With Election Day around the corner – Monday is the last day to register to vote and voting by mail has already started – CTA has launched a statewide radio ad campaign urging voters to find out where candidates stand on education issues and then vote for candidates who make public education a priority and will fight for our students and schools.
“From the White House, to the state Legislature, to your local school board, the candidates you choose can help improve California public schools or set them behind,” says David A. Sanchez, president of the 340,000-member California Teachers Association, in the spot. “Find out where candidates stand on making public education a priority.”
Sanchez urges voters to find out where candidates stand on crucial issues such as providing adequate resources for smaller class sizes, competitive pay to “recruit and keep quality teachers,” and their willingness to change the flawed federal No Child Left Behind law that is failing our students.
People talking in the ad stress recent voter concerns such as the state budget battle. “I’m looking for candidates who will put our children first and make sure public schools get the resources they need,” one voter says. Another is seeking “state legislators who will pass a budget without borrowing against our future.”
Sanchez, who is bilingual, also speaks out in a Spanish version of the ad, making it clear whom to ask for guidance before voting on Nov. 4. “Para aprender más sobre los asuntos de importancia para nuestras escuelas públicas en estas elecciones, pregúntele a un maestro.” (“For more information on what’s important for our public schools in this election, ask a teacher.”)
The ads are airing through Election Day on 74 radio stations across the state, including several Spanish-language and Asian-language stations, in all media markets. To listen to the ads or learn about CTA’s positions on candidates and state ballot propositions, go to http://cta.org/media/broadcast/radio/.