News Coverage - California Teachers Association

Sacramento area sees fewer school layoffs as budgets improve

May 15 was less scary for teachers this year. Wednesday's deadline for school districts to hand out layoff notices to educators ended this year with 182

America's Education Spring: A Growing Revolt Against "Reform" Mandates

“It’s always hard to tell for sure exactly when a revolution starts,” wrote John Tierny in The Atlantic recently. “I’m not an expert on revolutions,” he

Brown commits $1 billion for Common Core, sticks with funding formula

Gov. Jerry Brown proposed Tuesday to direct all of the extra $2.8 billion in revenue that the state expects to receive this year to K-12 schools and

Seattle high schools can omit MAP exams

Teachers protesting the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests in Seattle won a big victory Monday, as Superintendent José Banda announced that high schools

California moves quickly to carry out national education standards

For generations, first-grade students learned how to add using math tables and flashcards.

Lower-income districts would benefit from 55 percent parcel tax threshold, study suggests

Only about one in eight school districts in California have passed a parcel tax, and they predominantly have been wealthier and smaller districts. But if the

Torrance Unified School District to hire as many as 46 teachers by fall

In a hopeful sign for the state of public education and perhaps the overall economy, the Torrance Unified School District announced Thursday that it will be

Dean Vogel Column: 150 years of the California Teachers Association

Today, May 9, marks the 150th anniversary of the California Teachers Association. Between the time that President Abraham Lincoln signed the

Fremont educators mark "Day of Teacher" with a protest

Hundreds of educators marked California's "Day of the Teacher" Wednesday afternoon by marching together in Fremont Unified School District's parking lot

South Bay teachers hold unique protest over contract negotiations

Teachers in one South Bay school district say they get no respect and Thursday night they came up with a very unusual way to make their point.

It’s Teacher Appreciation Week — thank a teacher

The week of May 6 through 10 is Teacher Appreciation Week in California.

CTA launches media campaign to mark 150th birthday

The California Teachers Association is celebrating the 28th annual national Teacher Appreciation Week with a bigger milestone – the 150th anniversary of its founding.

State Schools Chief Tom Torlakson Notes Contribution of Teachers

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson urged Californians to honor teachers during National Teacher Appreciation Week on May 5-11, National

Oceanside teacher wins national essay contest

An Oceanside teacher recently won a nationwide contest with her essay about how to get the community more involved with schools and improve education throughout the country.

California Schools Win as Taxes $4.5 Billion Over Budget

California’s 6 million public schoolchildren stand to be big winners as a surge in personal- income tax revenue has put the state about $4.5 billion ahead of

Expulsion, suspension data reveals discipline differences

Kings County students were expelled at four times the state average for the 2011-12 school year, and more than 7 percent of county students were suspended, a

U-T Education Panel on standardized tests

Question: State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson is recommending at least a one-year moratorium on some state standardized tests to

Del Mar Teacher of the Year Gina Vargus helps students reach their ‘optimal potential’

Del Mar Heights Elementary School kindergarten teacher Gina Vargus has been named the Del Mar Union School District Teacher of the Year, praised for

30-year-old education report reverberates today

U.S. students are falling behind their international rivals. Young people aren't adept at new technology. America's economy will suffer if schools don't step up their game.

Madera teachers: We've had enough

Madera teachers say they've had enough. The next step is a strike. They held two informational pickets, one at the district office,

Democratic senators offer alternative to Brown's funding formula

Democratic leaders of the state Senate want to delay Gov. Brown’s sweeping plan for changing how schools are funded by a year and will recommend

L.A. school reform effort draws diverse group of wealthy donors

They hail from New York, the Silicon Valley, Arkansas, Los Angeles and elsewhere. They are a rich and diverse lot, including Republicans,

California Democrats blast efforts to overhaul schools

California Democrats on Sunday condemned efforts led by members of their own party to overhaul the nation's schools, arguing that groups such as

Ventura school workers hope for fewer unpaid days, better benefits in contracts

Ventura schools are poised to have fewer furlough days in the next academic year, resulting in more classroom time for students, according to the

State graduation rates inch higher

Despite the recession and years of budget cuts, California schools overall haven't lost any ground in getting students to graduation day, according to 2012 statistics released Tuesday.

New Guidelines Call for Broad Changes in Science Education

Educators unveiled new guidelines on Tuesday that call for sweeping changes in the way science is taught in the United States — including, for the

Viewpoints: Schools need to help kids eat healthy

As a mom and teacher, I am challenged again and again by the amount of junk food in our nation's schools. Like all parents, I want my child to be healthy, happy and successful.

