Contact: Frank Wells (562) 942-7979 or cell (562)708-5425
BURLINGAME - A growing number of major California labor groups have joined educators in voicing opposition to harmful provisions of the proposed reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act. Key provisions of the law written by Representative George Miller and supported by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would pay and evaluate teachers based on student test scores, increase pressure on teachers to “teach to the test,” undermine local control of our public schools and weaken employee rights.
Among those that have passed resolutions opposing the measure as written are the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, the San Francisco Labor Council, the Sacramento Central Labor Council, the Napa-Solano Central Labor Council, and the Contra Costa Central Labor Council.
“California’s working men and women clearly understand what our congressional leadership does not,” said CTA President David A. Sanchez. “This proposed reauthorization of No Child Left Behind doesn’t help improve student learning and it will drive many teachers away from the schools and students who need the most help.”
"The Miller-Pelosi reauthorization for No Child Left Behind undermines basic employee rights and hurts students," said Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. "Organized labor is urging Congress to stop punishing schools and to give educators the resources and support they need to help students succeed.”
“No union should accept proposals that undermine fundamental rights and hurt children,” said Tim Paulson, Executive Director of the San Francisco Labor Council. “Teaching primarily for test scores will drive teachers away from the schools that need them most, and this will hurt working families and students across California.”
“Test scores should be for helping to identify students’ needs, not paying teachers,” said San Diego-Imperial Labor Council Secretary-Treasurer Jerry Butkiewicz. “Congress should focus on reforms that actually help students and protect worker’s rights.”
In addition to several major labor councils, dozens of individual unions representing law enforcement, firefighters, health care workers and others have voiced opposition to the reauthorization.