrigerator as an easy to find reference. It's also a reminder to my students that I want to be in touch with their families too."
Using Technology
Favorite Sites
"I teach Internet researching skills and have my students keep a notebook on interesting sites that they would like to return to at a later time. This allows them to continue with their research and know that they can get back to a site they want to see again. The notebook works well because they can't save to a favorites or bookmarked folder."
CTA Member Benefit of the Week:
Did you know CTA Members, their spouses, domestic partners, and their dependent relatives save on average $400 a year with California Casualty auto and home (including renters) insurance? Other benefits include:
·Low rates with your NEA member discount
·Multi-policy discounts for Auto & Home coverage
·Discounts for family members who are good students or mature drivers
·Theft of personal property from your vehicle covered up to $500 - including school supplies
·Identity Theft Resolution Services included with auto or home policies at no additional cost.
·Deductible waiver for vandalism in a school parking lot or within 500 feet of a school or school event.
For those with four legged children…NEA Pet Insurance Program
Pets Best Insurance for healthier pets, happier pet owners!
NEA Member Benefits is now offering one of the nation’s premier pet insurance products to NEA members—Pets Best Insurance.
If you have a pet, you know it can be expensive to care for your furry friend. The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that certain procedures, such as treating a broken leg, can cost $2,000 to $5,000. Surgically removing swallowed items, such as sticks or toys, can cost $1,000 to $3,000. The good news is pet insurance can help cover certain procedures and illnesses.
Pets Best plans offer:
Visit any licensed veterinarian
Pets Best reimburses you 80% of the veterinarian’s bill for covered services, after a deductible
Plans include reimbursement for covered care from specialists and emergency services
Wellness options are available
Pets Best Plans underwritten by Aetna Insurance Company of Connecticut are the only pet insurance plans endorsed by The American Veterinary Medical Association GroupHealth & Life Insurance Trust
Rates start as low as $19 per month plus discounts available for members. Additional discounts are available if you pay annually or insure more than one pet.
If you prefer, you may call one of Pets Best's helpful customer service representatives at 1-888-457-2121, Mon-Fri 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. or Sat 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (MT). Use referral code NEAWEB.
Children living away from home at college might not be covered by their parents’ property, auto or health insurance, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. It will pay to look into the details of the family insurance coverage before fall classes begin.
The summer weeks are a good time to do some homework on the kind of insurance coverage that college-bound students will need for the coming school year.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) strongly urges young adults—and their parents—to get smart about insurance. For insurance tips, NAIC suggests going to www.insureuonline.org.
Parents do not need the unpleasant surprise of an insurance claim that is denied because their child is not properly covered, NAIC said. The Association recommends that parents carefully review their homeowner’s, auto and health insurance policies to determine what is—and what is not—covered for college-bound children.
Renter’s Insurance
Whether students live in college housing or rent off-campus apartments/houses, they will likely have valuables—such as a computer, TV, stereo and/or video game system—that could be stolen or destroyed in a fire or natural disaster.
Parents should check their homeowner’s policy to see whether it will cover a college student’s possessions. Furthermore, if students live in an off-campus apartment or house, parents should consider purchasing renter’s insurance through their existing homeowner’s insurance provider.
Auto Insurance
If a college student is going to be using a family vehicle while at home, parents should make sure the child is listed by name on the family’s auto insurance policy.
If the student will be taking a family car with them to school, parents should check the specific rates for the college’s city and state before deciding whether to keep their child on the family’s auto policy.
Parents should also consider raising the policy’s deductible and only allowing their child to drive the family’s oldest, least expensive car. In addition, parents might consider purchasing an older car for their child and forgoing comprehensive and collision insurance on that vehicle.
Health Insurance
Full-time college students are often covered under their parents’ health insurance plans until they graduate or reach 23 years of age.
While students are away at college, it is important to check whether the campus health facility, local physicians and hospitals accept the family’s insurance coverage. If not, it might be advisable to purchase a student insurance plan through the college.
Be sure the student has a copy of the relevant insurance cards and knows the procedure about obtaining referrals and approvals before seeking treatment.
- - - - - NEWS FROM BARBARA BOXER, UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM CALIFORNIA - - - - -
Dear Friend:
Much has been learned about H1N1 Flu, previously called “swine flu,” since the first cases were identified in the U.S. earlier this year. The good news seems to be that H1N1 is not as deadly as first believed. However, unlike most flu viruses, H1N1 seems to be a more dangerous illness for adolescents.
The federal government is providing a wealth of information about H1N1 and other flu issues in a website that includes links from many federal sources. Flu.gov includes information for parents, childcare providers, and school officials, as well as for seniors and the general population. The information is both understandable and interesting, and provides an explanation about efforts to vaccinate for H1N1. If you have concerns about H1N1 or any other seasonal flu question, I encourage you to visit flu.gov for timely and valuable information.
Sincerely,
Barbara Boxer United States Senator
Thefollowing appeared in NEA's "Opening Bell" on September 21, 2009
Fewer Schools Teaching Penmanship Amid Rise Of Computer Technology.
The AP (9/19, Breen) reported that penmanship "is being shunted aside at schools across the country in favor of 21st century skills." According to the AP, the "decline of cursive is happening as students are doing more and more work on computers, including writing. In 2011, the writing test of the National Assessment of Educational Progress will require 8th and 11th graders to compose on computers, with 4th graders following in 2019." According to Katie Van Sluys, president of the Whole Language Umbrella, handwriting "is increasingly something people do only when they need to make a note to themselves rather than communicate with others," as students "accustomed to using computers to write at home have a hard time seeing the relevance of hours of practicing cursive handwriting."
Appearing in at least 26 media outlets, an AP (9/16, Terence Chea) report says the California Department of Education on Tuesday released its Accountability Progress Report that shows many schools, "while still making real academic gains, have fallen short on the federal measure," according to Superintendent Jack O'Connell. About 42 percent of K-12 public schools reached the target score of 800 on the state Academic Performance Index in 2008-2009, up from 36 percent the previous year. The data showed the state's performance goal "was met by 48 percent of elementary schools, 36 percent of middle schools and 21 percent of high schools. The average score statewide rose 14 points to 755 in 2009." In addition, the report found a "slight narrowing" of the achievement gap between white and Asian students and their black and Hispanic peers; the average score was 878 for Asians, 828 for whites, 698 for Hispanics and 674 for blacks.
State, U.S. Disagree On Progress At Some L.A. Schools. The Los Angeles Times (9/16, Howard Blume) adds, "Thirty-nine Los Angeles schools -- a group larger than the entire Glendale school system -- identified as 'failing' under federal standards became eligible Tuesday for takeover under a recent Board of Education policy. These schools bring the number of Los Angeles Unified School District campuses eligible for takeover to 252." The Times, citing Venice High, Belmont High and 112th Street Elementary in Watts, said the state yardstick "suggests that even within beleaguered L.A. Unified, there are places where labeling campuses as failures may not tell the whole story."