Aspire and State Board give up fight over controversial charters

After a six-year legal battle, Aspire Public Schools and the State Board of Education have agreed to give up the permit that enabled Aspire to open a half-dozen charter schools without local district approval.

NRA School Plan: Arm Teachers, Turn Schools Into Prisons, and Never Mention Guns

Based on the National Rifle Association's press conference today, the solution to mass shootings like the murder of 26 first graders and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, last December is simple: turn our schools into prisons, complete with perimeter fences, security cameras, armed guards, and even armed teachers. But never talk about the guns used in such attacks.

Teacher firing bill gains momentum

Legislation that would make it easier to fire teachers accused of sex crimes against children and other serious offenses appears to stand a good chance of reaching Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk after similar measures repeatedly stalled through the years.

Public Schools, Private Agendas: Parent Revolution

At first glance, it is one of the nation’s hottest new education-reform movements, a seemingly populist crusade to empower poor parents and fix failing public schools. But a closer examination reveals that the “parent-trigger” movement is being heavily financed by the conservative Walton Family Foundation, one of the nation’s largest and most strident anti-union organizations, a Frying Pan News investigation has shown.

Teachers back bill to streamline firing

California's largest teachers union is backing a measure that would make it easier to discipline and fire teachers accused of misconduct after successfully fighting a similar proposal last year.

Teachers Unions Intervene In Lawsuit That Challenges Teacher Seniority

The two largest teachers unions in California filed a motion in L.A. County Superior Court on Wednesday to intervene as defendants in a lawsuit that would drastically change tenure for public school teachers.

How much school security is too much?

It’s been three months since a quiet 20-year-old unleashed 15 minutes of terror at Sandy Hook Elementary School, murdering 26 children and adults.

California voters split on Jerry Brown school plans

California voters have yet to strongly embrace Gov. Jerry Brown's controversial plan to shift money from rich schools to poor ones, an

Baldwin Park school's immersion program shows promise for closing the achievement gap

Foster elementary school sits adjacent to the 10 Freeway in Baldwin Park, nestled in a pocket of San Gabriel Valley poverty. Nearly nine out of ten

In meeting of the minds, CTA also backs teacher dismissal bill

With unusual speed, the California Teachers Association on Friday endorsed a bill Assemblymember Joan Buchanan introduced three days ago that would

Assembly committee rejects shifting adult school funding

Shifting adult school services in California to community colleges, as proposed by the governor, was rejected by an Assembly committee that

Student Video Contest Addressing Suicide and Mental Illness Gets Overwhelming Response

Part of a statewide effort to prevent suicide, reduce stigma and promote student mental wellness, the “Directing Change” student video contest had

L.A. Votes: Wendy Greuel faces questions on pensions, labor support

Labor support and pensions for city workers continue to be a key issue in the Los Angeles mayoral contest, as Wendy Greuel faces fresh questions

Minck helps build school in rural Kenyan village, Ngumbulu

A local schoolteacher’s work abroad and influence locally has earned her the Peace and Justice Human Rights Award from a statewide educators’ association

Teachers, administrators receive layoff notices despite new revenue

Despite additional revenue in their coffers, nine Inland Empire school districts have warned teachers and other employees that their services may

Teacher pink slips rare this year

The month of March no longer stresses out Sharon Fargason. For the first time in four years, Fargason did not receive a March pink slip.

Despite increase in funding, school districts still sending layoff notices to teachers

Year after year, March 15th has been a date of dread for California public school teachers. The date, which falls on a Friday this year, is

Burlingame teachers, district reach a contract agreement

Burlingame Elementary School District and its teacher have reached a tentative, three-year contract agreement on which the Board of Trustees

Finland’s Path to Excellence

For the past decade, Finland has been lauded for consistently being a top performer on international assessments of student achievement. Having

Districts struggle with governor's adult education proposal

Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget proposal to give the state’s community colleges $300 million to run adult education is leaving K-12 districts in a

Millbrae District Teachers Get Vocal About Salary, Benefit Proposals

About 30 Millbrae School District teachers gathered Thursday afternoon at Taylor and Broadway in Millbrae to protest what they described as

Student class project leads to minimum wage jump

If anyone deserves an A+ this week it's Marisela Castro, a daughter of farmworkers who turned her Social Action class project at San Jose

School abuse reporting: Training murky despite horrifying cases, survey finds

As news emerged over the past year of three horrifying abuse cases in Bay Area schools, one common thread linked them: In Brentwood, Moraga

