News Releases
UTLA Votes to Invest in Union, Public Education
Statement from CFT President Joshua Pechthalt
Members Overwhelmingly Support Dues Increase
“On Wednesday, our sisters and brothers in United Teachers Los Angeles voted overwhelmingly to support their union and to lead the fight to preserve and improve public education in the second largest school district in the country. Over 14,000 of UTLA’s members participated in the vote, with 82 percent in favor of a dues increase. We applaud UTLA’s members and leaders for taking this courageous action.
Governor’s State of the State: Progress, Challenge of Inequality
Statement from CFT President Joshua Pechthalt
Clear Case for Prop 30 Renewal
“In his State of the State address delivered earlier today, Governor Jerry Brown spoke eloquently of California’s strengths and challenges in the coming year. He underscored the state’s significant fiscal gains following a period of deep economic recession, but did not shy away from directly addressing the growing disparity between the top 1 (and .1) percent and everyone else that threatens the California Dream.
Californians Testify at D.C. Hearing to Replace Accreditor
Students, faculty and elected officials say, “ACCJC has to go!”
Washington, D.C. — Thirty community college faculty and students today were joined by elected officials and the President of the California Federation of Teachers in a Washington D.C. hearing to testify about the urgent need to remove the current accreditor (Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, or ACCJC) for the state’s community colleges and replace it with one capable of fair and competent accreditation practices.
Key Steps Taken to Remove Unreliable ACCJC — California’s Community College Accreditor
State Board directs Chancellor to implement plan for a new model
Walnut, CA – The Community College Board of Governors unanimously passed a resolution declaring that the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) “no longer meets the current and anticipated needs of California community colleges.”
Faculty leaders voice support for task force recommendation of a new accreditor
Commentary provided during ACCJC’s Bakersfield “listening session”
Faculty leaders from nearby colleges descended on Bakersfield College to provide comments at the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior College’s “listening session” earlier today. Faculty were represented on the Community College Chancellor’s Task Force on Accreditation.
Community College Board of Governors to send message to US Department of Education: “California needs a new accreditor”
Yesterday the California Community College Board of Governors (BOG) directed State Community Chancellor Brice Harris to send his Accreditation Task Force’s Report, issued two weeks ago, to the United States Department of Education (DOE).
Civil Rights Groups, Researchers, Legal Scholars, and Top Educators Urge Reversal of Deeply Flawed Vergara Ruling
Amicus “Friend of the Court” Briefs Filed Today
Spotlight Harm to Students and Failings of Decision
Los Angeles—Some of the nation’s top legal scholars, education policy experts, civil rights advocates, award-winning teachers, school board members and administrators filed five amici curiae, or “friend of the court,” briefs with the California Court of Appeal today.
Court dismisses “Bain v. CTA”
Unions’ right to determine membership withstands corporate legal assault
Los Angeles—U.S. District Court judge Stephen V. Wilson today announced the dismissal of “April Bain et al v. California Teachers Association et al,” the latest example of corporate interests reinterpreting the First Amendment to silence the collective voice of the Nation’s working men and women and undermine the democratic process within unions.
Statement from Los Rios College Federation of Teachers on Shooting at Sacramento City College
“We want to express our support for our colleagues at Sacramento City College following the tragic shooting of three students on campus that resulted in one fatality. We extend our sincere condolences to those students and their families. Both the Los Rios Faculty Union and Senate leadership agree that we need to remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure campus safety and will work collaboratively to discuss further steps in light of yesterday’s tragic occurrence.
Chancellor’s task force calls for new accreditor to oversee state’s community colleges
Rogue agency ACCJC handed a serious setback by report
Today the California Community College Chancellor’s office released its long-awaited task force report on accreditation and the practices of the Accrediting Commission for Community Junior Colleges (ACCJC). Validating the view of the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) that this rogue commission needs reform or replacement, the task force heavily criticized the way the commission does business, capped with a recommendation that California find a new accreditor.
San Francisco Archdiocesan teachers ratify new contract agreement with the Archdiocese of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA—Yesterday a majority of members of the San Francisco Archdiocesan Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 2240, voted to ratify a new contract agreement between the faculty union and the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
Accrediting Commission Again Denies Due Process
Commission Fails to Consider Evidence Presented by City College of San Francisco
Sacramento – Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) again failed to provide due process when it announced yesterday, Aug. 5, that it had summarily rejected City College of San Francisco’s request for reconsideration of ACCJC’s flawed 2013 sanction disacrrediting the college.
Supreme Court to Hear Friedrichs v. CTA
Another potential blow to middle class in age of growing inequality
The Supreme Court decided today to hear an anti-union lawsuit, Friedrichs v. CTA. Although the California Teachers Association (CTA) was named as the defendant, a ruling in the case will equally impact the California Federation of Teachers, which likewise represents teachers and other school employees in the state.
State Community College BOG Votes to Extend City College Special Trustee Appointment
CFT continues to call for the return of school’s democratically-elected Board of Trustees, shift focus to accrediting commission
On Monday, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors voted to extend the appointment of a Special Trustee to oversee City College of San Francisco.
Another Misguided Billionaire-Backed Lawsuit
Teacher evaluation lawsuit Doe v Antioch is the latest in a series of special interest attacks on public education
CFT Statement: The Doe v Antioch lawsuit filed yesterday is just another in a long line of cynical attacks on public education.
Community College Accreditation Reform One Step Closer to Reality
CFT-Sponsored Bills Pass Senate Education Committee
SACRAMENTO – On Wednesday, California’s community college system – numbering more than 2 million students – got one step closer to a more consistent, transparent process when it comes to accrediting the system’s 112 schools.
Statement from CFT on the Supreme Court Ruling Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage
Education union applauds decision, calls it a ‘great victory for all’
The Supreme Court’s ground-breaking ruling today providing same-sex couples the right to marry is a monumental step forward for social justice and civil rights in this country. The decision is announced on the second anniversary of their ruling that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) was unconstitutional. We applaud today’s decision.
AFT’s Weingarten and CFT’s Pechthalt on the Vergara Appeal
LOS ANGELES—Statement from American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and California Federation of Teachers President Joshua Pechthalt on the plaintiffs filing a brief in the Vergara appeal.
Statement from CFT President Joshua Pechthalt on the Tragic Gun Violence in South Carolina
Education Union Calls for Stronger Gun Control Measures
The CFT shares its outrage and sadness with the families, friends, loved ones and millions of other Americans mourning the senseless murder of nine innocent people killed at the historic First AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.
Appeals Court Denies Community College Accrediting Commission’s Objections
Rules that CFT suit does not violate ACCJC’s free speech rights
The California Court of Appeals has confirmed a San Francisco Superior Court ruling rejecting the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges’ claim that its rights were violated in the lawsuit brought against it by the California Federation of Teachers and the City College of San Francisco faculty union, AFT 2121.