Tests Show Mixed Results For California Schoolchildren. In an analysis of state data, The Sacramento Bee (9/16, Niesha Lofing, Phillip Reese) notes, "In the four-county Sacramento region, the number of Title 1 schools in program improvement jumped almost 50 percent, going from 88 in 2008-2009 to 128 in 2009-2010. Sacramento County saw the biggest increase; 95 of its Title 1 schools are now in program improvement, up from 61% the prior year. Almost as many Sacramento County schools that receive Title 1 funding are in program improvement as are not. Placer County saw its program improvement schools tally go from 9 to 11; El Dorado grew from 4 to 6 schools and the number of schools in Yolo County increased from 14 to 16."
Innovative Math Program Boosts Scores At O.C. Schools. The Los Angeles Times (9/16, Seema Mehta) adds, "Across the state, schools saw a 4.5 percent increase in the number of elementary students scoring 'proficient' or 'advanced' in math. But 64 Orange County elementary schools that took part in a math program created by the nonprofit MIND Research Institute saw a nearly 13 percent increase in the number of students scoring in those top levels." The Times explains that the MIND institute used neuroscience research to create a way to teach math based on "spatial-temporal reasoning," or as co-founder Mathew Peterson says, "It's thinking in pictures." Computer games as well as interactive visuals in the classroom help teach students fractions, equations, comparisons and other math processes. Later, they learn the vocabulary and symbols that go with the subject matter. The Orange County Register (9/16, Fermin Leal) also runs a report crediting the MIND Research Institute for local progress.
MyNC.com (9/3) reports, "The Clorox Company along with the National Education Association's Health Network is giving away free disinfecting wipes to teachers." Teachers can "redeem the offer, while supplies last" at www.cloroxclassrooms.com between Sept. 2 and Sept. 5.
Education Week (9/3, Aarons) reported that the White House and ED officials "scrambled Thursday to reassure school leaders that President Barack Obama's national speech to schoolchildren next week will touch on important educational goals," despite criticism from some conservatives that speech aims to "indoctrinate" children with the President's political views.
ABC News (9/4, Tapper, Travers) reports on its "Political Punch" blog, "White House officials seemed to be caught flat-footed by the response to what they say was a simple back to school address by President Obama to students across the nation -- and has turned into a firestorm." Now, officials admit "that one of the lesson plans surrounding the speech was written clumsily, subjecting it to misinterpretation, and had to be re-written." The lesson called for students to "Write letters to themselves about what they can do to help the president." The new plans ask students to "Write letters to themselves about how they can achieve their short-term and long-term education goals." However, ABC points out, the change "has not stopped concern and even outrage in some school districts across the country." And "some school districts in Texas, Illinois, Virginia, Wisconsin, Missouri and Minnesota are even refusing to show the president's address." The Richmond Times Dispatch (9/3, Reid), the Minneapolis Star Tribune (9/4, Blanchette), and the Abilene (TX) Reporter-News (9/4, Bethel) report on how school districts in their respective areas plan to handle the President's speech.
The Salt Lake Tribune (9/4, Burr, Stewart) reports that "the White House pushed back Thursday against criticisms from conservatives and concerns from parents...about President Barack Obama's planned address to students next week." According to the Salt Lake Tribune, "Some of the more extreme critics have used words like 're-education' and 'indoctrination,' to describe the speech, one that the conservative Drudge Report news site claimed was 'unprecedented.'" But White House officials insist that the President's "speech is not about healthcare reform nor any other item from the White House agenda...but will simply feature the president encouraging students to stay in school and work hard." The Tribune points out that Obama's speech "isn't the first of its kind." In 1991, "President George H.W. Bush in 1991 spoke to students across the nation in a teleconference that was part of a national space science symposium. He talked about importance of studying math and science."
PolitiFact Rejects Claim That President Plans To Raise Healthcare, Tax Issues In Speech. In the St. Petersburg Times' (9/3) PolitiFact blog, Angie Drobnic Holan attempted to debunk the claim by some critics that "schoolchildren across the nation 'will be forced to watch the president justify his plans for government-run healthcare, banks, and automobile companies, increasing taxes on those who create jobs, and racking up" debt when President Obama makes his speech on Tuesday. Holan clarified, that the President's "speech will be about 'the importance of persisting and succeeding in school.'" She added that PolitiFact "looked at what Obama intends to talk about in greater detail and found no evidence that he intends to raise controversial policy issues."
The Salt Lake Tribune (9/3, Schencker, Stewart) reports, "Some Utah parents have already made up their minds about a speech President Barack Obama plans to give to students about the importance of education: They don't want their children watching it." The speech will be "broadcast live online at 10 a.m." next Tuesday. In it, the President "will challenge students to work hard, set educational goals, and take responsibility for their learning." The U.S. Department of Education is urging "schools to join in the 'historic' event, even providing age-appropriate classroom activities." Many conservatives, meanwhile, "in Utah and nationwide, say "they don't want their kids "forced" to watch the speech, fearing it will eat up precious class time with political or policy messages." Several Utah districts "are sending letters to principals saying that if they plan to broadcast the speech, they should warn parents and provide alternate activities for students who don't want to watch it."
The Houston Chronicle (9/3, Scharrer, Mellon) reports that "some Texas parents are asking school principals to excuse their children from listening to a speech that President Barack Obama will make to schools next week on the grounds that it smacks of political indoctrination." In the Houston area, most "districts will let principals and teachers decide whether to show Obama's speech. Some district leaders raised concerns about interrupting already scheduled lessons, while others said students need to hear the president's expected message of personal responsibility for learning." Texas Education Agency spokeswoman Debbie Ratcliffe said, "It is not uncommon for students to watch a presidential speech that is given during the school day." However, she noted, "This situation is somewhat different in that this speech apparently will be directed to students. But each district can decide how best to handle it for their community."
White House Revises Lesson Plans To Exclude Writing Prompt About How To "Help President." The Washington Times (9/3, Mosk) reports that "President Obama's plan to inspire the nation's schoolchildren with a video address next week erupted into controversy Wednesday, forcing the White House to pull out its eraser and rewrite a government recommendation that teachers nationwide assign students a paper on how to 'help the president.'" Many conservative and Republican groups claimed that the assignment was an attempt by the President "to politicize the education system." Tuesday night, the White House confirmed that the lesson plan would be revised." And "by Wednesday evening, the sentence asking children to think about how they can 'help the president' had been replaced."
Urgent!!!!!!!! Please make Calls
Greetings, Presidents and Members,
On Tuesday, I let you know that the governor and legislative leaders had reached a compromise budget agreement, which would restore more than
$11 billion in cuts to public education and protect the minimum school funding law.
The agreement does include some additional cuts to schools, but the $11 billion repayment is critical to the future of public education. We also need a two-thirds vote from the Legislature on the repayment bills, AB 3 and SB 3. So in addition to calling your legislators, I am also asking you to call the lawmakers listed below. Ask them to support AB 3 and SB 3 to restore some of the money that has been cut from schools, and that our students desperately need.
Right now, both the Senate and the Assembly are planning to vote tonight. Call your lawmaker toll free at (888) 268-4334.
Please forward this e-mail to your members, family and friends. Thank you!
