Bulking up the picture for Prop. 49

CTA leaders, state PTA officers and local elected officials joined Arnold Schwarzenegger to put a little extra muscle behind the campaign for Proposition 49, the After School Initiative, in the weeks before the election.

Their efforts paid off. Prop. 49 won 57 percent of the vote.

"Teachers made a huge difference for Prop 49," says CTA President Wayne Johnson. "CTA helped develop the initiative and Schwarzenegger made it clear throughout the campaign that our support really pushed this measure toward success."

"I'm so grateful to CTA for being there with us on this from the beginning," said Schwarzenegger at press conferences held around the state before the election. The actor and former bodybuilder who sponsored the initiative said, "CTA represents the teachers who truly understand the importance of these programs."

"After-school programs provide caring and adult supervision," explained CTA Board Member Paul Markowitz at a Los Angeles news conference with Schwarzenegger. "They help students reach their full academic potential."

The theme was reiterated by CTA Board Member Diane K. Jones and San Diego Education Association Vice President Debra Redenbaugh at Schwarzenegger's San Diego news conference, where the initiative was endorsed by the city's mayor Dick Murphy and the entire San Diego County Board of Supervisors.

At all opportunities, Schwarzenegger stressed the positive impact after-school programs can have on academic performance, as well as their potential in reducing crime. Prop. 49, he added, would increase funding for after-school programs without taking anything away from regular school programs.

Prop. 49 was supported by a broad coalition of education, law enforcement and business groups.