Contact: Mike Myslinski at 650-552-5324, 408-921-5769 (cell)
LOS ANGELES – Taking professional development to a new level, the California Teachers Association on Monday starts a week of dynamic training at UCLA for more than 240 teachers and school administrators from lower-performing schools across the state. Working side by side, participants are teaming up to improve student learning at the schools of greatest need targeted by the CTA-sponsored Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA).
The new law (SB 1133) provides $2.9 billion over seven years to nearly 500 schools statewide to reduce class sizes, hire additional counselors and provide quality training for teachers and principals. Later this summer, these schools will begin receiving their share of the $260 million going out during the first planning year of the program. In Los Angeles County, 121 schools will share $123 million this school year to build a program of sustainable school improvement to close student achievement gaps.
“We showed our strong commitment to improving student learning for all kids by securing the Quality Education Investment Act, and now we’re following through with this extraordinary week of training and collaboration at UCLA,” said David A. Sanchez, president of the 340,000-member CTA. “It will take all stakeholders – teachers, parents, administrators – to make this law work for our students who need help the most.”
The training is offered by the CTA Instruction and Professional Development Department and is part of CTA’s annual Summer Institute at UCLA for 900 teachers and education support professionals.
A sampling of the QEIA training highlights:
- An overview about QEIA’s potential and goals from experts speaking from 1-2:30 p.m. Monday, July 30, in the Grand Horizons Ballroom in Covel Commons at Sunset Village.
- Dr. Janet Zadina, a nationally known expert in how the brain affects student learning, will deliver the interactive keynote address from 9 a.m. to noon Tuesday, July 31, Grand Horizons Ballroom.
- Showing why collaborative leadership is vital to making QEIA work will be Lodi Education Association President Sue Kenmotsu and Lodi Unified School District Superintendent Bill Huyett; 10-30 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Aug. 2, Grand Horizons Ballroom.
For complete information about QEIA schools, how the law works, and the CTA training at UCLA, go to www.cta.org/issues/current/QEIA.htm.