The California Teachers Association exists to protect and promote the well-being of its members; to improve the conditions of teaching and learning; to advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education for all students; to ensure that the human dignity and civil rights of all children and youth are protected; and to secure a more just, equitable, and democratic society.

To fulfill its mission, the California Teachers Association pursues the following goals:

I. CTA plans and executes programs and strategies designed to enhance the quality of education for students and the professional and personal
lives of its members.

II. CTA assists its local chapters in bargaining for salaries and individual and employment rights in keeping with the academic and professional status of its members.

III. CTA represents members in governmental relations — to influence state and federal legislation and actions by state and federal agencies.

IV. CTA strengthens its role as the preeminent voice for public education in California — projects a strong, coherent and consistent image — such that its members play the major role in shaping public policy on education.

V. CTA represents members in professional and career development matters.

VI. CTA represents members and provides a program of economic benefits and resources for members.

VII. CTA works to maintain and expand its membership so as to remain effective in defending and advancing its members’ interests.

VIII. CTA maintains a governance system designed to achieve broad membership involvement and democratic decision-making.

IX. CTA works to encourage ethnic minority member participation.

X. CTA works to promote human and civil rights.

XI. CTA maintains staff, hired in conformance with affirmative action principles, to serve its members.

XII. CTA maintains internal and external communication systems to ascertain its members’ priorities, to keep its members informed, and to improve
its relations with the public.

XIII. CTA implements NEA policies within California and works to influence the development and content of those policies.

1. CTA Bylaw Amendment

CTA Bylaw Amendment – Article IX – Affiliates – Section 3 B – Governance Affiliates – State Affiliates – for final consideration by written ballot at the October 2020 State Council meeting.
(State Council Electronic Packet)

Recommendation: Commit to electronic ballot.

Presented by DeWayne Sheaffer
[June 2020]

2. Tier 1 interim congressional candidate recommendation

Interim candidate recommendations approved by the CTA board of directors – November 3, 2020 General Election

Congress:

District: CD 35
Candidate: Norma Torres (D)
Recommendation: Recommend

Tier 2 interim assembly candidate recommendation

Assembly:

District: AD 28
Candidate: Evan Low (D)
Recommendation: Recommend

District: AD 60
Candidate: Sabrina Cervantes (D)
Recommendation: Recommend

Recommendation: Ratify.

Presented by Roberto Rodriguez
[August, October 2020]

1. Priority Legislation Report

Approved the 2020 Organizational and Legislative Priorities. (Attachment “A”)

2. NBI 1/20-16 – Participation of Smaller Locals in Governance

State Council referred to the CTA Board of Directors NBI 1/20-16: That the CTA Board look at internal structures and procedures that disadvantage smaller locals from participating in state and national governance.

The Board did not approve NBI 1/20-16. The Representation Committee does not support structural changes to State Council representation but encourages greater outreach to smaller locals and consideration of options to be implemented within existing multiple group electoral districts.
[June 2020]

3. NBI 6/20-1- Addition of “Intersex” to Language

State Council referred to the CTA Board of Directors NBI 6/20-1: Move to add the word “Intersex” after Transgender to the existing language on page 292 of Health, Welfare, and Safety School-Based Health Clinics.

The Board referred NBI 6/20-1 to the Civil Rights in Education Committee.
[June 2020]

(Actions occurring after June 2020 State Council Meeting)

The CTA Board of Directors has approved the following recommendations of the CTA/ABC Committee

1. Allocated funds for the following Assembly and Senate Campaigns

(view PDF for full list and information)

2. Allocated funds for the following County/State Political Parties:

(view PDF for full list and information)

3. Allocated funds for the following Local Election Campaign

(view PDF for full list and information)

4. Allocated funds for the following Special Circumstances Grants

(view PDF for full list and information)

Kristin Montoya, Chairperson
Melody McGill, Vice Chairperson
Laura Araujo-Salinas, Secretary
Mike Patterson, Board Liaison
Patricia Rucker, Legislative Advocate
Christal Hall, Consultant
Wendy Lockhart, Consultant

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Major Policy– Second Reading

None

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items 

1. CITEA Liaison report, Ruth Leuvand: CITEA provides great training for teachers who are new to CTE and need to know all the precautions and safety measures that are so important working with dangerous equipment. CITEA also has a data driven report around the need for CTE training for people to get credentials that they will be releasing soon.

2. California Council on Adult Ed Liaison Margarita Ortiz: CCAE finally endorsed Proposition 15. Yay!

3. Association of Career and College Readiness Association, Melody McGill: They haven’t met yet but will next month.

4. CA Agricultural Teachers Association, Jennifer Parreas: CATA is thankful for the work that CTA has done. There are over 1,000 Ag teachers in CATA. They would like stronger language for CTE to accommodate all learners, including those not going to a 4 year college.

5. CTA Board Liaison Mike Patterson: Mike would like to thank CITEA for allowing them to do a keynote presentation at their annual meeting, which included information about Proposition 15, which CITEA has endorsed. Many of the schools in his board area that have opened have had to close again due to outbreaks. Please join a phone bank, etc. in the next 12 days to help Prop 15 pass. It’s going to be close!

6. Lance Gunnersen was elected as the CTE sub-committee chairperson.

7. The committee had a robust discussion about the need for more CTE pipelines and updated credentialing requirements.

David Lollar, Chairperson
Marina Santos, Vice Chairperson
Jason Chrest, Recorder
Greg Abt, Board Liaison
Norma Sanchez, Consultant
Kelly Iwamoto, Consultant
Brian Guerrero, Consultant
Patricia Rucker, Legislative Advocate

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– Second Reading

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

Approved by committee by unanimous consent without objection:

Item for Immediate Action: For CTA to advocate for the California Department of Education and State Board of Education to pursue a waiver on the required administration of state standardized tests in the spring 2021, excluding the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC).

Rationale: Given widespread inequities in student access to technology and the internet, as well as concerns about the validity and comparability of any data gathered from statewide summative testing administered remotely and taken under unknown and uncontrollable conditions, conducting state standardized testing in the spring 2021 would be detrimental to students and of limited use to teachers, schools and school districts. The exclusion of the ELPAC is to allow students to reclassify. Students must take the ELPAC as one of the requirements for reclassification.

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items

1. Committee Chairperson, David Lollar, welcomed new and returning committee members. AST Subcommittee sign-ups were conducted and David took nominations for CTA Member Lobby Program.

2. Board Liaison, Greg Abt, reinforced the important of the Member Lobby Program and invited committee members to participate in Prop 15 phone banking.

3. Chairperson began update on fall assessments. Consultant, Brian Guerrero, reported that, per CDE guidance, Initial ELPAC and voluntary make-ups for missed spring Summative ELPAC testing may be conducted in person or remotely, and that the testing window for administering Initial ELPACs to new students has been extended from 30 days to 75 days, with November 13, 2020 being the absolute state and federal deadline.

4. David and Brian shared their experiences at the California Assessment Conference, 2020 – excellent guest speakers (Doug Fisher and Jo Boaler) plus a number of useful sessions on CAASPP summative assessment, interim assessments, and formative assessment tools like the new Tools for Teachers.

5. David and committee Vice Chairperson, Marina Santos, led a discussion with committee members about challenges and frustrations with distance learning attendance and engagement records. Some districts seem to have integrated these requirements into their systems without adding undue burdens to teachers while other districts have added additional layers of new paperwork and workload. The requirement to track student engagement was written into SB 98 but different districts have interpreted their responsibilities differently. Some committee members expressed concerns about possible future penalties for those districts who may not be documenting attendance and engagement with enough detail.

6. Regarding spring testing, Brian shared that the federal DOE has stated that it will reject all requests for waivers for state testing but that several states have requested waivers anyway. California continues to move ahead with plans for state testing in the spring, although the CDE is considering remote, online administration of a shorter version of the CAASPP.

7. Finally, David shared that he had represented AST at a meeting of the Curriculum and Instruction Committee where they reviewed a draft of the upcoming California Comprehensive State Literacy Plan. Specifically, he looked at sections of the plan dealing with equity and assessment. He collected feedback from the committee and consultants will provide the feedback to C and I.