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
List of legislators to call in addition to your own:
Assembly Area Code (916)
1.Sam Blakeslee 319-2033
2.Jean Fuller 319-2032
3.Danny Gilmore 319-2030
4.Stephen Knight 319-3036
5.Jim Nielsen 319-2002
6.Cameron Smyth 319-2038
7.Audra Strickland 319-2037
Senate Area Code (916)
1.Roy Ashburn 651-4018
2.Dave Cogdill 651-4014
3.Jeff Denham 651-4012
4.Abel Maldonado 651-4015
5.Tony Strickland 651-4019
6. Mark Wyland 651-4038
Greetings, Presidents and Members,
The top legislative leaders and the governor have finally reached a compromise budget agreement that restores more than $11 billion in cuts to public education under Proposition 98 and protects the minimum school funding law from suspension. The “Big 5” have approved the agreement, but now both houses of the Legislature must also approve it.
We need your help in getting the Legislature to pass this compromise agreement as soon as possible and getting the governor to sign it. Your calls and
e-mails to the governor and legislators played a pivotal role in protecting Proposition 98 from being suspended and ensuring that the more than $11 billion owed to schools by law would be restored once the economy improves. Please call your lawmakers at (888) 268-4334 and ask them to pass this agreement, too. CTA also began airing a new statewide TV ad today urging Californians to ask their lawmakers to pass this budget agreement. I’m asking you to do the same.
Make no mistake about it, the $12 billion in cuts that our schools, community colleges and students have already taken and the additional $6 billion in this budget for a total of $18 billion over two years are unprecedented, deep and painful. Over 17,000 teachers, nurses, school librarians and counselors have been laid off; class sizes are increasing; art, music, physical education, career technical education and other programs have been cut. But this budget protects the voter-passed minimum school funding law from suspension, and it guarantees that the cuts to public education will be restored.
Call your lawmakers and the governor and ask them to pass the compromise budget plan now! We owe it to our students, and we all owe it to the future of our state.
Please forward this e-mail to your members, family and friends. We need their help too!
David A. Sanchez
CTA President
June 16, 2009
State Budget Deficit Grows
CTA Calls for Rescinding Tax Breaks to Businesses
With the defeat of the Special Election initiatives and further declining revenues, the state budget deficit is once again at $24 billion and Governor Schwarzenegger has once again proposed cuts to education, health care and other vital services. Public schools and colleges are looking at another $6 billion in cuts on top of the $11.6 billion as part of the budget agreement approved in February.
First, I want to thank everyone for all their work in the May Special Election. From the beginning, we knew this was going to be a tough campaign as voters were rightfully upset with lawmakers for failing to do their jobs, but I am proud of all of the phone calls and work by CTA members in this effort. CTA has already started legal action to ensure that our schools and colleges are paid the money they are owed under the state’s minimum school funding law and is working with legislative leaders to include a payback provision as part of the final state budget legislation. The “maintenance factor” owed to schools and community colleges is now nearly $10 billion.
I know this special election also has poor timing, falling in the middle of state testing and year-end exams, so I want to thank everyone who has been making phone calls and urging CTA members to get out and vote. We must keep up the hard work. Proposition 1B repays schools and community colleges more than $9 billion: money that would help rehire teachers and restore critical student programs. Keep talking to colleagues, family members and friends. Ask them to stand up for public schools once again and vote YES on Propositions 1A-1F.
May Revision and More Revenues
Technically, the state budget has been approved, but the Legislature must now make final “adjustments” to close the growing deficit. CTA, the Education Coalition and other labor unions are calling on lawmakers to support additional revenues as part of the adjusted budget agreement. It starts with rescinding the corporate tax breaks approved by lawmakers over the past two years, which would raise more than $2.5 billion annually. Students and public schools should not be taking additional budget cuts, while businesses are getting tax breaks. CTA also supports proposals for an oil severance tax. Democratic leaders are putting together a compromise budget proposal and are expected to send it to the Budget Conference Committee this week. State Controller John Chiang has warned lawmakers that a final budget must be approved by the end of the month to avoid a complete fiscal meltdown in the state by July 28.
August Layoffs
CTA’s Legal Department is helping chapters prepare for August layoff notices. About 17 school districts have indicated they are planning summer layoffs. The final deadline is August 15. So far, nearly 16,000 of the layoff notices sent in March have been confirmed, while more than 11,000 notices have been rescinded.
Education Week (6/9, Maxwell) reports that "California educators, already reeling from billions of dollars in spending cuts to public schools this year, are scrounging for even more ways to save money in the final weeks of the academic year as the state's finances continue to melt down." But now "educators say they won't be able to avoid direct hits to the classroom." Districts face increased class sizes, more teacher layoffs, canceled summer school programs, "and, in some districts, the required 180 days of instruction may shrink by as much as seven days." And although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) "has said that money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that is slated for California's public schools will reimburse districts for many of the state-level cuts, educators have been worried that the federal economic-stimulus aid will not be nearly enough."
From: CTA President, David Sanchez June 4, 2009
Last month’s defeat of the special election initiatives has paved the way for billions of dollars in additional drastic cuts to the state budget. The governor released his May Revision of the budget on Friday, and included additional cuts to public schools and colleges.
The governor is proposing additional education cuts of $1.6 billion this school year, and another $4.6 billion in the state fiscal year starting July 1. This is in addition to the crippling $11.6 billion in cuts made to schools and colleges in February’s budget deal. These total cuts work out to a loss of nearly $3,000 per student.
CTA organized a number of members to testify at a legislative hearing on Monday. The CTA members were joined by others from the Education Coalition. Everyone told lawmakers how these cuts to education are destroying the chance for a better future for our students and our state. You can echo their testimony by e-mailing your legislators and sharing your story. They need to hear from educators.
Further funding cuts could also result in another round of layoffs over the summer. This is allowed under a rarely used provision in the Education Code.It’s important to let members know about this and make sure you are able to contact them with updates during the summer. CTA’s Legal Department has developed the following resources to help:
CTA is aggressively advocating for our members and students and will continue to do so throughout the summer. Our Legal Department and NODD specialists are ready to help members with RIF hearings and local chapters with any bargaining issues. We will all need to stay informed and be ready to speak up about what budget cuts are doing to our schools and colleges. We’ve developed a number of resources to keep you informed and to help you talk about the governor’s May Revision.
The Los Angeles Times (6/2, Mehta, Holland) reported, "As the state weighs cutting about $8.1 billion from public schools, colleges and universities, scores of educators, parents, students and others told lawmakers Monday that such reductions would jeopardize student success and safety in the short term and California's prosperity in the long term." The "$1.6 billion in spending" cuts are seen as a threat to small class sizes. Furthermore, in response to earlier proposals, school districts throughout "the state announced last week that they were eliminating or reducing summer school sessions to save money." In a separate story, the Los Angeles Times (6/3, Rothfeld, Goldmacher) reports that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) "told lawmakers" yesterday that "he would not agree to any budget deal that would take money from schools or healthcare without first eliminating the high-paying posts on the state Integrated Waste Management Board and other panels laden with former legislators."
