Choosing To Make a Difference
CTA is dedicated to promoting policies that improve public education such as more funding for our public schools and smaller class sizes, as well as fighting back attacks on education and teachers. At a time when big corporations and the wealthy few are rewriting the rules in their favor, these same entities are filing lawsuits and using their influence to change laws in an attempt to strip away our rights and silence our collective voice.
A voluntary member contribution of $20 a year has been established to help fight attacks on public education and to create a CTA foundation to provide more scholarships to members and support teachers’ ideas to improve public schools. The reverse-checkoff contribution is voluntary and flexible. Members are automatically enrolled in the default allocation of $15 to support CTA advocacy efforts and $5 to the CTA Foundation for Teaching and Learning.
CTA advocacy includes promoting policies to improve public education, such as additional funding for our public schools, smaller class sizes in all grades and affordable college for all students. It also includes fighting back attacks on teachers and public schools, such as massive budget cuts, voucher programs, and legislation to decrease education employees’ pensions or attack teachers’ professional rights.
The CTA Foundation for Teaching and Learning consists of the CTA Institute for Teaching (IFT) and the Scholarship and Grant Programs of CTA. IFT works to ensure that teachers have a decision-making role in efforts to improve public schools, with a mind toward creating better teaching and learning conditions in all schools and to help struggling students and schools.
The Grant Programs of CTA include: CTA Disaster Relief Program; CTA Scholarships for Members; CTA Scholarships for Dependent Children; L. Gordon Bittle Memorial Scholarships for Student CTA Members; Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Scholarships; CTA Cesar E. Chavez and Dolores Huerta Education Awards Program; and LGBTQ+ Safety in Schools Grant and Scholarship Program in Honor of Guy DeRosa.
No action on your part is needed to contribute the suggested amounts to support CTA advocacy efforts and the CTA Foundation. To reallocate or opt out of a portion or the full amount of your contribution, download the CTA’s Voluntary Member Contribution Change Form below.
Existing CTA members: The window to reallocate your contribution or opt out is August 1 to November 1, 2023. Note: Once a member contribution option is made, it will remain in effect until changed. Members provided refunds in the prior year will receive a refund in the current year once the open window period has closed.
New CTA members: You have 30 days from the date of enrollment to reallocate your contribution or opt out.