October 22, 2020
6:00–8:00PM
Webex

AGENDA

I. Call to order

II. Election of Vice Chair – Elections Committee

III. Report of the Chair, Leslie S. Littman

IV. Report of the Subcommittees

a. Budget Tracking

• i. Election of Subcommittee Chair
• ii. Budget Variance Reports

b. Interim Issues

• i. Election of Subcommittee Chair
• ii. Review Election Expense Reimbursements to Service Center Councils
• iii. NBI 6/19‐3 (New Professionals Dues Reduction)

c. Procedures/Format

• i. Election of Subcommittee Chair
• ii. January Managers Budget Hearing – Planning
• iii. Strategic Budget Survey Report
• iv. Budget Forum Moderation

V. Committee as a Whole

a. Working Draft Budget 2021‐22

b. Roundtable Service Center Councils Recap

c. Membership Engagement Grants

d. Review of August 2020 Budget Committee Orientation

A Budget Forum will be held 8:00 to 9:00 PM via Webex

Taunya Jaco, Chair
Sarah Robinson, Vice Chair
Erik Bienke, Recorder
Telly Tse, Board Liaison
Lisa Adams, Staff Consultant
Kenya Spearman, Staff Consultant
Seth Bramble, Legislative Advocate

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

P. 271 Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Studies

CTA believes participation in Ethnic Studies has positive effects on the overall achievement of all students. Providing Ethnic Studies curricula facilitates engagement with academic skills related to study of race and equity. This in turn benefits performance in other academic areas and promotes a positive academic identity for students. The positive benefits include widening cultural awareness and strengthening knowledge of the foundational ideals of equality upon which democracy is built. CTA believes in celebrating diversity and its commitment to Ethnic Studies.

CTA believes that we have a duty to teach our youth about their ancestral legacies, that culture is essential in the fight for racial justice and equity, and that it is the right of all (pre-K-14) students in California to have access to quality Ethnic Studies curriculum. CTA believes that Ethnic Studies is the interdisciplinary study that centers Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, Chicanx/Latinx, Central American, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Middle Eastern/ North African, Arab American, and Africana/Black/African Americans who have experienced, survived, and resisted settler colonialism, racism, hegemonic systems and structures of oppression. Students in these courses will study topics through the intersectional lenses of race, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality, ability, language, immigrant status, and class.

Using Ethnic Studies epistemology, content, and pedagogy, Ethnic Studies aims to educate students to be socially, politically, and economically conscious of their personal connections to local and (trans)national histories. Students will analyze indigeneity, aspects of decolonization, white supremacy, oppression and privilege, and work towards empowering themselves as anti-racist leaders who engage in social justice activism.

Reflection, Naming, Dialogue and Action drives the learning and supports the belief that each person has important narratives, stories, and voices to share. Students will have the opportunity to cultivate intersectional solidarity with groups of people, locally and (trans)nationally, to foster active community responsiveness, social engagement, radical healing, and critical hope.

CTA believes that every Ethnic Studies lesson must include the guiding principles and values of Ethnic Studies, which are to:

1. Cultivate empathy, community actualization, cultural perpetuity, self-worth, self-determination, and the holistic well-being of all participants, especially Native People/s and people of color;

2. Celebrate and honor Native People/s of the land and communities of color by providing a space to share their stories of struggle and resistance, along with their intellectual and cultural wealth;

3. Center and place high value on pre-colonial, ancestral, indigenous, diasporic, familial, and marginalized knowledge;

4. Critique empire, white supremacy, anti-Blackness, anti-Indigeneity, racism, patriarchy, cisheteropatriarchy, capitalism, ableism, anthropocentrism, and other forms of power and oppression at the intersections of our society;

5. Challenge imperialist/colonial hegemonic beliefs and practices on ideological, institutional, interpersonal, and internalized levels;

6. Connect ourselves to past and contemporary resistance movements that struggle for social justice on global and local levels to ensure a truer democracy;

7. Conceptualize, imagine, and build new possibilities for post-imperial life that promote collective narratives of transformative resistance, critical hope, and radical healing.

Rationale: To pursue CTA’s goal of having ethnic studies available for all of California’s students, it is vital that we have a well-developed curriculum. This policy outlines the guiding principles that should be the foundation for any adopted ethnic studies curriculum. This policy will give our legislative advocates guidance as they continue to advocate for legislation surrounding ethnic studies as well as serve as a demonstration of CTA’s commitment to the curriculum

P. 388-389 School-to-Prison-Pipeline and Incarceration

CTA opposes policies and practices that support institutionalized racism, white privilege, white supremacy, poverty, disproportionality in school suspensions and expulsions, physical violence against our students, and other factors leading to the criminalization and demoralization of students. In addition, CTA opposes police brutality against our students, excessive investment in the prison-industrial complex, institutional inequity in the distribution of resources, and school environments that are becoming increasingly similar to prisons with tracking devices in student IDs, surveillance cameras, metal detectors, armed and militarized guards on campus, etc. CTA believes that schools should be places where all students feel safe and supported and not targeted by the police. CTA denounces police brutality. CTA supports the investment in wrap-around services, such as counselors, support staff, social workers, and mental health supports. CTA further believes that all stakeholders should be actively involved in making data-driven decisions on what community supports are needed and how monies will be allocated to fund them.

Rationale: Given recent events and the current climate, it is imperative that CTA take a firm position on police brutality, as well as examine the relationship that our schools have with law enforcement. We want to support a community schools model, which brings in all stakeholders of the community to make decisions about what is needed and the best approaches for addressing the needs of students, families, and schools within the community.

Major Policy– First Reading

P. 367 Discipline Order and Safety Required for Learning

4. State and local government must assume full responsibility for providing personnel and wrap-around law enforcement services in and near our schools including providing safe routes to school for pedestrians and bicyclists

Rationale: It is imperative to take a proactive approach in supporting a community schools model, which brings in all stakeholders of the community to make decisions about what is needed and the best approaches for addressing the needs of students, families, and schools within the community.

P. 322-323 School Closures

CTA believes that school closures are disruptive and detrimental to the education of students, and to the communities in which they are located.

CTA also believes that, in certain circumstances, school closures may be necessary such as, after a natural disaster, a public health crisis or political/social unrest. Whenever school closures are considered by school districts, all stakeholders must be engaged in the process, including a school district advisory committee as outlined in the California Education Code. These decisions should not be made unilaterally by school districts. The decision to close and/or reopen schools in person or virtually should always be made in an equitable way that addresses the needs and concerns of all stakeholders.

Rationale: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused school districts to make emergency changes in instruction and services. There is a need to revise policy to provide guidance for implementing safe and equitable changes to instruction and services.

P. 281-282 Funding of Public Education (Pre-K-14)

CTA supports the closing of tax loopholes that allow wealthy individuals and/or corporations to avoid taxation.

CTA believes public schools in California should be funded on per-pupil basis in the top quartile of the fifty (50) states.

The funding of public education should be based, where feasible, upon the principle of progressive taxation.

Rationale: Closing tax loopholes that allow wealthy individuals or corporations to avoid taxation is essential towards our goal of progressive taxation to properly fund public education.

P. 292 School Based Health Clinics

CTA believes comprehensive school-based health care clinics are needed to bring caring and responsive services to young people. The clinics shall provide cisgender, transgender, intersex, and non-binary youth equal and confidential access to a broad range of physical, mental and behavioral services, and decision-making rights for students and their families.

Rationale: Acting on NBI 6/20-1 from SOGIIAC, CRE is recommending adding language that is more representational regarding gender and gender identity.

P. 319 Impact of Homelessness and Poverty on Children and Youth

CTA believes in the right of all children and youth, including those without permanent legal address, to an education, adequate housing, and health care. Because poverty negatively impacts children’s ability to learn and deprives them of the opportunity for academic success, schools and community groups should work cooperatively to meet the needs of homeless and impoverished children and youth. CTA also believes homelessness does not equate to abuse or neglect and that families should be supported in their attempts to avoid eviction and/or foreclosure.

Rationale: During this pandemic, it is critical that families are supported to avoid homelessness so that students can remain in school.

P. 365 Community Schools

Community Support Services – Community schools recognize that students often come to school with challenges that impact their ability to learn, explore, and develop in the classroom. Because learning does not happen in isolation, community schools provide meals, health care, mental health counseling, and other services before, during, and after school. These wrap-around services are integrated into the fabric of the school. Therefore, it is critical that the school is staffed with an appropriate amount of counselors, nurses, and support staff. Connections to the community are critically important so support services and referrals are available for families and other community members.