Most Districts Reduce Summer School. California's Mercury News (6/3, Noguchi) reports, "From Los Altos to San Jose, school districts caught in the state's budget vise have cut back severely on summer school." For example, "the Franklin-McKinley School District in San Jose has pared back from 1,000 to 300 students this summer." Other districts have limited enrollment "to only those students lagging furthest behind" or "trimmed summer school from five hours to three" or to students from a few key grades. The Mercury News explains that "while many people regard summer school as an extra, it actually serves an important part of the curriculum, especially as California and the federal government demand that schools and students meet rigorous standards." And according to most educators, "keeping slower students on track throughout the year is essential."
The Los Angeles Times (6/2, Mehta, Holland) reported, "As the state weighs cutting about $8.1 billion from public schools, colleges and universities, scores of educators, parents, students and others told lawmakers Monday that such reductions would jeopardize student success and safety in the short term and California's prosperity in the long term." The "$1.6 billion in spending" cuts are seen as a threat to small class sizes. Furthermore, in response to earlier proposals, school districts throughout "the state announced last week that they were eliminating or reducing summer school sessions to save money." In a separate story, the Los Angeles Times (6/3, Rothfeld, Goldmacher) reports that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) "told lawmakers" yesterday that "he would not agree to any budget deal that would take money from schools or healthcare without first eliminating the high-paying posts on the state Integrated Waste Management Board and other panels laden with former legislators."
Most Districts Reduce Summer School. California's Mercury News (6/3, Noguchi) reports, "From Los Altos to San Jose, school districts caught in the state's budget vise have cut back severely on summer school." For example, "the Franklin-McKinley School District in San Jose has pared back from 1,000 to 300 students this summer." Other districts have limited enrollment "to only those students lagging furthest behind" or "trimmed summer school from five hours to three" or to students from a few key grades. The Mercury News explains that "while many people regard summer school as an extra, it actually serves an important part of the curriculum, especially as California and the federal government demand that schools and students meet rigorous standards." And according to most educators, "keeping slower students on track throughout the year is essential."
Second Round RIFS
Legal and NODD Advisory
Although the March 15th RIF proceedings have only just concluded, many questions have been raised about the possibility of a second round of RIFS.This advisory is intended to answer some of those questions.
Can school districts proceed with a second round of layoffs of certificated employees after the March 15th RIF process?
Yes but only if they satisfy three very specific conditions.The Education Code provides for second round reductions in force of certificated employees if three conditions are met:
1.The layoffs occur during the time period between 5 days after enactment of the Budget Act for a fiscal year and August 15th ;
2.The School District’s Board determines that its total revenue limit per unit of average daily attendance for that fiscal year will be less than 2%; and
3.The School District’s Board decides that, as a consequence, it is “necessary to decrease the number of permanent employees in the district.”Educ. Code 44955.5.
The first two of these conditions have arguably been met in most school districts.California enacted a budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year on February 20, 2009, which means that the time period for second round layoffs is now open.In addition, under that budget, not only are most school districts slated to receive revenue limit increases of less than 2% but those numbers will likely fall further as well in the coming month after the Governor’s May Revision, which arguable satisfies the second condition for second round layoffs.
The significant question that remains unanswered is whether school boards will determine that, as a result of the reduced revenue limits, it is “necessary to decrease the number of permanent employees in the district.”School districts are not currently in a position to make that determination because their budgets for next year will be significantly affected by the Governor’s proposed May Revision, the changes made by the Legislature to “balance” the 2009-2010 State Budget and theimpact of the federal economic stimulus dollars.We expect that school districts will be in a position to make that determination by the end of June.Organizing efforts to prevent second round layoffs should focus right now on developing the arguments as to why, given the specific circumstances of your school district, layoffs of yet more certificated employees are not necessary due to the decreased revenue limits.
Have school districts ever proceeded with second round layoffs?
Only rarely.Authority to proceed with second round layoffs was initially given to school districts in 1983.Since that time, only a few school districts have ever proceeded with second round layoffs and none have done so in the last several years.The fact that such layoffs have been so rare underscores that the second round layoff procedure is a very narrow exception to the usual March 15th layoff procedure.
If a school district decides to proceed with second round layoffs what procedures does the school district follow?
The Education Code provides that school districts must follow the same basic procedure when conducting second round layoffs as they do in conducting March 15th layoffs albeit on a schedule set by the school board, which must conclude by no later than August 15th.The statute provides that school districts that want to proceed with second round layoffs are to adopt a schedule specifying when employees slated for layoff will receive notice of the proposed layoff as well as a hearing on the layoff.The statute does not set a deadline for this process to begin, but school districts should be urged to give employees as much advance notice of their plans as possible.At the very least, districts should be urged to send out any proposed layoff notices by the end of June, with hearings to follow by early August, proposed ALJ decisions to the school board by no later than August 7th, and final decisions by the school board and notifications of employees by no later than August 14th (as the 15th falls on a Saturday).
Can a school district use the second round layoff process to relitigate issues it lost in the March 15th RIF process?
Because the grounds for second round layoffs are different than the grounds for March 15th layoffs, second round layoff hearings should not be identical to the March 15th RIF hearings.Rather, the second round layoff hearing should focus on whether or not the district can shown that it is “necessary” to reduce certificated employees due to decreases in the revenue limits that occurred after the March 15th layoff window closed (districts should have proceeded with RIFS due to any decreases in revenue limits that they knew about before the March 15th layoff procedure through that procedure).This financial necessity issue could not have been litigated in the March 15th RIF proceedings both because it is not a ground for March 15th layoffs and because the additional reduction in revenue limits had not yet occurred.
If the district can show such a financial necessity, the hearing will then turn to whether or not the district has complied with the seniority preference in Education Code 44955, by retaining more senior employees who are certificated and competent to render a particular service unless the district can demonstrate a specific need for staff to teach a specific course or course of study, and that a more junior employee has the “special training and experience necessary to teach that course or course of study” that the more senior employee lacks.Educ. Code Sec. 44955(3)(a).This is the same issue that was litigated in the March 15th RIF hearings and the outcome of those prior hearings on these issues will certainly be persuasive authority to the administrative law judges hearing second round layoff challenges.The prior administrative outcomes of those hearings, however, will not bind either side in the second round layoff hearings as they do not reflect a final court adjudication of those issues.
What can staff and chapter leadership do now to prepare for second round layoffs?
Request the latest district’s budget documents - Since the window for second round layoffs can be opened only due to a change in the district’s financial situation, specifically a further decline in the district’s revenue limit, you should request the latest district budget documents for analysis.Districts that cannot show the proposed layoffs are necessary due to reductions in their revenue limit will have difficulty proceeding with any second round layoffs.
Organize around, and plan to attend any school board meetings, particularly any special board meeting that is called in June or July – A district that decides to proceed with second round layoffs must decide to do so at a public meeting.Organize for the meeting to make the case that your district cannot afford to proceed with second round layoffs and that it is unconscionable to put teachers through another layoff process who already went through the March 15th process.If second round layoffs are nevertheless approved at the meeting, staff should notify the CTA Legal Department with the details of any second round layoff authorized by the school board.
Demand to bargain the impact of any May 15th layoffs - If a district did May 15th layoffs, the chapter should immediately file a demand to bargain the impact of the reduction in force.Sample language is on CTA-Search or can be obtained from your NODD Specialist.Specific contract articles that might be impacted include your recognition clause, transfer provisions, class size, hours and workload.If a district has truly eliminated a particular kind of service, we need to make sure that the work is not assigned to other bargaining unit members, district administrators or outside contractors.Please work with your NODD Specialist to protect your contract.
