Section 1.
The Association shall be affiliated with the California Teachers Association (CTA). The name of the Association is the Student California Teachers Association (SCTA). The name may be abbreviated as SCTA or Student CTA.
Section 2.
The Association shall be affiliated with the National Education Association Aspiring Educators. The unified name of the Association may be abbreviated as SCTA/NEA-AE.
Section 1.
Membership shall be available to students enrolled in California colleges, universities, and community colleges who are considering a career in public education.
Section 2.
Membership in good standing shall be established upon receipt by CTA of annual dues as set by the National Education Association Representative Assembly and the California Teachers Association State Council of Education for their respective student membership categories.
Section 3.
Members shall receive all privileges granted by the California Teachers Association Bylaws, unless otherwise specified.
Section 4.
Student membership shall be continuous after initial enrollment until delinquent or until a change in student status shall make the member ineligible for the student category. If by October 31 of any calendar year a member has not paid the established annual membership dues for the current membership year, then that person’s membership shall be considered delinquent and the name dropped from the rolls.
Section 5.
Upon signing a teaching contract or entering a paid internship program at a district, eligibility for SCTA membership is no longer available.
Section 1.
Duties and responsibilities of local chapters.
a. Each chapter shall have, and be regulated by, its own constitution and bylaws, subject to the provisions of the Student California Teachers Association Constitution and Bylaws.
b. Chapter constitutions and bylaws must be consistent with the principles and policies of the Student California Teachers Association, the California Teachers Association and the National Education Association.
c. Each chapter shall file a copy of its current constitution and bylaws with the state office of the Student California Teachers Association.
Section 2.
a. The SCTA Executive Board shall review chapter constitutions and bylaws for compliance.
b. Chapters with constitutions and bylaws found not in compliance shall be provided with a checklist to bring their documents into compliance.
c. Chapters refusing to take action to amend their constitutions and bylaws will be referred to the California Teachers Association Board of Directors.
Section 3.
Chapter charters may be revoked only for persistent violation of Student California Teachers Association, California Teachers Association and National Education Association principles and policies, subject to action by the CTA Board of Directors.
Section 1.
The Representative Assembly shall have the power to consider and determine matters of policy and positions affecting the interest, welfare, and direction of the Student California Teachers Association.
Section 2.
The Representative Assembly shall have the power to establish and abolish Association Standing Committees, Special Committees, and Task Forces.
Section 3.
The Representative Assembly shall elect voting members of the Executive Board.
Section 1.
a. The members of the SCTA Executive Board shall assume their official duties at noon on Sunday of the fourth (4th) CTA State Council (normally May/June).
b. All members of the Executive Board shall be and remain members in good standing of the Chapter, SCTA, CTA and NEA as a condition for nomination to and service in their respective positions.
Section 2.
a. Voting members of the SCTA Executive Board shall include: President, Executive Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, Northern Regional Vice President, Central Regional Vice President, Southern Regional Vice President, 3 Communications Editors, Social Justice Advocate, CTA State Council Representatives, SCTA members appointed as CTA liaisons and Ethnic Minority Representative.
b. Ex officio non-voting members of the SCTA Executive Board shall include: Past Officer and SCTA members holding an NEA committee position (elected or appointed).
c. Duties and responsibilities for all Board positions shall be as specified in the SCTA Standing Rules.
Section 3.
a. No individual may hold the same position for more than two years.
b. No individual may serve on the SCTA Executive Board for more than four years. Individuals may serve a fifth year in the capacity of CCTC Liaison, NEA Committee position or Past Officer.
c. Voting members of the Executive Board must carry at least six (6) units per semester/quarter with a GPA of 2.5 or better. Requirements may be waived by the SCTA Executive Board for special circumstances by a three-fourths (3/4ths) vote, subject to review by the CTA Board of Directors. Special circumstances may include but are not limited to early graduation, accident, serious illness, or death in the family, and financial hardships for one quarter/semester.
Section 4.
a. The Executive Board shall coordinate the activities of the Association.
b. The Executive Board shall be responsible for the implementation of the policies and positions of the Association and shall report upon its actions at each meeting of the Representative Assembly.
c. Between meetings of the Representative Assembly, the Executive Board shall act in the name of the Association in matters demanding immediate action on the part of the Association.
d. All Executive Board members shall be voting delegates to the Representative Assembly.