Rationale: Now more than ever, we must ensure that our schools are adequately staffed to support the health and social-emotional needs of all students.

P. 390 School Vouchers

CTA supports a moratorium on all school voucher programs.

CTA believes federal- or state-mandated parental options plans for private schools, that include the use of public funds directly or through vouchers, compromise free, equitable, universal and quality public education for every student.

Rationale: Private schools that use publicly-funded vouchers that have continued to function during the current COVID-19 pandemic have further harmed our students and contributed to the public health crisis in our communities.

Major Policy– Second Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

Letter to Call for Action from CTA President and representatives of CTA to Federal Officials, Senators, House Representatives, State Governor, and other appropriate government officials to support the passage of the Federal 2nd CARES Act to support the expanded expenses of schools and districts.

Rationale: The first Federal CARES Act funding was for the first 3 months of this pandemic. Districts and schools are running out of these funds and need further support from the State and Federal Department of Education.

Matters Pending

June 16-17, 2020 CTA Board of Directors Meeting
From the June 2020 State Council Meeting

CTA African American Caucus Call to Action

The California Teachers Association African American Caucus and its members have experienced oppression and racism in this country, in this state and within the power structure of this organization, for many years.

Our strength and resolve to endure in the face of injustice, is no more and today we demand action.

The merger of the American Teachers Association (ATA) and National Education Association (NEA), can trace the historical injustices faced by those who surrendered so that the NEA could and remains in existence. Today the NEA boasts being the largest labor union in the nation. It must not be lost that the compromise of that merger DID NOT include the systematic push out of educators of color, nationwide. The merger DID NOT intend to segregate educators of color to the most impoverished areas of this country to deliver instruction to what many describe as the most impoverished students. The merger DID NOT intend to allow California to historically miss the mark on achieving the 3-1(g) goal because of a structural deficit that undermines accomplishment. While many organizations, across the world, recognize and grieve with Black people, it is time to DO THE RIGHT THING! In 1989, in the fictional film by Spike Lee, with the same title, we witnessed Radio Raheem be smothered to death by a law enforcement agent while claiming I CAN’T BREATHE. In 2014, in real life, we witnessed Eric Garner render the same fate as Raheem…proclaiming, I CAN’T BREATHE before his life was extinguished. Even more recently, we saw George Floyd, pleading for his life and uttering the same words…I CAN’T BREATHE, before dying at the hands of a law enforcement agent (while others looked on).

Now, like all the times before when law enforcement agents used deadly force to execute their sworn responsibility; we say Enough is Enough and we demand accountability.

The CTA African American Caucus calls on the California Teachers Association for immediate action to begin the restoration of communities and school campuses statewide.

We call for:

a. The creation and implementation of policy that denounces police brutality;

b. The creation and implementation of policy that encourages restorative practices rather than law enforcement on school campuses in California;

c. The creation and advocacy for legislation calling for accountability of law enforcement agents who exercise excessive force;

d. Ethnic Studies to be infused in all curriculum taught in California schools, starting in the Fall 2021;

e. The necessary steps to be taken to advocate for Implicit Bias training as a credentialing requirement for those seeking credentials in California beginning January 1, 2021.

f. Investigation of the structural deficits that enable California to historically fail to accomplish the 3-1(g) goal. Take action to revise the existing model to ensure achievement of the 3-1(g) goal in preparation for the 2021 NEA Representative Assembly and beyond

g. The development and implementation of racial justice trainings on anti-racist teaching, that is member led and available for educators, staff and management at every CTA level (state, region and locally).

If CTA is truly “grieving and outraged by the hateful racism and white supremacy that continues to terrorize our communities of color”… and “the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor; we must confront the institutional racism that exists in our systems and structures”… NOW.The California Teachers Association is hereby challenged to lead the way of Racial and Social Justice in education in California.

In the fell clutch of circumstance…. yet unbowed.

“a” and “b” – Refer to the Civil Rights in Education Committee.

Informational Items 

1. CRE approved a letter to be forwarded to President Toby Boyd regarding the CDE’s Ethnic Studies Curriculum Framework.

2. Taunya Jaco, NEA Board (Written report was provided electronically)

a. The NEA Board approved $4.5M expenditure to CTA to support Prop 15.

b. Provided information regarding support of Joe Biden for President of the USA.

c. Shared information about the Safe and Just Schools Partnership Funding grant.

d. All NEA conferences will be held virtually through March 2021. See conference schedule here.

e. Shared the Santa Clara County and Central Coast SCC Facebook group

3. C. Scott Miller, Equality California

a. October is National LGBTQ+ History Month. This was created in the 1990s by openly gay NEA member, Rodney Wilson (MO) after suffering harassment by colleagues and the school community.

b. Governor Newsom appointed Martin Jenkins as CA’s first openly LGBTQ+, African-American Supreme Court Justice.

c. Equality California was successful in getting 4 bills signed this legislative term.

• i. SB 1255 – The Equal Insurance HIV Act
• ii. SB 932 –LGBTQ+ Health Bill
• iii. SB 132 – Transgender Civil Rights – Incarceration/Housing
• iv. SB 145 – Sex Offender Registry

4. On November 10, 2020, the chairs and representatives of the Early Childhood in Education, Civil Rights in Education, School Safety and School Management, and Student Support Services will meet to continue work on Interrupted Learning.

5. Seth Bramble, CTA Legislative Advocate

a. Passed and signed by Governor Newsom:

• i. AB 1196: Ban police choke holds
• ii. AB 1506: Neutral investigations for police use of deadly force
• iii. AB 2542: Racial Justice Act
• iv. AB 3121: Taskforce to investigate reparations for African Americans

James Benanti, Chairperson
Randa Wahbe, Vice Chairperson
Tyra Weis, Recorder
Gayle Bilek, Board Liaison
Jonathan Goldman, Consultant
Claudia Briggs, Consultant

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

None

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items 

1. Chairperson James Benanti called meeting and welcomed new members to this year’s Communication Committee following the playing of the latest ads promoting Prop. 15 and Prop. 16. View the full listing of those ads here.

2. Vice Chairperson Randa Wahbe discussed the latest update on the Communications Awards. She made the motion on behalf of the leadership team to extend the awards deadline to January 11, 2021 in order to provide additional time for Chapter Presidents to enter. With no objections from the committee, the judging has been postponed to the next State Council in January. Guidelines and the nomination form can be found online.

3. Board Liaison Gayle Bilek reported on two Standing Rules in the CTA Organizational Handbook – 7-6: Communication Committee and 8-8: Communications Advisory Committee. Gayle reminded the committee to review the policies and procedures laid out as well as reiterated the purpose of the Communications Advisory Committee. She also reminded the committee about signing up to phone bank on regional nights. (Region 1 – OCT 26 | Region 2 – OCT 27 | Region 3 – OCT 28 | Region 4 – OCT 29) You can register here.

4. Associate Executive Director Becky Zoglman discussed the statuses of several campaign ads currently running and the effectiveness of targeted messaging. CTA’s Educators for Equity campaign was created to help boost support for propositions 15 and 16, with targeted messaging in communities of color. Radio ads for Prop. 15 are airing statewide. TV ads are airing in Los Angeles. There are also ads in 11 languages in more than 60 newspapers and online ads. With Election Day around the corner, Becky encouraged members to go out and vote as well as asked for volunteers to help phone banking for the final push.

5. The committee also reviewed the findings from CTA latest poll of parents and voters about COVID-19 and returning to schools. Among them: for California parents and voters, the only source they trust more than teachers about when it’s safe to return to schools is Dr. Fauci. See that and other findings about where Californians stand on getting back to school safely.

6. Communications Manager Jonathan Goldman reviewed new sections, updates, analytics and features of www.cta.org. Since launching on May 1, 2020, the website has hosted more than 285,000 users, with nearly 900,000 page views and 55% of views happening on mobile devices. Our Chatbot (look in the bottom right corner of the website) has received more than 2,750 questions, and the three most visited pages are: Black Lives Matter, Election 2020 and COVID-19. With the first two phases nearing completion, Phase 3, which will focus on personalized content delivery, will begin after the election.