Educate members about the second round layoff process - Just as is the case for March 15th layoffs, CTA members who want to proceed to a hearing on their layoff will have to serve on the district both a request for a hearing and a notice of defense.Members will also need to be able to prove up their years of service and credential status, and should take steps now to ensure that they can do so.The CTA Legal Department will circulate a model flyer that can be used to notify members about the second round layoff process and model forms that can be used by members to request a hearing and provide the district with a notice of their defense.
Obtain contact information for members likely to be subject to second round layoffs – Districts likely will not decide whether or not to proceed with second round layoffs until after this school year ends.Staff and Chapter leadership should make sure that for every unit member they have a current phone numbers and email address that will work over the summer.At a minimum, this information should be obtained from all members who previously received a notice of proposed layoff on March 15th and subsequently had their layoff notice rescinded, as these individuals are the most likely to receive a second round layoff notice.
Fine tune your seniority list – Those chapters who went through the March 15th layoff process already have done a great deal of work to check, and challenge, the seniority list that their district used for those layoffs.Build on that work to make sure you have an accurate seniority list for any second round layoffs that occur in your district.If teachers on the district’s list were not credited with certain credentials because the teachers did not get the credentials on file with the district before the March 15th cut off, contact those teachers and tell them to get their credentials on file with the district now so they are credited with the credentials in any second round layoff process.If your chapter did not go through March 15th layoffs, work with the district and your members now to assembly an accurate seniority list that reflects all of your members’ dates of hire and credentials.
If a school district proceeds with second round layoffs, what is the process for securing legal representation for members in those hearings?
CTA will handle any second round layoffs the same way that it handles March 15th layoffs.Field staff with primary responsibility for a particular chapter should notify the CTA Legal Department if, and when, they learn that a district will proceed with second round layoffs and the number of layoffs expected.CTA will pay up to $5,000 for a GLS attorney to represent the members of the chapter who are notified that they are subject to layoff with the understanding that the chapter will pay half of any remaining outstanding balance due to the attorney subject, of course, to an appeal to CTA to pay some or all of any such outstanding balance.As has long been the case, field staff is free to select the GLS attorney that they would like to handle the second round layoff process subject, of course, to that attorneys’ availability.If field staff does not select an attorney to handle the layoff, the CTA Legal Department will do so.Staff and members must understand that the legal representation that CTA can provide in layoff hearings is necessarily limited to ensuring that school districts meet their burden of showing that the layoffs are necessary under the Education Code and that, in those instances in which the layoff does not proceed in seniority order, such skipping is justified under the Education Code.
The Los Angeles Times (5/21, Mehta, Song) reports, "After voters rejected ballot measures that would have restored state funding for schools, educators across California on Wednesday braced for $5.3 billion in cuts over the next 13 months." A spokesman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) finance department suggested that "districts could tap their reserves and federal economic stimulus dollars to lessen the effect of the cuts." So far, the state "has received about $4.3 billion in education funding from the economic stimulus package approved by Congress earlier this year, but there remain billions more that will be dependent on how California uses the first round of money." It is also likely that "state officials will...loosen regulations -- such as allowing districts to cut seven days off the school year, delay replacing old textbooks, and divert class-size reduction funds to other purposes."
The AP (5/16, Chea, Young) reports, "California's public schools already trail most states in academic performance, suffer from high dropout rates and struggle to improve the performance of black and Hispanic students." Compounding the situation, is "a historic state budget deficit that is expected to force deep cuts in education funding that will lead to thousands of teacher layoffs, larger class sizes, school closures, and a shortened school year." According to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, additional cuts would mean schools would "lose counselors, nurses, and librarians. They are also likely to cut athletic programs as well as classes in art, music, and career technical education." So far, "30,000 of the state's roughly 310,000 public school teachers have already received pink slips this year, and school districts could be forced to lay off more before classes begin in the fall."
Hundreds Of Los Angeles Unified Teachers, Students Stage Protests Over Budget Cuts. The Los Angeles Times (5/16, Song, Blume) reports, "The head of the Los Angeles teachers union was among 39 people arrested Friday during a sit-in outside the school district headquarters, one among dozens of peaceful protests around the city by teachers and students outraged by plans for deep cuts in education spending." The protest was fueled "by plans for layoffs of as many as 2,500 Los Angeles Unified School District teachers, the consequence of billions of dollars in statewide cuts to education." Meanwhile, "hundreds of teachers called in sick and hundreds of high school students walked out of classrooms" in protest. After the demonstration, Superintendent Ramon Cortines said that he was open to a compromise in which "the district would spend more of its federal stimulus money than planned in the coming year, forestalling the need for any teacher layoffs, and the union would agree to concessions, such as a wage freeze or unpaid furloughs."
Education Week (5/11) reported, "California's rolling budget disaster goes before the voters next week in the form of two linked ballot propositions." Proposition 1B "would require the state to pay $7.9 billion that education groups say schools are owed for the current fiscal year under a 1988 ballot measure, Proposition 98, which set a minimum school funding guarantee." However, in order for Proposition 1B to be adopted, voters must also approve Proposition A, "which would cap state spending and increase the rainy-day budget-reserve fund." The California Teachers Association, an NEA affiliate, "has contributed a total of $8.5 million in support of both" propositions. CTA President David Sanchez said, "This is money that's owed to the schools to the tune of $9.3 billion. It needs to be put back in schools." Education Week noted that "the latest survey by the California-based Field Poll shows both measures trailing among likely voters."
May 5, 2009
Special Election Two Weeks Away
Additional Cuts to Schools Hang in the Outcome
Nervous about the economy, upset with Sacramento politicians and in a general bad mood, we’ve known since the beginning that the May 19 special election would be tough for California voters. But one thing is certain, if the series of initiatives placed on the ballot by the Legislature fails, California will be facing an immediate $6 billion budget hole, and students and schools are facing even deeper cuts. This will be on top of an $8 billion projected deficit due to lower-than-expected tax collections. As stated by Republican Senate leader Dennis Hollingsworth, who has led the charge against increasing revenues, on May 20, “it gets uglier.”
It is why CTA’s State Council of Education took a support position on Propositions 1A-1F. These initiatives are not the long-term answers we are looking for, but they do help put California back on track and prevent more cuts to education, health care and public safety. With more than 27,000 teachers receiving layoff notices and music, art, PE and dropout prevention programs being eliminated across the state, we can’t let things get worse.
I know this special election also has poor timing, falling in the middle of state testing and year-end exams, so I want to thank everyone who has been making phone calls and urging CTA members to get out and vote. We must keep up the hard work. Proposition 1B repays schools and community colleges more than $9 billion: money that would help rehire teachers and restore critical student programs. Keep talking to colleagues, family members and friends. Ask them to stand up for public schools once again and vote YES on Propositions 1A-1F.