Hundreds of El Monte HS students, teachers protest proposed layoffs of 62 teachers

Hundreds of teachers, students and parents flooded the El Monte Union High School District board meeting Wednesday to protest the proposed

Diane Ravitch Launches New Education Advocacy Counterforce

Education historian Diane Ravitch, a fierce critic of current education reform trends, is launching a new advocacy organization that will

Big money doesn't buy much in L.A. school races

Outside interests poured money into Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's war chest for this week's school board elections in an attempt to influence

California school districts are in better financial shape, officials say

California school districts are slowly emerging from financial crisis, with the number in danger of running out of cash dropping by one-third over last year,

Statewide teachers union leader based in San Bernardino

One of the most powerful teachers in California works out of a San Bernardino City Unified office on West Highland Avenue.

AVID students are building the dream

“You got this, dude,” said Gilly Red as fellow eighth grader Adalberto Santana talked his way through the steps of an algebra problem that had been stumping him.

Standardized testing becomes the great divide in schools policy

In Texas, more than 10,000 people joined a recent rally to protest it. In Seattle, high school teachers launched a boycott over it. And in Los Angeles,

Budget better, but SF teachers still get pink slips

Once again, pink slips will be hitting teaching mailboxes in the next couple of week with 141 teachers or administrators and 68 aides getting a layoff notice.

Potential school layoffs on horizon

The Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD) board approved measures on Feb. 26 that would allow district administrators to potentially eliminate or reduce more

Torlakson Warns Of Potential Sequester Cuts To Schools

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson today urged Congressional leaders to work together and immediately pass legislation that

School district to pay employees back

Now that Riverside Unified School District has emerged from the budget crisis sooner than planned, the district is offering to pay back employees equivalent

Teacher Survey Shows Record Low Job Satisfaction In 2012

As school districts continued to cut budgets, increase class sizes, and implement teacher performance evaluations, teachers' job satisfaction plummeted

Federal funding cuts to hits state hard

How worried should Californians be about sequestration?

School funding plan won't be easy sell

Public schools in San Francisco and Oakland are among those projected to get a larger-than-average bump in funding under Gov. Jerry Brown's new proposal to

In one Calif. school district, teachers help teachers get better

Jandella Faulkner crouches beside a table of busy third-graders in Jennifer Larsen’s class at Edison Elementary School. The students have pencils in hand,

Huge spending gaps between school districts, report finds

Vast inequities still exist in education funding across the nation, contributing to an academic achievement gap that separates the students at well-funded

San Diego School Board Hears Details Of First Pink Slip-Free Budget

For the first time since 2008, San Diego Unified is planning to balance its budget without the possibility of staff layoffs.

DSUSD adopts plan for possible cuts

Despite increased taxes and growing government revenue, teachers in the Desert Sands Unified School District should prepare for the possibility of layoffs or

California preschool advocates want Obama to show them the money

President Barack Obama's call for states to provide high-quality preschool for every child was met Wednesday with both applause and skepticism in

Report questions impact of Brown's finance formula on career tech

In proposing to give school districts money with fewer strings attached, Gov. Jerry Brown is confident that local school boards and superintendents

Talks between Alameda teachers, school district stall

Teachers have declared an impasse for the second time in their contract talks with the Alameda Unified School District, saying the district's

Simple interventions bridge the achievement gap between Latino and white students

The achievement gap in academic performance between academically at-risk minorities and white students has concerned educators for decades now. It's

How Can Teachers Overcome Depression and Strife?

A message sent via Twitter tells the tale. "My fellow teacher residents and I are going through deep strife and depression right now and I'm holding a

Local, state educators oppose guns-in-schools legislation

Following on a national trend that began after the Sandy Hook shooting, a handful of California legislators would like to find a way to arm teachers.

API rewrite getting fast-tracked, graduation rates come first

A prior version of this story referred imprecisely to the date that new computer-assisted testing has been proposed to begin. It would start in the spring, 2015.

Calif. Schools Chief Applauds Obama’s Call For Expanded Pre-School Access

California’s state schools chief on Tuesday night welcomed President Barack Obama’s plan for all 50 states to provide pre-kindergarten schools for 4-

We Must Out-Educate and Out-Innovate Other Nations

My fellow Americans, I have said in previous addresses on this occasion that the key to our future success is to make sure that the education we

School program aims to 'change the climate' vs. bullying

A pilot program this year at Clarence Lobo Elementary School in San Clemente is teaching students four ways to promote kindness and tolerance

Teachers press Obama to keep promises as spending cuts loom

The largest teachers union in the United States is telling President Barack Obama not to back down from promises he made in his January inauguration

School testing a national shame; boycott it

It is the 10-year anniversary of No Child Left Behind. I’m reminded of the Gettysburg battle photo. “Rich man’s war – poor man’s fight” was the

Tahoe/Truckee school district aims to balance budget without layoffs, fee hikes

For the first time in four years, the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District is not considering making staff cuts to address pending budget shortfalls.

