News Releases
On Steve Zimmer’s Runoff in the LAUSD Board of Education Race
STATEMENT FROM THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
“Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education President Steve Zimmer came only a few percentage points shy of winning his reelection bid outright on Tuesday. With a large plurality vote, Zimmer heads into the runoff with strong support from the community, parents, teachers, support staff, and pro-public school and community school advocates.
It’s Time to Say Goodbye to California’s Community College Accreditor
Statement by CFT president Joshua Pechthalt:
Over the past several years, as public understanding has grown regarding the destructive role played by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) in the California community college system, so has momentum to remove the agency from its position as accreditor.
A Step Forward for Compton College
Statement by CFT president Joshua Pechthalt:
The announcement that Compton College’s Board of Trustees will be running the school for the first time in ten years is a welcome development. The state Chancellor, the Department of Finance, and governor agree that the school has made tremendous progress addressing the problems the school faced more than ten years ago.
CFT opposes the Supreme Court nomination of Neil Gorsuch
STATEMENT FROM THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
President Trump’s announcement of his Supreme Court nominee doubles down on the approach he has taken with his other selections. Federal Appeals Court Judge Neil Gorsuch is a conservative disciple of the late Judge Scalia and a proponent of the Supreme Court as a defender of the original interpretation of the Constitution—a Constitution that was drafted to protect the interests of white slave owners.
City College of San Francisco Accreditation Fully Restored
CFT applauds Commission decision to grant full accreditation
Today the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) announced that City College of San Francisco has been granted full accreditation for seven years.
CFT Supports SB 54, SB 31
STATEMENT FROM THE CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
CFT and members take action on behalf of students, communities,
education workers
Today the California Legislature is hearing two bills to protect
the people of California from destructive executive orders by the
Trump administration. The CFT supports SB 54 (De Leon) and SB 31
(Lara) to defend the rights of all Californians.
The California Federation of Teachers Opposes the Appointment of Betsy DeVos for the Position of U.S. Education Secretary
To protect the students, the communities and the educational workers of California, the California Federation of Teachers opposes the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be the U.S. Secretary of Education.
On Governor Brown’s Budget Proposal
Statement from the California Federation of Teachers
Thanks to the passage of Proposition 55 in the November 2016 election, California will be able to maintain its commitment to providing quality public education to the state’s more than six million students in the years to come.
On Appointment of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education
Statement from the California Federation of Teachers
We are deeply disappointed but not surprised by the selection of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education. The Trump administration is making clear from the outset that it wants to privatize public schools, with less transparency and little accountability.
Activists Rally Against President-Elect, Dakota Access Pipeline at UC Irvine on Tuesday
Coalition Declares ‘Say No to Trump, Say Yes to Standing Rock’
IRVINE – On Tuesday, November 22, a coalition of academic higher education unions, activist organizations and student government leaders held a rally on the campus of UC Irvine against President-Elect Donald Trump and the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
On Academic Freedom and Student Discussion
Statement from the California Federation of Teachers
Educators have a moral responsibility, in a democratic society, to discuss the issues of the day with their students. Without this fundamental right, teachers will be subject to outside political pressure to limit the discussion of the key, sometimes controversial, issues that shape the lives of their students and the community.
Charter Schools Association uses photos, quotes without permission
Misleading independent expenditure mailer draws “cease and desist” letter
Los Angeles—A political mailer that arrived in voters’ homes last week contained photos and quotes attributed to Joanne Waddell, president of the faculty union in the Los Angeles Community College District, and Jonathan Lightman, executive director of the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges. Neither authorized their use by a California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) political action committee.
Costa Mesa Educators, Parents and Students Rally, Hold Press Conference for Prop 55
Passing Ballot Measure Necessary to Prevent up to $4 Billion in Funding Cuts to Schools & Colleges
Costa Mesa – Local supporters of Proposition 55 today rallied and held a press conference in front of Back Bay High School in support of the “Children’s Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2016,” which will prevent nearly $4 billion in funding cuts to education.
Costa Mesa Educators, Parents and Students Rally, Hold Press Conference for Prop 55
Passing Ballot Measure Necessary to Prevent up to $4 Billion in Funding Cuts to Schools & Colleges
Costa Mesa – Local supporters of Proposition 55 today rallied and held a press conference in front of Back Bay High School in support of the “Children’s Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2016,” which will prevent nearly $4 billion in funding cuts to education.
Educators, students, community rally for Props 55 and W
Need progressive tax policy to fund quality education
San Francisco – Earlier today hundreds of teachers, parents,
students and community supporters joined with their peers in
cities across the country and staged “walk-ins” before school
began at more than a dozen San Francisco sites in support of
quality public education
Gov. Brown signs bill aiding part-time CC instructors
Statement from the California Federation of Teachers
On Friday Gov. Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 1690 and Senate Bill 1379, which together mandate that community college district administrators must bargain with faculty unions that represent part-time instructors over re-employment rights. Previously re-employment was not a mandatory topic of bargaining.
Gov. Brown Vetoes Death Benefit Bill Aiding School Support WorkersAiding School Support Workers
Statement from the California Federation of Teachers
On Monday, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed Assembly Bill 1878 (Jones-Sawyer), which would have increased a death benefit from the California Public Employees Retirement System intended to offset funeral costs.
Common Sense Charter School Legislation Killed by Corporate Special Interests
SB322 would have prohibited charter schools from implementing policies intended to limit admission of students with disabilities, English learners and the economically disadvantaged
Sacramento – In a blow to fair public education policies, the California State Assembly failed to pass common sense legislation that would have, in part, prohibited charter schools from instituting policies intended to limit admission of students with disabilities, English learners and the economically disadvantaged.
Victory for Students as California Supreme Court
Rejects Review of Vergara Appeal
San Francisco – In a victory for students and educators, the Supreme Court of California today announced it will not review the Vergara v. California lawsuit, letting the unanimous appellate court decision upholding five statutes governing professional and employment rights for educators stand as constitutional.
CFT files new complaint against ACCJC
Department of Education asked to pull plug, aid in finding new accreditor
San Francisco—The California Federation of Teachers filed a substantive new complaint against the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) today, arguing that the accreditor of California’s community colleges has failed so completely to fulfill its duties that the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) should immediately “de-list” it—deny its renewal as an accreditor.