Visiting with Arne
CTA Officers met with Secretary of EducationArne Duncan last week in Washington. It was the first time in more than eight years that CTA had been invited to the U.S. Department of Education. We talked to the Secretary about the good work that is happening in California public schools every day, how students and schools have been making steady progress, and how CTA has led the charge in helping our schools of greatest need. We shared information with the Secretary about the Quality Education Investment Act and the CTA Institute for Teaching. We also expressed our concerns about the No Child Left Behind Act and told him that we looked forward to working with him and President Obama on changing the law to help, rather than punish, students. He promised there would be changes to the law, including a new name. Secretary Duncan has scheduled a nationwide NCLB Listening Tour. He is expected to hold hearings in California later this month. He also wants to join CTA for a local school visit.
Federal Stimulus Money Beginning to Reach Local Districts
The California Department of Education is releasing the preliminary disbursements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The amount of money each school district will get for Title I and IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) is now available on the CDE website at www.cde.ca.gov/fg/aa/ar. The federal money falls into four main categories: Title I, IDEA, State Fiscal Stabilization Funds and Race to the Top Grants. The State Fiscal Stabilization Funds are designed to help local school districts prevent teacher layoffs. According to the CDE, the local district breakdown of that money is expected to be announced next week. School district applications are available now on the website.
Celebrate California Day of the Teacher and Education Support Professionals Day
“California Teachers: Standing Up for a Better Tomorrow is the theme for California Day of the Teacher on May 13. Emphasizing the need to stand up for schools, teachers and students in the face of severe budget cuts, the theme reflects our goal to Stand Up for a Better Tomorrow that gives all students the education they deserve. This year it starts with passing propositions 1A-1F. Visit www.cta.org for ideas on how to celebrate Day of Teacher and be sure to send an e-card to your favorite educator. Equally important is CTA Education Support Professionals Day on May 19. Thousands of ESP members are also facing layoffs this year due to the budget cuts. Please take time to recognize all the education professionals who make our schools a success!
April 6, 2009
Yes on 1A-1F
The May 19 special election is about six weeks away. That means we have six weeks to educate CTA members and voters about the importance of passing Propositions 1A-1F. These initiatives work together to stabilize state spending and repay our public schools and colleges for some of the cuts politicians made to education.
As I said at State Council, we have 6.3 million reasons to vote yes – the students of California. If these initiatives fail, the state is looking at another $23 billion budget hole and that means more layoffs and more budget cuts to education, health care, public safety and other important social services.
You can expect to hear a lot of misinformation about these initiatives, but know this fact: Propositions 1A and 1B work together to repay $9.3 billion owed to schools and community colleges under the state’s minimum school funding law. Prop. 1B creates the repayment plan and requires the state to restore the funding as the economy improves. Prop. 1A provides the revenues to make the repayments. Both initiatives must pass for schools to get this critical funding that will allow local districts and colleges to rehire teachers and education support professionals and to restore student programs like art, music and vocational education.
Several other labor unions and organizations have recently joined Yes on 1A-1F. They include the California State Council of Laborers, California Conference of Carpenters, Operating Engineers #3 and the California State Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Police. In addition, the Association of School Administrators, California State University Board of Trustees and University of California Board of Regents have also joined.
This is going to be a very quick and intense campaign and we are going to have to work hard to make sure CTA members get out and vote. A number of resources are available at www.cta.org. Please contact your local chapter or staff person to volunteer today.
Stimulus Money Sent to Schools
The first round of federal stimulus money for education – $44 billion – was sent to states earlier this month. About a fourth of this money will go immediately for special education purposes and to help low-income Title I schools. That money is expected to move to local school districts very quickly as it is based on current formulas. The other $33 billion in state stabilization funds is designed to help school districts stave off teacher layoffs. However, the dollars also come with a few strings. The White House guidelines call for improving teacher effectiveness, data collection, student progress toward college readiness and improving achievement in low-performing schools. The guidelines were released last week, but that money is also expected to go out quickly to local schools. All total, California anticipates receiving about $12 billion for K-12 and higher education.
ESEA Reduex
CTA is working with NEA as President Obama gets ready to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. NEA has appointed a new ESEA Task Force to build a reauthorization plan. CTA has two appointments to this group: NEA Director Theresa Montaño and IPD Manager Justo Robles. The group met last week in DC.
Congressional and White House staff remained vague and evasive about timelines for the reauthorization, but stated that they were in the process of gathering information from all interested parties and that the process would be inclusive and transparent. As part of this strategy, Education Secretary Arne Duncan will conduct a listening tour across the country during the months of May and June. CTA is also looking at reappointing the CTA ESEA Workgroup to help guide our efforts around the reauthorization.
CTA-IFT Inspires Positive Deviance
“Don’t let the inspiration fade away.” That was the message of a Merced High School student at the conclusion of a one-day Positive Deviance Workshop sponsored by the CTA Institute for Teaching. Several Merced students, teachers and administrators were among those attending the event earlier this month, which was designed to explore how positive deviance can help reduce the dropout rate.
The Positive Deviance approach suggests that it is possible to find successful solutions to problems right now before all of the underlying causes are addressed and that the best solutions to community problems come from the within the community – meaning the best solutions to school reform come from within the school, rather than from the top down or the outside in. There must be real ownership of the solutions rather than merely buy-in. The group of 14 from Merced as well as local association leaders from San Jose, Pomona, San Juan, Sacramento, Coachella Valley, Moreno Valley, Elk Grove and Rancho Cucamonga worked to design solutions unique to their own communities.
Positive Deviance works to allow teachers to emphasize talents over weaknesses to create a learning environment that supports and encourages every student to do their best. For more about the IFT and Positive Deviance visit www.teacherdrivenchange.org.
¡Si Se Puede!
Attention Contract Ratification Meeting (Calendar) Tuesday March 31, 2009 4:00 McKinley MPR A vote will be held on the TA for 2009-10, 2010-11 calendars
March 10, 2009
Pink Out!!!
Stand Up for Schools Friday
It is going to be a sea of pink this Friday, March 13, as educators, students, parents and community members throughout California will be wearing pink to show their support for public education. CTA’s statewide day of action to draw attention to the more than $11 billion in cuts to schools and colleges is building momentum with hundreds of events planned in communities all over the state this week. CTA members are holding flagpole rallies before school, marches and protests after school, and in many areas local businesses are joining in. The Gold’s Gym in Oxnard is switching out its traditional black and gold uniforms on Friday and wearing pink. I want to thank everyone for getting involved and making our voices heard. We must continue to tell the story of how these budget cuts are hurting our students and their future. Ads are running on more than 60 radio stations in English, Spanish and Asian languages, and if you live in San Francisco, Los Angeles or Sacramento, be on the lookout for billboards that help promote the day. Be sure to visit www.pinkfriday09.org to join the discussion, find out about events near you or to download resources to organize your own event. It’s not too late. The website is easy to use and a fun way to invite others to join us on Friday. You can also share photos and videos from your events. If you don’t make it to an event, remember to WEAR PINK!
CTA Provides RIF Assistance
Pink Friday is the deadline for educators to receive reduction in force notices or pink slips. So far more than 20,000 educators have received preliminary layoff notices. CTA’s Legal Department is helping every chapter and every member who gets a notice as they go through the hearing process. If you get a RIF notice, contact your chapter president and your local staff immediately.