It’s National School Counselor Week, but in Oakland, they’re getting harder to find

In a single day, school counselor Alice Philips may field concerns from parents when they drop their children off in the morning, help an eighth

Stopping the next school shooting

The tragedy in Newtown, Conn., left us shocked and numbed. As an educator, dedicated to protecting children, I felt I let down those children. As if

Jon Stewart tests Michelle Rhee, defends teachers

Jon Stewart invited Michelle Rhee on “The Daily Show” Monday night and, while he didn’t skewer her the way some Rhee critics would have liked, he

Parents joining teachers’ test boycott as Garfield High principals give exam

Under orders from Seattle Superintendent José Banda, the principal and assistant principals at Garfield High have started giving the district-

Superintendent Apologizes for 'Several Factual Errors' in CFO Interview

San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Bill Kowba sent over a lengthy written response to our explosive interview last week with the

California abandons algebra requirement for eighth-graders

By falling in line with other states, California is abandoning its push for all eighth-graders to take algebra.

Students take lead in campus campaigns against name-calling

Name-calling has been prevalent on school campuses for many years, but a movement is under way at Merced, Atwater and Livingston high schools

Poll: Counselors are more important for school safety than police officers

To improve school safety, Californians overwhelmingly believe that having guidance counselors in every school would be more effective than

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Californians in optimistic state

Californians are in their most optimistic mood about the direction of the state and the economy since just prior to the economic collapse six

Teachers criticize bill that would arm them

A proposal by a group of Republican lawmakers to arm teachers, administrators and janitors at California schools is getting poor

Local school districts could see bump in per-student funding

For the first time in five years, local school districts could see an increase in per-student funding based on Gov. Jerry Brown's proposed

School officials and decision making

Recent media reports regarding parent participation at Santa Maria High School have contained errors that are causing confusion.

Opinion: Private money and public schools

Last December 3, the California Fair Political Practices Commission recommended fining Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson, a Democrat, $37,500

California teachers flip for 'flipped learning' class model

When Timmy Nguyen comes to his pre-calculus class, he's already learned the day's lesson -- he watched it on a short online video prepared by

School bosses get raises amid troubles

With California’s public school system facing economic uncertainties – even with the passage of a tax increase under Proposition 30 – some of

Michelle Rhee just getting started on shaping California education policy

Michelle Rhee put the nation's education establishment on alert two years ago when she announced she would form an advocacy group focused

Despite budget woes, superintendents’ pay rises

With California’s public school system facing economic uncertainties – even with the passage of a tax increase under Proposition 30 – some of

Brown seeks to reshape California's community colleges

With a slate of bold and controversial budget proposals, Gov. Jerry Brown has placed a renewed focus on the state's struggling community

California retreats on class-size reduction

For Katherine Hoffmore, it was a summer of uncertainty. She didn't know until one day before classes began what grade level she would be teaching and which classroom she would be in.

Benicia teachers demand better pay during protest before trustees

Teachers packed into the school board room Thursday night to protest what they consider an inadequate raise.

'Parent trigger' strikes again in California

The first time Amabilia Villeda tried to fix her children’s school, she joined several dozen fellow parents and teachers in a protest outside 24th Street Elementary.

U.S. schools fare better in analysis

U.S. schools might not be as bad as previously thought compared with other countries across the globe - but are arguably leaving upper-class students behind.

Davis students document issues of race, test scores

What can a high-performing school district in the relatively affluent, university community of Davis teach the nation about educational equity?

Gov. Brown gets good marks on budget

Signaling an end to an era of budget gimmicks that masked California's deep financial problems, the state's independent fiscal analyst said

CSU's new top administrator Timothy White: More money needed for education

Despite the governor's new budget plan and the passage of Proposition 30, California State University's top administrator says more money is

California's debt still a heavy cloud over state's future

Gov. Jerry Brown proclaimed last week that California, which now has enough cash to pay its day-to-day bills, can no longer be described by

Schools weigh how to spend new funds

After years of making difficult budget decisions, schools in San Diego County and California are in the unfamiliar position of deciding how to spend more money.