Section 5.
a. Executive board members of the SCTA may be impeached for violation of the SCTA Oath of Office or for failure to carry out Executive Board responsibilities as stipulated in SCTA Bylaws.
b. Impeachment proceedings.
- Impeachment proceedings against an executive board member shall be initiated by written petition submitted to the Executive Board signed and seconded by three fourths (¾’s) of the current Executive Board, or by a petition signed by 10% of the total membership of the SCTA.
- If, after a due process hearing, a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Board sustains the charge, the office shall become vacant.
- The executive board member may appeal the decision to the CTA Board of Directors.
Section 6.
An SCTA Executive Board member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Executive Board and verbal notice to the President. Any such resignation shall take effect on the date such notice is received or at any later time specified therein. The acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 7.
The SCTA Executive Board shall determine how to fill any vacancies other than president.
Section 8.
If an Executive Board member, other than the Past Officer, signs a teaching contract or becomes a paid intern during their term of office, that member shall be deemed to have resigned from all offices or positions held by that member effective immediately upon the assumption of full-time teaching duties.
Section 9.
A quorum for all meetings of the Executive Board shall consist of six elected voting members of the Executive Board.
Section 1.
The Executive Officers shall be the President, Vice-President, and Secretary/Treasurer and shall have the authority to conduct the business of SCTA between meetings of the Executive Board for purposes of planning and implementing policies and programs.
Section 2.
a. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association and its policy leader.
b. All candidates for SCTA President must have at least Junior academic standing by the fall term of the presidential year and have completed at least one full year of service on the SCTA state executive board.
Section 3.
The Executive Vice President shall assume the Presidency upon a vacancy of that office.
Section 1.
Any Student CTA member in good standing is eligible to serve as a delegate to the CTA State Council of Education.
Section 2.
a. Student CTA representatives on the CTA State Council of Education shall be elected by an all member secret mail ballot.
b. Student CTA representatives to the CTA State Council of Education and alternates shall be elected by plurality vote.
c. State Council Student CTA representative vacancies shall be filled by the next alternate.
d. Alternates shall be specified in the order of votes received.
Section 3.
The terms of office for Student CTA Representatives to the CTA State Council of Education shall begin at the conclusion of the fourth State Council meeting (normally May/June) until the conclusion of the fourth State Council meeting (normally May/June) of the following year.
Section 1.
a. The Past Officer shall serve as Chair of the Elections Committee and be responsible for the conduct of all nominations and elections.
b. The Past Officer shall not be a candidate for any position.
Section 2.
Election of Executive Board officers shall be conducted at the Representative Assembly.
Section 3.
Election of CTA State Council of Education Representatives shall be conducted by an all-member secret mail ballot.
Section 4.
Election of NEA Student Delegates shall be conducted by an all-member secret mail ballot.
Section 5.
a. The SCTA President shall recommend an Elections Committee, subject to the approval of the Executive Board, to conduct all elections of the Association.
b. No member serving on the Elections Committee shall be a candidate for any SCTA Board position.
Section 6.
The Executive Board shall adopt an Elections Policy/Procedures Manual setting forth the procedures for conducting elections.
Section 1.
a. Any Student CTA member in good standing is eligible to be a delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly. If the Past Officer runs for NEA Representative Assembly Delegate, they may not serve as elections chair for that election.
b. The delegate(s) representing Student CTA shall be elected by plurality vote by an all-member secret mail ballot.
Section 2.
In order to be a candidate as a delegate to the NEA Representative Assembly, an SCTA member must file a declaration of candidacy within the CTA published timelines.
Robert’s Rules of Order, the most current edition, shall be followed at all meetings of the Association, the Representative Assembly, and the Executive Board where not otherwise referenced in the SCTA governing documents (Constitution, Bylaws, Standing Rules and Elections Policy).
Section 1.
An amendment to the Bylaws may be proposed by a petition of a majority of members in a chapter or by a majority of the SCTA Executive Board.
Section 2.
Amendments proposed by a chapter must be submitted to the SCTA office no less than sixty (60) days prior to the meeting of the Representative Assembly.
Section 3.
Chapters shall be notified of any proposed amendment(s) at thirty (30) days prior to the meeting of the Representative Assembly.
Section 4.
An amendment shall be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3ds) vote of the Representative Assembly.
Section 5.
Any amendment receiving the necessary number of votes, and the approval of the Board of Directors of the California Teachers Association becomes effective immediately.