7. The committee also reviewed new sections including the new home for the California Educator and received links for the Campaign 2020 Toolkit, the COVID-19 Resources Page, Leader Resources, and the new Event Calendar Section.

8. Digital Editor Rachel Warino from the web team reviewed the new Event Calendar Section and features. Visitors to cta.org/calendar can now search for events with expanded filters including event type, topic and location. Visitors can also add events from the cta.org/calendar to their own personal calendars and devices through robust and customized functionality. The website team also reviewed these options and highlighted the calendar help page which includes FAQs, how-to’s, and tutorials on search and “Add To Calendar” functionalities.

9. Communications Assistant Manager Claudia Briggs shared information about the robust collection of resources created by the Communications Department and TID Division on COVID-19 and the Election 2020 encouraging committee members to explore and download. Committee members discussed the various ways in which they can Get Out the Vote in the remaining days leading to the election. They were also encouraged to review the Communications Wrap-Ups being compiled since the beginning of COVID-19 in March detailing stories of members’ heroic acts throughout the pandemic lockdown—pivoting to digital learning, serving meals, locating students, celebrating graduations in a new way, summer programs, Back to School, and more; all while caring for their own families

Ryan Ruelas, Chairperson
Chandra McPeters, Vice Chairperson
Angela Der Ramos, Recording Secretary
Christopher Bushée, Board Liaison
Adam Ebrahim, Consultant
Rosemary Louissaint, Consultant
Isabelle Garcia, Legislative Advocate

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Major Policy– Second Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

None

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

A. Referral: Removal of Barriers to get access to Credentialed Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teachers:

Referral from a liaison to the State Board of Education recommends the CPD and Adult, Alternative, and Career Technical Education (ACT) committees work together with the California Department of Education (CDE) to discuss ways to remove barriers in order to get access to credentialed teachers for CTE. Ryan Ruelas recommended that the CPD consultant work with ACT consultant to gather information about the matter to report back to the CPD Committee during the next State Council of Education meeting.

B. Referral: Item 5 Implicit Bias Training as a Credential Requirement Referral from the African American Caucus was directed to a workgroup, including Student California Teachers Association (SCTA) California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) liaison representative and CPD staff, to conduct inquiry into key considerations related to Implicit Bias and credentialing and report back to the CPD Committee during the next State Council of Education meeting.

Informational Items 

1. The Credentials and Professional Development Committee (CPD) Chair, Ryan Ruelas, welcomed new members and provided an overview of the key functions of the CPD Committee. Subcommittee chairs also provided an overview of each subcommittee.

2. Ryan Ruelas provided information on Proposition 15 and urged members to volunteer to phone bank and support statewide efforts. CTA Board Liaison to CPD, Christopher Bushée, also urged the importance of Proposition 15 and urged members to volunteer to phone bank. CPD Consultant, Adam Ebrahim, shared information on the process for providing feedback on the Draft California Comprehensive State Literacy Plan. CPD Consultant, Rosemary Louissaint, shared the report of the past legislative session and discussed the process to sign-up for lobby day.

3. CPD Committee members moved into virtual breakout rooms to discuss teacher training resources that were reviewed by members of a Teacher Support Team for the Leveraging Positive Change subcommittee of the Governor’s Task Force on Business & Jobs Recovery. CPD members returned from breakout rooms and shared resource strengths and areas of improvement along with ideas for connecting members to resources.

4. Chandra McPeters shared an update on the California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTPs) Refresh Workgroup, emphasizing the work was focused on improving existing CTSPs as opposed to fully revising them.

5. The Committee received reports from liaisons to the State Board of Education, the California Science Teachers Association, the Commission on Teacher Credentialing, and Student CTA. Chandra McPeters shared that she has applied for a vacant seat on the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

6. Adam Ebrahim, shared links to the documents and forms for providing feedback on the Draft California Comprehensive State Literacy Plan.

7. Ryan Ruelas encouraged members to think about ideas and goals for CPD this year and adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m.

Pia VanMeter, Chairperson
Karin Barone, Vice Chairperson
Mel House, Board Liaison
Marlene Fong, Consultant
Bruce Saathoff, Consultant
Isabelle Garcia, Legislative Advocate

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– Second Reading

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

None

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items 

1. The chair Pia VanMeter provided an orientation of the scope of work for the Curriculum and Instruction Committee and explained the subcommittee structure for members to select from based on their area of interest.

2. Pia gave the committee an update of the committee’s summer activities.

• Curriculum and Instruction leadership was involved in COVID-19 discussion around school closures and distance learning.
• A subcommittee of C and I and CRE members was convened to review and make recommendations on the second draft of the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum.

3. Bruce Saathoff committee consultant referred to the interim positions on legislation that will be approved in the general session on Saturday.

4. Isabelle Garcia legislative advocate informed the committee that a new cycle of bills will be coming out in January, 2021.

5. Mel House, CTA Board liaison, emphasized the importance of the upcoming election and reminded everyone to vote. She also encouraged members to sign up for phone banks for Proposition 15 next week.

6. The committee reviewed and made recommendations on the Draft California Comprehensive State Literacy Plan.

7. A subcommittee committee reviewed a draft for the revision of the Math Framework and is seeking additional meeting time to do a more comprehensive review of the document prior to the January State Council.

8. Marlene Fong committee consultant talked about the IPD webinars designed to support CTA members on distance learning. She also let members know that applications are now open to apply to be a presenter at the Good Teaching Conferences and the New Educators Conferences.

9. The subcommittee will review the environmental science curriculum at its January meeting.

Paula Merrigan, Chairperson
Wendy Colson, Vice Chairperson
Paula Keen, Recorder
Denise Bradford, Board Liaison
Michael Stone, Consultant
Kei Swensen, Consultant
Toni Trigueiro, Legislative Consultant

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

None

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items 

1. Paula Merrigan, ECE Committee Chairperson, welcomed the new CTA Board Liaison and Committee members remotely. She explained how the meeting would work including committee elections and gave the following reports:

a. There are two opportunities for members to support Prop 15: phone banking and postcards writing. You’ll hear more at your District meeting on Saturday and during the General Session but the phone banking dates are:

Region 1: 10/26
Region 2: 10/27
Region 3: 10/28
Region 4: 10/29

b. Early Childhood Policy Council (ECPC) update: The group met three times since June for input on Early Childhood Education Master Plan. The Master Plan was supposed to go into effect in October but has been postponed due to everything going on in CA (pandemic/fires). Last meeting an emphasis was placed on our youngest children going underserved in the early learning and care sector, especially since COVID started. Day Care centers are closing.

c. UC Berkeley has prepared the California Early Care and Education Workforce Study specifically for TK teachers in the state. Its purpose is “to inform policies to support the needs of early education teachers” during the pandemic.

d. Early Start Program (which is California’s early intervention program for infants and toddlers with disabilities) has reported decreased referrals to Regional Centers. This link takes you to the DDS site with links for services to support families who would benefit from their services.

2. Toni Trigueiro, Legislative Advocate.

a. CTA, CSEA, CFT, CSBA, and Early Edge are all meeting with Assembly person McCarty to discuss transitional kindergarten.

b. Early Edge wants to pull together a summit to include Foundations and labor groups, to discuss funding for ECE in early January/February.

c. 2021-2022 State Budget Update: The budget is facing a $12.5 B to $20 B deficit unless there is intervention from the Federal Government or Prop 15. If the Governor recommends the same solutions to the budget shortfall as he did in the May 2020 Revise, which was a 10% reduction, this could result in 50K layoffs and RIFs in February.

3. CTA Board Liaison, Denise Bradford

a. Prop. 15-Board members have sign-ups for online phone banking. We will be calling other CTA members. Every call makes a difference. According to the Public Policy Institute: Among likely voters, 49 percent are in favor, 45 percent oppose, and 6 percent are undecided.

4. Liaisons to the Committee reported as follows:

a. California Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC) – Yvonne Molles: No report due to meetings being postponed until January 2021.

b. California Kindergarten Association – Angela Schut: No report.

c. First Five California – Monique Segura: No report.

d. California State PTA – Chelsea Jones: No report.

5. Staff Reports

a. Political Data Inc. Vote Tracker: Sign up for your School Board race or any other race you are interested in.