A State Budget and Special Election
The good news is, we have a state budget. The bad news is, we have a state budget. Last month, the Legislature approved and the governor signed an 18- month state budget package that is a combination of new revenues, program cuts and some borrowing. In order to close the state’s $42 billion deficit, the compromise budget cuts more than $11 billion from public education. That is the single largest cut to education in state history. It will impact a generation of kids, and it is why taking action this Friday is so important. However, CTA also had some tremendous victories in the budget fight. First, we protected the state’s minimum school funding law, Proposition 98. CTA won a huge concession from lawmakers when they approved putting an initiative on the ballot to recognize and repay some of the money owed to schools. CTA fought off attempts to shorten the school year by five days. And CTA protected the state’s Class Size Reduction program, defeating several attempts to gut the program and give local school districts full flexibility to spend CSR money any way they wanted and for any purpose. Without CSR, many districts would be looking at even more layoffs.
Special Election Set for May 19
As part of the state budget agreement, California voters will decide six initiatives during a special election on May 19. Many of these initiatives are dependent on each other and if any of them fail, the state is back to square one in trying to balance the budget and our schools could face even deeper cuts. It took more than three days to get three Republicans in the Senate to support additional revenues. The logjam was finally broken when Senator Able Maldonado cast the deciding vote. In a special meeting the CTA Board voted unanimously to take an interim support position on Proposition 1B, which starts the process of repaying $9.3 billion owed to schools under the minimum funding guarantee. The Board felt it was imperative to take a support position on Prop. 1B so CTA could sign the ballot arguments. But, as I said, many of these initiatives are dependent upon each other. Prop. 1B sets up the repayment process, but Proposition 1A actually includes the new revenues to begin the repayment. State Council will consider all six initiatives at our meeting next week. The time frame for this special election is very fast. It will be up to us to get out and vote and make the difference. You can read more about these initiatives and the special election at www.cta.org.
Honoring Human Rights
And finally, I want to take a moment to congratulate the nine CTA members who were honored this past weekend as winners of the 2009 CTA Human Rights Awards. A record 550 people attended the Equity and Human Rights Conference this year. Advocating for the civil rights of all people is part of CTA’s mission, and it’s important that we take time to learn about each other, celebrate our differences, and honor the work that so many do to help children and our communities every day. To read more about these amazing winners, visit the CTA website. ¡Si Se Puede!
February 10, 2009
State Budget Gridlock
Protecting Prop. 98 and Small Class Sizes
The easiest way to summarize what’s been happening in Sacramento regarding the state’s $42 billion budget deficit: Another month, more talks and no action. However, the “Big Five” – the governor and legislative leaders – have been negotiating non stop, and there could be a new budget proposal later this week.
While the speed of the negotiations is frustrating, I want you to know that CTA’s work and all of your phone calls are making a difference. Lawmakers are now very aware of the governor’s unlawful manipulation of Proposition 98, which would permanently cut more than $7 billion from schools and never restore that funding as required by law.
CTA also launched a voter campaign with the California State PTA and other community organizations to protect the state’s successful Class Size Reduction program. The governor’s plan would take all of the CSR money and give it to local school districts to spend any way they like. There would be no accountability or guarantee that the money would be spent in the classroom. Increasing class sizes won’t save the state one dime or help solve the state’s budget deficit – but it will hurt student achievement. A new CTA television ad began Super Bowl weekend and is airing on stations across the state.
Finally, keep the phone calls coming! We shut down phone systems in a few legislative offices last week. I know we are tired, but we can’t let up now. Lawmakers need to hear from you. Call the Cuts Hurt Hotline at 1-888-268-4334. We have also added a Spanish option to the hotline for Spanish-speaking parents.
Pushing for Federal Assistance
CTA is working with the National Education Association to support President Obama’s economic stimulus package which would provide billions to help states get through the economic downturn. I joined NEA President Dennis Van Roekel for a news conference in Washington, DC last week calling on the Senate to pass and include education funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The House plan includes about $80 billion more for education than the Senate proposal. A House-Senate conference committee will work out a final bill. Call your member of Congress at 1-800-294-9811 and urge them to maximize education funding in the final package.
Statewide Day of Action: Pink Friday, March 13
Get ready to wear pink and Stand Up for Schools on March 13. As part of the organizing plan developed by the State Budget Crisis Workgroup, CTA is calling for a statewide day of action for public education on March 13. Stand Up for Schools: Pink Friday is designed to bring public awareness to the budget cuts facing our schools and the thousands of layoff notices that are expected to be issued by local school districts. We are asking all members to wear pink on that day, and we are asking local chapters to coordinate a Pink Friday event at your local school or college. The type of event is up to you.
CTA has launched a new website especially for the action day. Visit www.pinkfriday09.org to get additional information and resources, connect with other educators and public education supporters, share ideas for hosting an event, and upload information about an event at your school. It’s up to us to speak out and let our communities know what the state budget cuts are doing to their schools.
Getting Ready for RIFs
We know there will be thousands of layoff notices going out in March and CTA’s Legal Department will assist every member who gets one. Here are a few quick tips: Don’t sign any district statement verifying your seniority date and credentials unless the information is 100% correct. Make sure all your credentials and certifications are on file with the district. Check your personnel file and copy any documents that prove your first day of service with the district. Contact your local staff person immediately if you receive a layoff notice. And if you are an agency fee payer, join CTA to ensure you will be represented in RIF proceedings.
The El Centro Elementary Teacher Association established a decent and amicable relationship with the Administration.Due to ECETA's suggestion in the past school year, Dr. Pletka was available on a monthly basis to meet with any and all teachers who wished to "talk" in a non-threatening environment. The meeting place was in the Valley Plaza. Teachers were informed of the times and days of these coffee meetings via their building representatives or through e-mail.Now, any news can be quickly accessed through our website, eceta.org. Teachers have been included on District's Committees, such as the Protocol committee, Declining Enrollment Committee, Communications Committee, and others at the request of ECETA. Also teachers played a major role in the Retiree's Ceremony, sharing mini-biographies and memories. ECETA has held monthly Building Representative and General meetings throughout the 2007-2008 school year and this school year at different schools within the District. Every month, since August 2007, ECETA's President, Susana Gilkison, has addressed the ECESD School Board during their monthly meetings on issues that affect all teachers.
The Los Angeles Times (2/2, Mehta) reports, "Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget proposal to allow school districts to use state class-size reduction funding any way they choose is alarming teachers unions and community activists, who say it will inevitably lead to ballooning classrooms in the state's neediest communities." California Teachers Association president David Sanchez criticized the proposal, saying that it "won't save the state one dime ... Districts will continue to receive that funding from the state but won't have to spend that money on class-size reduction, or, frankly, even in the classroom." ACORN's Alicia Gaddis said that "districts in poorer neighborhoods will be the first to increase classroom sizes, [which] means the achievement gap will widen." State Department of Finance spokesman H.D. Palmer "said the suggestion for greater flexibility in how districts can spend nearly $15.7 billion next year in so-called categorical funds, including $1.3 billion for kindergarten through third-grade class-size reduction, came last fall from district superintendents as a way to address the impending state-funding cuts." Several superintendents are quoted defending the proposal, but the article closes with a quote from state Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell saying, "It's a sad day for all of California."
