Recent Media Coverage

California school boards and administrators have a new ally in their fight against the State Board of Education's decision this summer to require algebra for eighth-graders: teachers. The 340,000-member California Teachers Association has joined in a lawsuit to prevent the SBE's algebra mandate from being implemented by saying the panel overstepped its authority and made the decision "abruptly, imprudently and without fully understanding the consequences of its actions on our schools, teachers and students," CTA President David Sanchez said.

ABC quoted CTA members in this TV story prompted by a timely, in-depth article in CTA’s Educator magazine. The story concerns the “new poor” legions of public school students and teachers hurt by the mortgage foreclosure crisis, and how teachers are helping students cope. 

Pittsburg's teachers union and school district recently agreed to a four-year contract that will increase the district's contribution to health insurance premiums and provide for modest raises. The agreement, ratified by the union and district board members late last month, comes after more than a year of negotiations. The agreement includes a contract for the 2007-08 school year. The last one expired June 30, 2007. "I think it was the best agreement we could get at the time," said Eric Heins, bargaining chairman for the Pittsburg Education Association and a teacher at Willow Cove Elementary.

"I'm afraid I am not going to be able to make it," Cordeiro confessed. "My dream is not going to come true -- if this happens."  "This" is the proposed mid-year funding cuts to Merced College, which could lose up to $2.9 million if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's new budget proposal is passed by state legislators. For Cordeiro, Merced College is her lifeline, her chance at success. If student costs go up, she may have to drop out, and then who knows what will happen?

San Francisco teacher Mindy Yip sat cross-legged on the floor of the Visitacion Valley Elementary School multipurpose room with her first-grade students Monday morning, consoling a crying boy. They were among scores of students, teachers and parents watching as some of the most powerful people in the country, state and city passed a microphone back and forth, introducing each other and speaking to a bank of television cameras about the importance of education."

Bargaining discussions between the West Contra Costa school district and its teachers union are heating up, and pay isn't the issue of contention. The United Teachers of Richmond, whose three-year contract expired in June, met with district leaders late last week to discuss terms of a new agreement and the district's plans to reduce personnel costs amid the state budget crisis. Union President Pixie Hayward Schickele said she was "stunned" at the long list of cutbacks to teacher benefits proposed.?

California's largest teachers union will back a fight in court to overturn the state's new eighth-grade algebra requirement. The state board "acted abruptly, imprudently and without fully understanding the consequences of its actions on our schools, teachers and students," said David Sanchez, president of the 340,000-member association. "For our schools to begin now to prepare all eighth-graders to take the Algebra 1 exam, they must immediately hire about 3,000 more teachers and properly train about a thousand more who are either underprepared or teaching in another field."

This news clip features Modesto teacher Hope Franco-Carreno speaking on how foreclosures are affecting educators.

The California Teachers Association applauded Bass' efforts to avoid Schwarzenegger's proposed $2.5 billion cut this year in school funding. "At least she's looking at not cutting," spokeswoman Sandra Jackson said. "I think we should look at every (revenue) avenue possible."

Santa Rosa City Schools teachers raised concerns Wednesday that the district's newly adopted strategy for improving test scores may eventually limit instructors' freedom in choosing texts and crafting lesson plans.

The Governor's proposed mid-year budget cuts will certainly be painful for California schools. Educators are having a hard time imagining just how they're going to deal with cuts so deep. Any mid-year cuts to education would be felt as early as January. School districts would likely impose a spending and hiring freeze. Teachers' salaries and their jobs would not be affected. You see, teachers like most employees are under contract through June. Most of a district's budget, anywhere from 85 to 90 percent or more is dedicated to paying people. So what's left? The governor warns schools face between $2 and $4 billion worth of cuts. United Educators of San Francisco member Lita Blanc is quoted in video.

The weeks after an election are typically quiet at the state Capitol, but not this year. Governor Schwarzenegger has called the Legislature to a special session to deal with a new budget crisis. The governor's proposed solutions include both tax increases and spending cuts -- solutions that would touch almost everyone. CTA President David A. Sanchez was interviewed regarding the newly proposed cuts to education funding.

Pittsburg teachers went public again with their labor dispute Thursday, protesting the district's unwillingness to meet their demands concerning wages, health benefits and working conditions. After demonstrating at a school board meeting last week, members of Pittsburg Education Association reconvened in front of district headquarters to reiterate their desire for a 5 percent raise.

There could be a silver lining to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to slash education funding by at least $2 billion: It could boost support for Santa Clara County school districts seeking parcel taxes and bonds, campaign proponents said Wednesday. "It could help," said CTA state President David Sanchez, "if people know this is the only way to provide extra money to districts."