California educators look back at program

Santa Maria Valley district administrators, teachers and principals endorse research findings that standardized test results are not the

California teachers fund moves to divest from firearms

The nation's largest teacher pension fund took the first step Wednesday toward divesting from companies that make guns and high-capacity

Orange County districts question how new plan for neediest students will play out

Orange County school leaders reacted with a mix of enthusiasm and trepidation to Gov. Jerry Brown's plan to overhaul school funding

School funding overhaul key point in state budget

The governor’s proposal for streamlining the funding system for education has the hope of giving local control — but the details leave officials unsure of the possible impacts.

Perspectives on Governor Brown’s budget

The following are excerpts from statements issued by education leaders or from comments made in interviews with EdSource

Higher education and the California budget: Brown's plan offers more money for colleges

Gov. Jerry Brown's budget plan announced Thursday morning gives California's colleges and universities good news for the first time in years.

National response needed to protect children from gun violence

When will we ever learn? Almost a quarter century ago, California experienced the horror of an elementary school massacre when five children

Fremont kids help raise money for Make-a-Wish

Hundreds of students in Fremont wrote letters to Santa, asking him to grant a wish to sick kids as part of the Make-a-Wish campaign.

Denair Unified pushes ahead with cuts, layoffs

In an emotional board meeting under the critical eyes of hundreds of parents and community members, the Denair Unified School District board voted

Sac State students start getting Prop 30 refunds

Students at Cal State Sacramento started receiving refunds mandated by Proposition 30.

Parents help fund science teacher position

Parents at Woodland and Kaiser elementary schools started an experiment in 2010. Now, after two rounds of privately funding a dedicated science

LAUSD Faces Criticism For Plan To Buy iPads For 600,000 Students

Officials with the Los Angeles Unified School District Wednesday said a proposal to use bond money to purchase iPad tablet computers for every one

Teach for America coming to San Diego school for first time

San Diego's schools don’t know yet how much additional funding they can count on from Proposition 30’s new taxes. But schools trustees approved two

iPad use creates 'epiphany' for Granada Hills campus

Doing algebra problems in a math book? Taking a test with pencil and paper?
Raising a hand to ask a question? Those are so, well, old school.

New Student-Poverty Measures Proposed for National Tests

Aiming to get a clearer picture of how students' home and community resources affect their academic achievement, America's best-known K-12

American 4th Graders Among Top Readers in Global Study

The United States has gained ground against countries that are top performers in 4th grade reading, outscoring all but four in a widely watched

Credentialing commission imposes tougher test to become school administrator

Alone among states, California has permitted passing a primarily multiple-choice exam as one path to become a school or district administrator.

Calif sees fewer teachers as enrollment trends up

Years of pink slips have taken a toll on California's teachers to be sure, but the dim job market has also had an impact on people wanting to become

Legislative support elusive for adult ed funding plan

California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office says the state’s embattled adult education system needs a dedicated and permanent funding stream that can’t

Los Angeles teachers' evaluation victory bucks a trend

The recent groundbreaking agreement over evaluations for educators in the Los Angeles school district is a major victory for the teachers union

Woodland schools get back five days after Prop 30 passes

Woodland students will have five more days of school this spring thanks to Proposition 30 passing.

Deal would give Modesto City students more days of instruction

Modesto City Schools students will be in class three additional days under a tentative deal struck with teachers. Originally planned as furlough days,

Student achievement part of the payoff with big facilities investment

An investment over the past decade of nearly $20 billion by Los Angeles Unified School District in new schools and facilities has had a direct

Sacramento will be less late in paying schools, colleges and counties

California public schools, community colleges and counties will get an early holiday gift from the state: Sacramento will pay about $1.9 billion

Black boys see bleak future at school.

By kindergarten, 1 out of 4 African American boys in California is convinced he will fail in school, a self-fulfilling prophecy driven in

Democrats take the reins in a reshaped Legislature

State lawmakers were sworn in to a reshaped Legislature on Monday, with Democrats holding historic two-thirds supermajorities in both houses and

High school counselors find little time to counsel

Barbara Greenwood walked through the doors at Edison High School early Thursday morning and her daylong sprint began.

California Democrats ponder their new power

Once lawmakers are sworn in at noon Monday for the newest two-year session of the state Legislature, Democrats will push some old ideas - and use

Tidal wave of money coming to make California schools greener

During the fall campaign, California's attention was focused on the presidential race and Gov. Jerry Brown's tax measure. But in a historic,

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