Attention!!!
There will be a special meeting on Friday, January 30, 2006 at McKinley School at 3:15. The only item on the agenda is the consideration of the motion to have the retro reimbursement be made as a separate check. The check would have the tax be at the high tax rate. Please plan to attend.
Attention!!!
A Contract Discussion Meeting and Ratification Vote meeting on the Tentative Agreement will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at Kennedy Middle School at 3:45.
At the General Meeting held at King School on December 16, 2008 91% of the members present voted to direct the negotiators to return to mediation to obtain a tentative agreement.
Attention!! General Meeting on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 @ King School @ 3:45.
A vote will be held regarding the contract proposal. Let you voice be heard.
November 18, 2008
Budget Morass Grows
Schools Again Facing Midyear Cuts
A mere eight weeks after the 2008-09 budget was signed into law, the state’s independent Legislative Analyst’s Office says California is facing a $27.8 billion budget deficit over the next 20 months and there is no way to close it without increasing revenues. For the future of our students, public schools and colleges, let’s hope lawmakers are listening.
Governor Schwarzenegger has called a special legislative session, but so far only legislative leaders have met. The Governor outlined a plan that includes some tax increases and some budget cuts, including a $2.5 billion cut to K-14 education. This would be on top of the $3.5 billion reduction our schools suffered earlier this year. The Governor addressed the Education Coalition before announcing his proposal and I will give him credit for calling for tax increases up front. Unfortunately, the real scenario could be worse, as Republican leaders are still holding firm to their “no tax” pledge. Without additional revenues, our schools are looking at cuts of $4.9 billion in the current year and another $5.8 billion in 2009-10. The Governor has called on lawmakers to take action by November 30 in order for the state to avoid cash flow problems. Both the Assembly and Senate are scheduled to meet on Nov. 23.
It’s time for the Governor and the Legislature to show some leadership and put our students first. Too much is at stake. We could rob an entire generation of children of a quality education if we continue down this budget-cutting path.
I encourage you to call or e-mail your representatives. They must hear exactly how these cuts are hurting students in their districts. When it comes to local bargaining, first, don’t panic or rush into any decisions. Don’t reopen any settlement for this year. And contact your local staff and bargaining specialist to develop a strategy that best fits your situation.
Change Has Come
It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, “Be the change you want to see.” On November 4, millions of Americans became that change with the historic election of Barack Obama as the next President of the United States. Obama brings an opportunity for real change for the future of public education, for affordable health care, and for how we move forward as a nation.
California voters also showed their support for schools with the passage of local school bonds and with the election of pro-education candidates to school boards, the State Assembly, the State Senate, and Congress. Although a couple of contests are still undecided, CTA-supported initiatives and candidates for state and federal office had an 83% success rate; local bond measures and school board candidates had a nearly 75% success rate. CTA targeted four Assembly races, winning three of them, including the race in the 80th Assembly District, where I enjoyed getting out the vote for Manuel Perez. One congressional seat is still up in the air, as CTA-supported Charlie Brown is battling Tom McClintock in the 11th District.
I want to take a moment to mention Prop. 8. This was a very emotional issue for many voters with passions running deep on both sides. I am proud of the position taken by State Council and proud that CTA was part of a broad, bipartisan coalition that fought for equal rights for all Californians. The pursuit for equality is part of our mission and our long history. We remain committed to protecting human rights and working against discrimination.
I know that it was a long election year, and I want to thank all of you for your hard work. President Obama stole my line on election night, but let me say it one more time: Yes We Can! ¡Sí Se Puede!
CTA Joins Action Against Algebra Decision
CTA joined in a lawsuit this month against the State Board of Education and its decision to mandate that all eighth-graders take the Algebra 1 assessment test regardless of whether they have actually taken an algebra course. CTA joined the California School Boards Association and the Association of California School Administrators in filing for a preliminary injunction. CTA asserts that the State Board violated state law by not properly notifying the public of its decision to take action and that it overstepped its authority by mandating a test that is not aligned with existing state standards. In order for schools to prepare all eighth-graders to take the Algebra 1 exam, the state would need to hire an additional 3,000 math teachers and providing training for a thousand more. The Superior Court is expected to rule on the preliminary injunction December 19.
Celebrate American Education Week
Finally, let’s all take time this week to celebrate American Education Week. Established in 1921, American Education Week is observed in all communities to inform the public of the accomplishments and needs of our public schools. A number of resources are available on the CTA website, including a special e-card that you can send to parents, students or your favorite educator.
California Teachers Association
Welcome New Teacher Breakfast
On Friday, November 7, 2008 the El Centro Elementary School District in conjunction with El Centro Elementary Teachers Association held a breakfast for the newly hired teachers in the district. Three board members, (Terrazas, Mardueno, McFaddin) administrators, (Dr. Pletka, Arnold Preciado) Principals, (Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Sigmond) and E.C.E.T.A. officers and negotiators welcomed the new employees for the 2008-09 school year. Everyone enjoyed a great breakfast prepared by Maria and planned by Kathy Lemos. Dr. Pletka gave an interesting speech on high school dropouts.He said that dropouts interviewed said that they felt no one in the schools cared about them.He urged everyone to make a difference to a student.
Vote of No Confidence The following letter was sent to Trustee Terrazas.
Dear Board Member Terrazas,
The El Centro Elementary Teachers have expressed to us their great disappointment in the board, especially, in you.They believe that as the leader of the board you receive a grade of "F" and a vote of "no confidence" from teachers.Your lack of guidance to the board has created a great divide with an important part of this District: its teachers.Some teachers have strongly recommended that we begin the procedure to "recall." We are sharing this with you, because we feel you need to try to work with the teachers.You have a responsibility to all members of El Centro Elementary School District, not only one side.At times, it"s hard to believe you are also in the educational system.You must see that we need to settle; especially when there is a surplus in reserves, as it was made clear to everyone at the last School Board meeting.This "impasse" is creating bad blood.Please do not ignore our recommendation on behalf of all El Centro Elementary School District teachers!
Respectfully,
Susana Gilkison Shealyn Smith Barker President, Vice-President, Crisis Chair
El Centro ElementaryEl Centro Elementary
Teachers AssociationTeachers Association
Welcome to our new NEA President
Newly elected NEA President Dennis Van Roekel says one of his priorities is to encourage all Association members -- especially new educators -- to get involved and stay involved in the political process. "Casting a ballot is a critical exercise of democratic participation. But voting is the easy part. It should not be the beginning and end of an individual's political activism."
Dennis, modeling a caucus T-shirt at the 2008 RA
Welcome to the new web site for the El Centro Elementary Teaches Association. We are located in Imperial County in California. Imperial County is located in the southeastern corner of California, touching the borders of Arizona and Mexico.
Our association's teachers teach in the El Centro Elementary School District which has 11 school sites serving approximately 6,000 students in grades kindergarten through eighth.
Currently our association has approximately 275 members and is associated with California Teachers Association (CTA) and National Education Association (NEA).
El Centro Elementary Teachers Association 2419 LaBrucherie Rd. Imperial, CA 92251 760-355-4600