Jeanne Marks, Chairperson
Manny Lopez, Vice Chairperson
Jerry Eaton, Board Liaison
Sandra Jones, Co-Consultant
Peg Tracey, Co-Consultant
Jim Rogers, Co-Consultant

Recommendations to the Board

None

Informational Items

1. Upcoming special elections to complete an unexpired term:

NEA Director, District 5
Term of office: Date of election – June 25, 2022

NEA Director, District 12
Term of office: Date of election – August 31, 2023

CTA/ABC Committee Member, District J
Term of office: Date of election – June 25, 2021

CTA/ABC Committee Member, District N
Term of office: Date of election – June 25, 2021

2. Future elections for this year:

• CTA President
• CTA Vice President
• CTA Secretary-Treasurer
  • Term of office: June 26, 2021 – June 25, 2023

NEA Director

• District 2
• District 7
• District 8
• District 9
• District 11
• District 14
• District 15
• District 16 (Statewide)
  • Term of office: September 1, 2021 – August 31, 2024

Grant Schuster, Chairperson
Steven Comstock, Vice Chairperson
Erika Jones, Board Liaison
Dave Brown, Consultant
Angela Su, Consultant
Dan Koen, Consultant
Katie Hardeman, Advocate

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Major Policy– Second Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

None

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

A. Policy Subcommittee to further consider policy on state categorical programs in the LCFF world.

Informational Items

1. FPE Chairperson Grant Schuster welcomed new committee members, alternates and visitors and pledged his participation in phone banking.

2. Board Liaison Erika Jones encouraged all participants to sign up for Prop 15 phone banking.

3. Legislative Advocate Katie Hardeman provided an overview of the last legislative session and a preview of some considerations for the 2021-22 state budget.

4. Dan Koen reviewed the Long-Term Public Education Funding Plan.

Chaz García, Chairperson
Yolanda Tamayo, Vice Chairperson
Corey Moore, Recorder
Eva Ruíz, CTA Board Liaison
Tomás Martínez, Consultant
Norma Ortiz, Consultant
Isabelle García, Legislative Advocate

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

None

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items 

1. The Committee reviewed a draft of the California Comprehensive State Literacy Plan and will be providing the Curriculum and Instruction Committee with concerns and recommendations.

2. Eva Ruiz, CTA Board Liaison to LNG presented her board report, which included information on Proposition 15 and she shared opportunities that exist to engage in phone banking as we continue to work towards passing Proposition 15.

3. The Committee welcomed Isabelle Garcia, CTA Legislative Advocate. She provided an update on legislative issues.

David Goldberg, CTA Vice-President
Sergio Martinez, Chair, Agency Review
Mike Patterson, Vice-Chair, Agency Review
Denise Bradford, Member
Telly S. Tse, Member
DeWayne Scheaffer, Member
Efrain Mercado Jr., Legislative Advocate/Liaison Program Coordinator
Dawn Basurto, Liaison Committee Staff Support

Sergio Martinez called the meeting of the Liaison Committee to order.

Liaison Committee of the Whole

The CTA Liaisons were given a refresher on the Nuts and Bolts of the Liaison program as well as their responsibilities as a CTA Liaison. The training was conducted by Efrain Mercado and Dawn Basurto, CTA Liaison Program Staff. David Goldberg, CTA Vice-President discussed the importance of getting Proposition 15 passed. Liaisons were asked to phone bank on October 26.

Several of our Liaison Agencies have endorsed Proposition 15. (CABE, California School Nurses, California School Library Association, California Industrial and Technical Education Association, Californian’s Together, California Alliance for the Arts Education, Consumer Federation of California, California Council for Adult Education, California Association of School Counselors, and California Community College Board of Governors, who has adopted a resolution in support.)

We welcomed our newest Agency to the Liaison program, California Educators of the Deaf.

Summary of Reports

CITEA did a write up and CTA was integral in getting CTEIG and Strong Work Force funds to help stop cuts to CTE funding. In addition, CITEA sent a letter to O’Donnell (Strong CTE supporter) now looking into where these funds are being used.

Informational Items ~ (Conferences)

The California Association of School Psychologist is having their board meeting and conference this coming weekend.

Kyna Collins, Chairperson
John Havard, Vice-Chairperson
Andrea Clarke, Recorder
Jessie Aguilar, Board Liaison
Vern Gates, Consultant
Brian Breslin, Consultant
Seth Bramble, Legislative Advocate

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Major Policy– Second Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

None

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items 

1. Go Dodgers!

2. The committee reviewed relevant Covid-19 related bargaining materials and discussed bargaining safety provisions, including Covid-19 testing.

Shay Lohman, Chairperson
Karen Ridley, Vice Chairperson
Roberto Rodriguez, Board Liaison
Jerome Rice, Recording Secretary
Teri Holoman, Consultant
Michael Borges, Consultant
Toni Trigueiro, Legislative Advocate

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Major Policy– Second Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

A. Ratify approval of a support position for Proposition 16.

B. Ratify interim authorization to spend up to $7.5 million from the Initiative Fund to support CTA positions on the November 2020 ballot.

For the official title, summary, and arguments of qualified initiatives, please visit the California Secretary of State’s website at sos.ca.gov.

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items 

1. Chair, Shay Lohman welcomed new PIC leadership and members and urged the committee to be involved in passing Prop. 15 in the days before the election. Volunteer to phone bank here.

The Chair also asked members to start talking about the Chapter/Member-in-Politics Awards with members and chapters that were active in campaigns this year.

2. Board Liaison, Roberto Rodriguez encouraged the committee to participate in the Prop. 15 phone banks.

3. CTA/ABC Chair, Wendy Eccles presented the CTA/ABC report to the Committee.

4. Associate Executive Director of GR, Teri Holoman discussed CTA’s legislative work and budget goals, and updated the committee on the external Prop. 15 campaign efforts.

5. Political Manager, Michael Borges updated the committee about CTA’s member-to-member Prop. 15 efforts, outcomes of the statewide phone banks and California’s returned ballot percentages.

6. The committee intends to review recommendation procedures to consider CTA members running for community college seats where faculty is not represented by CTA or CFT, retractions of CTA legislative/congressional recommendations, and a formal interim process for initiative and funding authorizations throughout the next year

Karen M. Lord-Eyewe, Chairperson
Renata Sanchez, Vice Chairperson
Castella Ysaguirre, Recorder
Greg Bonaccorsi, Board Liaison
Marianne Reynolds, Consultant
Andrew Staiano, Consultant
Patricia Rucker, Legislative Advocate

Major Policy– Immediate Action (2/3rd Vote and Rationale Required)

A. None

Major Policy First Reading

A. Alteration of Student Grades (page 204)

CTA believes a teacher’s determination of a grade in any course is final, unless the determination is found to have resulted from clerical or mechanical mistake, fraud, bad faith or incompetence. (PRR: May 1985, June 1992)

Grading policies must respect the educator’s decision-making and academic freedom to assign the appropriate grade to a student. Educators must be a part of the development of all grading policies.

B. Intellectual Property Rights (page 227)

CTA believes educators faculty should have full ownership of and subsequent control over their intellectual property, including but not limited to, intellectual property related to technology-mediated instruction. (HE: May 1996, March 2000)

Educators should retain control of their personal likeness when being recorded for educational purposes.

Major Policy Second Reading

A. None

Other Items for Immediate Action

A. None

Referrals to the Board of Directors

A. None

Matters Pending

A. None

Informational Items

A. The Committee heard an update of the California State legislative actions taken within the purview of the PRR committee since our last meeting from our Legislative Advocate Patricia Rucker.

B. The committee selected subcommittee chairs for the 2020-2021 year:

• Contract Rights Subcommittee: Elva Lopez-Zepeda
• Non-Contract Rights Subcommittee: Rodney Brown
• Legislation Subcommittee: Ann Petit

Via Webex
October 22, 2020

AGENDA

1. Call to Order
2. Approval of Minutes – October 6, 2020 Meeting
3. Committee Changes
4. Committee Chairs Meeting Report
5. Board Referral on CTA/NEA – RETIRED
6. Chapter Placements
7. 2021‐2022 State Council Redistricting
8. State Council Information Reporting
9. Other Business
10. Adjournment

Leonard Goldberg, Chairperson
Kevin Welch, Vice Chairperson
Joe Bartell, Board Liaison
Mitch Olson, Co-Consultant
Rose Luna-Nuñez, Co-Consultant
Seth Bramble, Legislative Advocate

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

NBI #: 1/20-2. Explore the feasibility of legislation removing the six-month moratorium on working for any school district in California after returning from STRS.

