CTA has launched a comprehensive media and legislative campaign to build awareness of the problems at schools with the lowest test scores and to focus state resources on improving student achievement in these schools.
"Helping these schools improve is CTA's top priority for the state budget," says CTA President Wayne Johnson. "Lawmakers have labeled these schools low- or under-performing, but we know that, in order to succeed, the students and teachers in these schools must have the same resources as those in schools with higher test scores."
A new study commissioned by CTA analyzed the API scores of each school in the state for the year 2000. It shows that the lowest-scoring schools face obstacles that higher-scoring schools do not. The lowest-scoring schools are overcrowded, have fewer credentialed teachers and have more students who are still learning to speak English.
As part of the outreach effort, Johnson, Vice President Barbara E. Kerr and Secretary-Treasurer David A. Sanchez will travel around the state to meet with teachers, parents, legislators and community organizations. CTA will kick off the No Child Succeeds Alone bus tour on April 16 in San Diego with additional stops in San Bernardino, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, Fresno, San Francisco and Sacramento over the next three days.
Local legislative and state lobbying efforts are also planned to impact the approval of the state budget in May. Several CTA Service Center Councils have already scheduled lobby days at the state Capitol and each CTA region will develop local legislative plans.
Johnson says schools with the lowest test scores must be given additional discretionary funding to reduce class sizes, increase parent involvement, repair school facilities, recruit and retain teachers, and enhance teacher training.