At its June meeting, CTA's State Council of Education took a position opposing the state's Academic Performance Index for public schools.
Delegates said the ranking system is "biased against minorities and economically underprivileged students."
In addition, Council decided to oppose the use of a state-mandated subject exam or end-of-course exam as the sole determinant for passing or failing a course.
Conducting Council business are (top row) CTA officers Wayne Johnson, Barbara E. Kerr and David A. Sanchez. Special guests include Senate Republican Minority Leader Jim Brulte (left) and Republican Assembly Member Abel Maldonado(below).
In his address at the June meeting, CTA President Wayne Johnson said the educational crisis in America and in California is "in schools that have the largest concentrations of poor children and English language learners."
Schools and teachers are being blamed for the state's failure to meet health, housing, nutritional and educational needs of 25 percent of the state's children.
Instead of giving schools credit for the successes of the rest of the kids, politicians simply advocate more assessment and teacher accountability as if they're the solution. "Teachers are not the problem. Teachers are working as hard as they can under miserable conditions, and being a lot more successful than conditions would dictate."
Teachers are taking the lead to "make our schools work for all of our kids." California, he said, must put more resources into schools of greatest need if it is going to meet the challenge to improve all of its schools.
In keeping with their desire to ensure education equity, Council delegates voted unanimously to oppose the Race, Ethnicity, Color or National Origin Initiative proposed for the March 2002 ballot, should it qualify.
UC Regent Ward Connerly, known for his effort to repeal affirmative action in California, now wants to prohibit state and local governments from using race, ethnicity, color or national origin to classify current or prospective students, contractors or employees.
Council also:
- Heard the results of CTA's poll of minority community views on California schools.
- Welcomed Senator Jim Brulte, the Republican Minority Leader, and Assembly Member Abel Maldonado, both of whom urged CTA to continue efforts to make education a bipartisan issue.
- Released the timeline and procedures for securing a CTA recommendation for candidates in the 2002 primary election.
- Approved a list of suggestions for districts wishing to offer programs providing teacher support as an alternative to peer assistance and review.
- Passed Bylaw Amendment C.
- Passed a budget for the coming year.
- Elected Jim Groth from the Chula Vista Education Association to the CTA/ABC Committee.
- Hosted a special luncheon to honor the winners of CTA's John Swett Award for Media Excellence.
- Honored the Capital Service Center Council for its exemplary minority outreach program.
- Recognized California's Teachers of the Year, two of whom - Adele Prince and Scott Malloy - were on hand to address the delegates.
- Recognized Guillermo Gomez as California's nominee for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence; State WHO Award winners; and outgoing NEA Executive Committee member Denise Rockwell (Woods), outgoing CTA Board Member David Lebow, and outgoing Council members.