Rationale: One of the locals we represent is having a severe sub shortage. The district in question has retirees who aren’t allowed to fill those positions for six months. Allowing retirees to sub right away would help to alleviate the sub shortage, hence the request from the local.

— The committee declared the NBI moot because current law allows school districts to request a waiver for the purpose of dealing with a substitute teacher shortage.

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items 

If there are any questions regarding the items in this report, please contact the Committee leadership or staff.

1. Kevin Welch, Retirement Committee Vice Chair, opened the meeting with a welcome to the committee members. He shared some poll results with the committees and an opening activity.

2. Joe Bartell, CTA Board Liaison, reported on the ongoing efforts surrounding Prop 15 and encouraged members to sign up for their respective regional virtual phone bank nights next week. He also discussed the latest regarding the CTA website and calendar, digital membership cards, and the remaining schedule for October Council.

3. NEA Board Liaison, not present and TBD.

4. Kevin Welch, CalSTRS liaison and Retirement Committee Vice Chair, reported that for the year ending June 30, 2019, STRS investment returns were 3.9%. The fund grew about $10 billion to $246 billion. CalSTRS needs to continue to earn a rate of return of 7.0%. The STRS funding level is at 66%.

5. David Lamoureux, CalSTRS System Actuary, gave a history of the Supplemental Benefit Maintenance Program (SBMA) to the committee. David explained to the committee the law requires CalSTRS to periodically review the funding level of the SBMA and in years where there are excess funds provide options to the legislature of how benefits might be enhanced at the same time as maintaining solvency.

CalSTRS staff shared various options with the Board and will be sending a report to the legislature to fulfill their legal obligation. David provided the committee a summary of the pending report and committee members were given the opportunity to discuss and ask questions.

6. Seth Bramble, CTA Legislative Advocate, shared the legislative report from October 2020. Seth reported to the committee that we were successful in passing AB 2101 which corrects the confusion created by a CalSTRS’ circular from last January (which CalSTRS had withdrawn) and clarifies that any employer-approved compensated leave is creditable, including when an employer places a person on paid administrative leave. He also noted good laws that were dropped by the legislature because of the pandemic.

7. Jon Anderson, liaison to CalPERS, introduced himself as the new CalPERS representative. Kevin thanked Jon for his years of service as liaison to CalSTRS.

8. Orval Garrison, CTA/NEA Retired, reported that CTA/NEA Retired spoke in favor of option 1 on the SBMA. CTA/NEA has been working very hard to get Prop 15 passed by working with various CTA locals.

9. Rose Luna and Mitch Olson, Retirement Committee Staff, reported on an important CA supreme court decision upholding the CA rule which protects CalSTRS member’s pensions from being cut and CTA members contributions from being raised without a benefit of equal value.

Rose reported on the on-going effort of committee staff in running STRS trainings across the state informing members of their benefits.

9. Leadership and staff of the committee have been fielding calls and questions on the Governor’s May revise proposal. In response to those questions the following information was shared with the committee.

10. The committee had requested that the CTA retirement committee formally asks STRS to do a cost analysis including year of depletion and probability of sufficiency for this SBMA option:

The CalSTRS Board shall have the authority to adjust the purchasing power protection payments by age groups for all eligible retiree as follows: Eighty-nine years old or less your years of age their purchasing power protection payments shall be no less than 80% and not less than 85% of the initial benefit. Ninety years of age their purchasing power protection payment shall be not less than 85% and no more than 90% of the initial benefit. One hundred years of age their purchasing power protection payments shall be no less than 90% and not more than 100% of the initial benefit.

— The Committee received a report from David Lamoureux of CalSTRS at this meeting fulfilling this request.

11. Websites to access retirement information include:

• www.mycalstrs.com
• www.cta.org
• www.leginfo.ca.gov
• www.calpers.ca.gov
• www.nea.org
• www.ctainvest.org
• www.nirsonline.org
• www.ssfairness.com
• www.letstalkpensions.com

Eric Roudabush, Chairperson
Chris Finley, Vice Chairperson
Monique Segura, Recording Secretary
Robert Ellis, Board Liaison
Alva Rivera, Co-Consultant
Helen Farias, Co-Consultant
Toni Trigueiro, Legislative Advocate

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

Safe School Environment Page 291

School districts must ensure that all indoor school facilities have heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems that meet appropriate standards to prevent pupils and staff from being exposed to conditions of poor indoor air quality and viral, bacterial, and chemical contaminants. HVAC filtration systems must meet the maximum standards in accordance with Cal/OSHA industry guidelines for school settings.

Major Policy– Second Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

A. NBI 10/19-4

“The school safety and management committee will develop policy and recommend guidelines and procedures for school districts to follow in the event of fires, electrical outages and poor air quality.”

Recommendation: Declare Moot

Rationale: Policy is already being developed by the committee. CTA’s C4OB and Legal Department have issued several advisories for local associations and members regarding these issues.

Referrals to the Board of Directors

Recommend to the Board of Directors that CTA use all means of communication, including the CTA website, to educate members of their rights to file safety complaints directly with Cal/OSHA as well as provide guidance in the filing process.

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items 

1. Chairperson Eric Roudabush thanked the returning committee members for their work and welcomed new committee members. He reviewed the discussion from the June meeting around concerns over COVID-19 and systemic and institutional racism. He encouraged the committee to continue to work on these issues this year. He solicited volunteers for the member lobby program as well as the interrupted learning joint committee meeting occurring in November. He highlighted the importance of Prop 15 to ensure adequate funding of schools and asked committee members to volunteer for phonebanks.

2. Board Liaison Robert Ellis thanked committee members for their work. He emphasized the urgency surrounding phone banking and GOTV for Prop 15 and asked members to sign up for shifts next week.

3. Staff Consultant Helen Farias reviewed the C4OB COVID Prevention infographic regarding ventilation, air cleaning, and disinfection. Staff Consultant Alva Rivera reviewed the C40B webpage which contains numerous COVID 19 resources members and local chapters need to organize and negotiate effectively. Information and resources can be found on cta.org/c4ob.

4. Legislative Advocate Toni Trigueiro thanked members for attending and acknowledged the hard work of the committee. She recommended members review the Legislative Interim Positions Report to see the status of pending bills and submit concerns prior to the General Session. She discussed AB 685 which mandates employers provide notification to employees regarding potential COVID-19 exposure. She reviewed the dire budget forecast for the 2021-2022 school year

Roberta Kreitz, Chairperson
Stacy Williams, Vice Chairperson
Jacqualynn Hearne, Recorder
Angela Normand, Board Liaison
Angela Marese Boyle, Co-Consultant
Karen Taylor, Co-Consultant
Isabelle Garcia, Legislative Advocate

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Major Policy– Second Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

Committee voted to disapprove NBI #: 1/20-10.

NBI #: 1/20-10: CTA will craft and advocate for legislation and policy to ensure that disabled non-diploma track students who receive Certificates of Completion as opposed to high school diplomas will not be counted as students not graduating.

Rationale: The Federal Government doesn’t allow certificate of completions when calculating graduation rates. California’s accountability system is designed to align with federal requirements in order to satisfy all state reporting requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). We do not advise changing our state graduation rate requirements as this would create the development of two separate graduation rates which would require changes to all indicators in California’s current dashboard as adding a separate graduation rate impacts the weight of all remaining indicators. In addition, certificates of completion are included in the graduation rate as modified methods in the Dashboard Alternative School Status (DASS) program.

Matters Pending

Informational Items

1. Staff consultants, Angela Marese Boyle and Karen Taylor provided the committee with an update on Special Education in the world of COVID-19. You can find the resources from that presentation at: https://bit.ly/37xUhMr. They also shared the cta.org website pages for C4OB and IPD. Members can find resources on Special Education, distance learning, bargaining, COVID-19 safety, and assessment guidance.

