The sixty ninth annual California Federation of Teachers convention, the highest decision-making body of the statewide organization, will be held this year March 18-20 at the Marriott Manhattan Beach. In a time of great challenges for public education, the convention provides members with the opportunity to work together to make changes for the better—for ourselves, for our students, and for California. 

At the center of the convention will be discussion and debate around education and union policy. Much of this comes from the resolutions submitted by locals and committees of the CFT.  This year we will also remember one hundred years of free speech battles that produced, often with great sacrifice from our members and others, the rights we enjoy today, and which need continuous protection as we go forward.

As we do every other year, this year we will elect new leadership for the statewide union.  Here are rules for the election campaign.

The CFT's vitality and democracy depend on participation in the convention by delegates from all locals in good standing representing all the divisions–classified, community college, early childhood/K-12, adult education and university–of the CFT.
 
 Bestowal of the prestigious Ben Rust award, the highest honor of the union, the Women in Education Award, and Legislator of the Year Award, will be highlights, as usual.  Awards will also go to local activists and the winners of the annual communications contest.