SACRAMENTO - The 330,000-member California Teachers Association is calling on members of the State Assembly to approve legislation (AB 2160) that would help improve student achievement by establishing a process to involve teachers in critical education decisions.
"CTA has worked with lawmakers to address every concern raised by opponents of this legislation and has accepted several amendments. However, school administrators and the California School Boards Association continue to refuse to offer any alternatives," said CTA President Wayne Johnson. "It's time for the Legislature to decide whether teachers should be full partners in California's public schools."
"School administrators keep saying they want teachers involved in these decisions, but that's the same lip service that frustrates teachers every day," continued Johnson. "Teachers know that the current system is flawed and want something that guarantees their views will be taken seriously."
As amended, AB 2160 establishes a decision-making process in the form of an "academic partnership" instead of collective bargaining that will involve local teachers in critical education decisions that affect their classrooms and will help teachers improve student achievement. Academic partnerships will consist of governing board representatives and teacher representatives. The partnerships will decide important educational issues such as teacher training, textbook selection, course content and curriculum. Parents can attend all partnership meetings and must participate on any workgroup created to study a selected issue. For more details of the amended bill visit www.ab2160.org.
"CTA sponsored this legislation because classroom teachers are frustrated at being held accountable for student performance, but are not provided any real say in decisions that directly impact student achievement. It makes sense for the professionals who work with kids every day to be involved in these decisions. And it makes sense for the Legislature and the governor to support this bill," said Johnson.
The Assembly could vote on AB 2160 this afternoon. The bill must be approved by Friday.