2. Legislative Advocate, Isabelle Garcia, provided the committee with the 2019-2020 legislative report on bills pertaining to the committee.

3. Chair report: Robbie asked everyone to sign up for phone banking this week to push Prop 15. Robbie highlighted the fact that CTA has a Special Ed conference now and it is slated for Spring 2021.

4. Vice-Chair: Stacy invited everyone to the Caucus for Educators of Exceptional Children on Friday from 5-7pm.

5. Board Liaison, Angela Normand: Angela reiterated the importance of phone banking for Prop 15 and that because of the passion of Special Ed educators they were able to add a CTA conference focused on Special Education.

Kathy Sharp, Chairperson
Erich Myers, Vice Chairperson
DeWayne Sheaffer, Board Liaison
Charlotte Svolos, Recording Secretary
Lori Easterling, Consultant
Efrain Mercado, Consultant

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Major Policy– Second Reading

None

Other Items for Immediate Action

Click here to view Committee Interim Recommendations and Legislative Terms

Committee Recommendations

A. Accept the CCA proposal to start the sponsored legislation process for a bill concerning part time faculty parity.

Referrals to the Board of Directors

A. Request to conduct training of new legislative subcommittee chairs and consultants at the 2021 January State Council.

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items 

1. Since January State Council, CTA has taken 138 interim positions on legislation. To view more information on CTA’s positions for the 2019-20 legislative session, please visit: https://www.cta.org/our-advocacy/cta-bill-positions

2. 2020-21 State Legislation Committee Liaison Positions

• Adult, Alternative, Career & Technical Education – James Sutter
• Assessment & Testing – Michael Sterling
• Civil Rights in Education – Laura Anderson/Maya Walker
• Community College Association – Billie Joe Wright/Wendy Brill-Wynkoop
• Credentials & Professional Development – Christie Bettendorf
• Curriculum & Instruction – Sheila Whitley
• Early Childhood Education – Nancy Lara
• Financing Public Education – Paula Orbaugh/Linda Ortega
• Language Acquisition – Katherine Rojas-Kirby
• Negotiations – Claire Merced-Robles
• Political Involvement – Tracy Taylor
• Professional Rights & Responsibilities – Thomas Johnson
• Retirement – Jordan Horowitz
• School Safety/School Management – Samantha Weiss
• Special Education – Brenda Walker
• Student Support Services – Marco Flores
• Teacher Evaluation & Academic Freedom – Michelle Youngblood-Jarman/Kevin Fox

Roving Liaisons: Kathy Sharp, Erich Myers, Charlotte Svolos and DeWayne Sheaffer

Not Assigned: Roger Kavigan, Sarah Morrison

Erika Zamora, Chairperson
Greg Palatto, Vice-Chairperson
Denise Tellez, Recorder
Sergio Martinez, Board Liaison
Arleigh Kidd, Consultant
Susan Midori-Jones, Consultant

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

A. Learning Support Personnel Ratios (Pg. 289)

CTA believes Learning Support Personnel are essential partners in education and must have manageable caseloads to ensure student success. The following are the recommended maximum rations for these personnel:

1. Credentialed School Nurse

– 1:750 for PreK-6 general ed/special ed

– 1:1000 1:750 for 7-12 general ed/special ed

– 1:100  1:250 for special ed students requiring medical technology

2. Credentialed Library Media Teacher Librarian

– An itinerant credentialed library media teacher librarian for every school site with up to 600 PreK-12 students, plus one clerk.

– A minimum of one full time credentialed library media teacher librarian for every school site PreK-12 schools with a population of 600 or more students, with tech and clerical support.

3. School Counselor

– 1:250 PreK-12

4. School Social Worker

– 1:800 1:250 PreK-12

5. School Psychologist

– 1:1500 1:500-700 PreK-12 general education assessments only

– 1:900 1:500 PreK-12 general education comprehensive programs of assessment and counseling

CTA believes all students should have access to all learning support personnel on a daily basis. Consideration should be given to the number of and distance between schools and staff travel time when establishing caseloads at the local level.

Rationale: Terminology has changed and CSLA recommends use of the term “teacher librarian” to refer to credentialed school librarians at the K-12 level. The word “school” has been added to other positions in order to differentiate those student support positions from non-credentialed professionals. Support personnel ratios have been updated to align with currently recommended ratios from professional organizations. The CTA SPED caseload for School Psychologists who serve students with IEPs is noted elsewhere in CTA Policy and is 45 students (Special Education: Caseload).

Other Items for Immediate Action

SPS recommends that titles for student support personnel be updated in the CTA Organizational Handbook in order to distinguish between credentialed and non-credentialed PreK-12 support personnel. Correct titles are “Credentialed School Nurse,” instead of “School Nurse,” “Credentialed Teacher Librarian,” instead of “Library Media Teacher,” “School Counselor,” instead of “Counselor,” “School Social Worker,” instead of “Social Worker,” and “School Psychologist,” instead of “Psychologist.”

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

NBI# 10/19-20

That CTA lobbyists will work with our legislators to ensure that School Psychologists have a 1 to 500-700 ratio per National Association of School Psychologist Standards.

The SPS Committee has recommended changes to current CTA Policy above that would allow support for smaller ratios.

Informational Items 

1. CTA Board member Sergio Martinez reported on work the SPS Committee leadership did this summer. The California State Legislature extended their session and it overlapped with the start of school for many CTA members. COVID-19 reopening issues are pervasive, and all State Council committees will look at our current CTA policy to determine how our policy is impacted by the pandemic.

2. Sergio Martinez also explained the importance of our continued efforts to ensure passage of Proposition 15 in order to provide badly needed funding for California communities and public schools. He explained ways members can be involved in phone banking and texting campaign activities during the next eleven days.

3. CTA Legislative Consultant Toni Trigueiro thanked SPS Committee members for participating in the legislative and lobbying process. CTA screens all of the bills that have to do with education and assigns those bills to State Council committees. Toni explained our process for supporting, watching, or opposing legislative bills in Sacramento. All legislative positions taken by State Council are based on CTA policy. Toni explained the Interim Bill process CTA has had to utilize during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislative report will indicate the current status of these bills processed using the Interim Bill process. The following Interim Bill positions were taken by the SPS Committee:

OPPOSE: AB 2132 (Irwin)
School Safety: crisis intervention and targeted violence prevention program

OPPOSE: AB 2668 (Quirk)
Integrated School-Based Behavioral Health Partnership Program

4. SPS Chair Erika Zamora and Vice-chair Greg Palatto welcomed members new to the SPS Committee and explained the mission and work of the SPS Committee. SPS documents and resources are now stored on a Google Drive. Erika explained the reorganization of the SPS subcommittees. Members were invited to sign up for one of the four new SPS subcommittees:

Legislation
Erika Zamora
Kirsten Barnes
Sean Ferguson
Patty Taylor
AJ Kaur
Jessica Garcia Heller
Norlon Davis
Margie Black

Policy
Denise Tellez
Joel F. Block
Janet Hansen
Mickey Sullivan

Strategy
Addy Pacheco
Will Page
Vanessa Scott
David Jauregui

Negotiation Issues
Greg Palatto
Nicole Piper
Steve Acosta
Victoria Gibson
Rachel Falk
Stacie Webster
Nicole Piscionere
Carol Courneya

5. Jacquella Payne, Liaison to CSNO, the California School Nurses Organization, reported that the CSNO 71st Annual Conference scheduled for February 4-7, 2021 will now be virtual. CSNO has updated its website and has updated information regarding CSNO legislative positions. CSNO has also created a COVID-19 resource center for school nurses with guidance, pandemic resources, and the CSNO COVID-19 Recovery Plan. The plan is available at https://csno.memberclicks.net/.

6. Kirsten Barnes, Liaison to CASC, the California Association of School Counselors, reported that the CASC Fall 2020 Conference. Over 1,000 educators participated in the virtual conference. All conference sessions were recorded and can be accessed online until December 10th, 2020 if you register for the conference at https://www.schoolcounselor-ca.org/2020virtualconference.

7. Patty Taylor, CTA Pupil Services Coalition Liaison, explained the purpose and work of the Pupil Services Coalition. The Coalition is working on the “Counselors, Not Cops” initiative with ACLU. The Pupil Services Coalition members are supporting passage of Proposition 15.

