FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sacramento – Acknowledging his withdrawal from the Democratic Presidential Primary, the California Teachers Association today credited Governor Howard Dean for driving the public education debate in the national primary.
"CTA supported Governor Howard Dean because he was the only candidate who made education a centerpiece of his campaign and who was willing to take on President Bush's flawed 'No Child Left Behind' strategy," said Barbara E. Kerr, president of the 335,000-member California Teachers Association.
"Governor Dean reflected the feelings of millions of teachers and parents when he called for major changes in NCLB. He understands that one size does not fit all when it comes to student learning," said Kerr. "Unless and until another candidate emerges who is willing to take up these issues and make public education a priority in the national debate, we encourage everyone who supported Governor Dean to cast their vote for him in the California Primary on March 2."
CTA's democratically elected State Council of Education voted to endorse Howard Dean last October. That position can only be changed by another vote of that body, which does not meet until the end of March.