8. Nicole Piscionere, Liaison to CSLA (California School Library Association), reported that the CSLA 2021 Conference will be held virtually on February 11-12 and 19-20, 2021. They are currently seeking conference proposals at http://csla.net/2021-conference/

Alexandra Condon, Chairperson
Lisa Hickman, Vice Chairperson
Alicia Salgado Melero, Recorder
Shelly Gupton, Board Liaison
Katie Hardeman, Legislative Advocate
Brian Stafford, Consultant
Daniel Bartlett, Consultant

Major Policy – Immediate Action (2/3rd vote required)

None

Major Policy– First Reading

None

Major Policy– Second Reading

Page 220-221

Dismissal Procedures

5. Dismissal proceedings, regardless of status, must be based upon informed procedures, which would include:

A. Clear definition of standards of performance and of criteria upon which those standards will be judged. Student performance on standardized tests shall not be considered valid criteria. These standards and criteria shall be mutually agreed upon by the evaluatee bargaining unit member being evaluated and the evaluator.

B. Early notification to the bargaining unit member of alleged deficiencies.

C. Opportunity including time and assistance from district sources, to correct alleged deficiencies before dismissal action is taken. Allotment of an appropriate amount of time and assistance from district sources and peer support to remedy alleged deficiencies before dismissal action is taken.

Page 203-204

Academic Freedom

CTA believes academic freedom is fundamental and essential to the teaching profession:

1. Educators must be free to think and to express ideas, free to select and employ materials and methods of instruction, free to choose the delivery of instruction (whether in a classroom, digitally, or distance learning), free from undue pressures of authority, and free to act within their professional groups, including appropriate methods of student evaluation. Such freedom should be used judiciously and prudently so that it promotes learning, pupils’ exercise of free thought and critical thinking.

2. Academic freedom is essential to high-quality education and carries with it professional responsibilities. Educators have the freedom within the law, while observing the basic ethical responsibilities of the teaching profession, to exercise their rights as citizens and responsibilities as teachers. Those responsibilities include:

A. Understanding of our democratic tradition and its methods.

B. Concern for the welfare, growth, maturity and development of all students.

C. Application of sound professional judgment in selecting and employing materials and methods of instruction.

D. Defense of the profession and its members from any abridgment of academic freedom.

3. Classroom teachers and other educators must have the responsibility for developing curriculum and selecting instructional materials, and methods, and delivery to meet the goals of that curriculum. They shall be involved in all aspects of adoption and implementation of curricula and materials. The adoption and implementation processes must recognize that individual teachers have different teaching styles and bring unique attributes to their classrooms. Curricula that limit the ability of educators to incorporate teachers’ own styles, attributes, and materials infringe upon academic freedom. The professional judgment of classroom teachers and other educators to determine appropriate and aligned curricula is key to student achievement and growth. Local associations and governing boards must adopt/negotiate procedures to be followed when there are criticisms/objections to methods or materials. The content of instruction must be judged and controlled by skilled professionals without undue interference by any individual or group. Any individual or group which seeks to inhibit academic freedom must not have influence over the hiring, firing, promotion, or due process rights of bargaining unit members.

Other Items for Immediate Action

None

Referrals to the Board of Directors

None

Matters Pending

None

Informational Items 

1. We welcomed new and returning TEAF Committee members to the committee.

2. CTA Legislative Advocate Katie Hardeman met to discuss and get input from TEAF on what is happening at the local level with evaluations during this time of sudden widespread changes to working conditions.

3. State Board of Education liaison Michael Juba reported on the most recent State Board of Education meeting.

4. CTA Staff Consultant Dan Bartlett asked members to consider volunteering to serve as a CPC (Commission on Professional Competence) panelist. Contact Dan Bartlett (dbartlett@cta.org) if you are interested.

5. Members were strongly encouraged to sign up for the Regional Phone Banking for Proposition 15 next week

NBI 10/20-1

I move that CTA join in solidarity with the Armenian Community in denouncing the aggressions and war crimes in Artsakh by the Azerbaijan Government, including the bombing of schools, hospitals, and places of worship, with backing by the Turkish Government. CTA will convey our support, via a letter/e-mail to ANCA-WR.

Rationale: The Azerbaijan Government has agreed to and violated 2 ceasefire agreements. This violation of a ceasefire, which is killing civilians, during a worldwide pandemic, is egregious and cannot be tolerated. It is important to remember and learn from these heinous acts in order to create a world in which cultural diversity is cherished and celebrated, allowing for a peaceful and harmonious existence in which human rights are protected.

LTSP Area: Diversity – Social Justice

LTSP Explanation: CA has a large Armenian population that needs our support, as their ancestral homeland and families are being attacked by a highly funded modern military with hired mercenaries, while they are a small population in a land that isn’t recognized as its own country. This is a continuation of the Armenian Genocide from over 100 years ago. We, as a union, cannot sit by and allow the slaughter of a population and not speak up in solidarity with them.
[Ingrid Gunnell (PIC)/Alicia Harris (COM)]

The above item was referred to the CTA Board of Directors

NBI 10/20-2

CTA shall make deferring or eliminating state testing a priority in the 2021 legislative cycle.

Rationale: Due to circumstances out of their control, most of California’s public school students have had disruption to their normal education process this year. Asking students to take a standardized test in a year where they have not received standard instruction is irresponsible at best. Added stress on students during a time of crisis will negatively affect students. In addition, scores will not be valid when students will be forced to complete exams in different environments.

LTSP Area: Advocacy

LTSP Explanation: Students lack the voice to advocate for themselves in this situation. The achievement gap is widening due to the pandemic and teachers need to be able to meet the needs of their students rather than spend time prepping for testing that will further label children who are already at a disadvantage.
[Hilary Hall (BUD)/Elvia Estrella (BUD)]

The above item was referred to the CTA Board of Directors

NBI 10/20-3

Move that CTA advocates for additional funding and/or resources to LEAs to provide mentoring and professional development for newly credentialed teachers who student taught during distance learning. The intention is to be more focused than what an induction program typically provides but cannot add more work for the new teacher.

Rationale: CTA has policy that states that all bargaining unit members should be given support if their evaluation has alleged deficiencies. This NBI recognizes that our newly credentialed members might be entering the profession without the experience of in-person instruction. They will need additional support and mentoring to navigate a teaching experience they might not have fully had. LEAs will need additional funding to offer dedicated support and mentoring. Induction programs often are more about paperwork and not as much about mentoring. This NBI is intended to be about coaching and on-the-job support.

LTSP Area: Transforming Our Profession

LTSP Explanation: This NBI is about having the highest standards of quality education and established networks for our new teachers to develop their professional growth and provide the high-quality instruction for their students.
[Alexandra Condon (TEAF)/Brenda Quispe (CI)]

The above item was referred to the CTA Board of Directors

NBI 10/20-4

Move that CTA advocate to add ADA funding to LEAs for Pre-K special education and TK (who are not 5).

Rationale: Districts are servicing Pre-K SPED and TK students, who are not 5, without any acknowledgement of the funding that is needed to provide this instruction and these programs [currently only when the students turn 5 do they count for ADA in TK]. These valuable and required programs greatly impact the LEAs’ general funds.

LTSP Area: Advocacy

LTSP Explanation: We need to advocate for funding for programs for all of our students. It might also be part of Diversity and Social Justice so all of our students are funded for their education.
[Alexandra Condon (TEAF)/Carol Fullam (RET)]

The above item was referred to the CTA Board of Directors

NBI 10/20-5

CTA will ask the CDE to convene one additional IQC meeting for the ESMC after the December-January 45 day public review and comment period, before it goes to the State Board of Education for action by the statutory deadline of March 31st, 2020.

Rationale: CTA needs to ask the CDE to schedule an additional special IQC meeting after the subsequent 45 day public review and comment period, before the ESMC is submitted to the SBE for action, to help ensure that the most authentic and highest quality ESMC curriculum framework/guide possible will be submitted to the SBE — our students, and teachers across California deserve this.

LTSP Area: Diversity – Social Justice

LTSP Explanation: Ethnic Studies is one of the foremost movements of racial and social justice and equity in education.
[R. Tolteka Cuauhtin (CI)/Taunya Jaco (CRE)]

The above item was referred to the CTA Board of Directors