News Releases
Statement from the San Francisco Archdiocesan Federation of Teachers, AFT Local 2240
Archbishop Cordileone’s recommendations for changes to the faculty handbook and collective bargaining agreement have been the subject of great controversy over the past few weeks among faculty, students, parents and the broader community. On Monday, March 2, the Union Executive Board met with the Archbishop.
Educators, Supporters Turn Out for National Adjunct Action Day
Rallies across San Diego area colleges highlight the struggle against ‘adjunctification’
SAN DIEGO – At events held today across the region, San Diego area adjunct faculty and their supporters spoke out against the marginalization of contingent faculty in higher education as part of National Adjunct Walkout Day.
Superior Court Issues Final Injunction in Favor of the People v. the ACCJC
Judge reinforces ruling that the commission broke the law in dealing with CCSF
Statement from Jeff Freitas, Secretary Treasurer, California
Federation of Teachers:
Yesterday, Superior Court Judge Curtis Karnow issued his final
ruling in the People v. the Accrediting Commission for Community
and Junior Colleges, reinforcing his earlier tentative decision
that the Commission broke the law in attempting to revoke City
College of San Francisco’s accreditation.
Another Setback for the ACCJC
Community College Board of Governors repeals commission’s accreditation monopoly
On January 20, 2015, the California Community College Board of Governors deleted language from Title 5 regulations that gave the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) sole authority over accreditation of the state’s community colleges.
Judge rules accreditor acted illegally in terminating City College of San Francisco’s accreditation
Today the California Federation of Teachers hosted a press teleconference call to discuss Superior Court Judge Curtis Karnow’s ruling in “The People vs. ACCJC.” Participating were CFT president Joshua Pechthalt, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), AFT Local 2121 president Tim Killikelly, and Shanell Williams, Student Trustee at City College of San Francisco. Here are highlights.
ACCJC grants City College of San Francisco deceptive “Restoration Status”
Today the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) announced it has granted the application by City College of San Francisco for its so-called “Restoration Status” policy. The agency, responding to growing critical scrutiny of its arbitrary, inconsistent and illegal actions after it sanctioned CCSF and pulled its accreditation, devised the new policy last year, and basically forced CCSF to apply for it.
CFT statement on the Governor’s proposed budget
“Time to restore programs lost to the Great Recession”
Governor Brown’s proposed budget for 2015-16 includes increased funding for public education at all levels. But the governor’s observation that this budget’s Proposition 98 funding represents a 39% increase over four years needs context. In 2011, California school funding had hit bottom, due to a decade of disinvestment through cuts and the Great Recession. At that point $20 billion had been cut from K-14 funding.
Accreditation agency to meet behind closed doors, decide fate of CCSF’s “Restoration Status” application
The Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) will meet in Sacramento at its biannual meeting Jan. 7 - 9 to decide on the fate of City College of San Francisco (CCSF), which applied under duress for “Restoration Status” last summer. The Commission’s deliberations and decisions will occur, as usual, behind closed doors. Public comment will be allowed for a total of 15 minutes during the three days.
On Governor Brown’s State of the State address
Statement by CFT president Joshua Pechthalt
While Governor Jerry Brown’s inaugural address on Monday rightly celebrated California’s climb back from its $26 billion deficit four years ago to a balanced state budget today, he made but a brief reference to the main reason why this has happened, which was the passage of Prop 30 in 2012.
Judge hears closing arguments in ACCJC trial
City Attorney asks court to vacate “show cause,” closure decisions due to unfair and unlawful actions by agency
San Francisco, December 10—Yesterday San Francisco Superior Court Judge Curtis Karnow heard closing arguments in the trial between the City of San Francisco and the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed suit against the ACCJC to stop the commission’s disaccreditation order against City College of San Francisco.
Statement by CFT president Joshua Pechthalt
A grand jury’s decision on Monday not to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the August killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown adds one more layer of evidence that the justice system in this country does not serve communities of color or poor people. Fifty years after the historic Civil Rights Act was passed, the police continue to act as judge, jury and executioner when it comes to people of color, and the courts seem either slow or altogether incapable of delivering justice.
Listen to the students
Statement from the California Federation of Teachers on the UC Regents’ plan to increase student tuition:
“As today’s student protests at the UC Regents’ meeting and elsewhere in the system reveal, the Regents’ plan to increase student tuition will not be accepted without a fight,” said Bob Samuels, a UCLA lecturer and president of the University Council-AFT, representing lecturers and librarians throughout the University of California. “This is especially true in light of the state’s announcement that its tax revenues are two billion dollars higher than expected.”
CFT urges CC Board of Governors to repeal commission’s monopoly over accreditation and restore local governance at CCSF
Statements by CFT President Joshua Pechthalt delivered earlier today at California Community College Board of Governors meeting:
Repeal ACCJC monopoly over accreditation
Chancellor Harris, President Manuel Baca, and members of the board; thank you for taking a moment to hear my views, delivered on behalf of the 25,000 community college members of the California Federation of Teachers, regarding agenda item 3.2, on a change to the accreditation regulations.
On the reelection of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson
Statement by CFT president Joshua Pechthalt
There was plenty to celebrate in California last night, but for educators, the most important result in many ways was the reelection of Tom Torlakson as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, This means that students, parents and educators will continue to have a champion in Sacramento.
Critical election for California public education
Educators available for comment all day Tuesday
While most statewide races feature little drama this year, the too-close-to-call contest for State Superintendent of Public Instruction is a high stakes race for educators, parents and students. The CFT backs a teacher and solid advocate for what students need, incumbent Tom Torlakson.
Accrediting Agency Continues to Violate Laws
CFT files complaint against ACCJC with the U.S. Department of Education
Today the California Federation of Teachers filed a new complaint with the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) regarding the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges’ continuing “…violations of federal requirements,” indicating “it lacks the capacity, competence and knowledge to serve as a recognized reliable accreditor.”
Trial For Future of City College Starts Monday
Fair accreditation practices, fate of tens of thousands of students on the line
SAN FRANCISCO – On Monday, Oct. 27, the fight to save City College of San Francisco (CCSF) moves to the courtroom as the trial begins between the City of San Francisco and the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC). San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera filed a lawsuit against the ACCJC to stop the commission’s illegal and unfair disaccreditation order against CCSF. Disaccreditation would effectively close City College, denying 80,000 students access to quality and affordable higher education.
Community College Board of Governors to consider new accreditation rules
ACCJC would no longer be sole CC accreditor
Sacramento—Last week the Consultation Council of the Board of Governors (BOG), an advisory body to the state community college system, recommended that the BOG, at its regularly scheduled meeting in November, take up consideration of removing the monopoly status of the Accreditation Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) in its role as the accrediting agency for California community colleges.
CFT President Speaks Out On Massacre in Mexico
Pechthalt expresses ‘shock and anger’ in letter to Mexican Consul
On Sept. 26, teacher trainees from the teacher training college Escuela Normal participated in a protest opposing job discrimination against rural teachers. The protestors were fired on by police, some tortured. In addition to the six students, teachers and community members confirmed dead, 25 students have been hospitalized, 43 have disappeared, and a mass grave has been found outside of the city.
Unable to Derail City Attorney’s Lawsuit, Accrediting Commission Pursues New Motion in Court
ACCJC using delay tactics in advance of trial
San Francisco – Unsuccessful in previous attempts to block San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera’s lawsuit, the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) has brought forth another motion in its misguided attempts to terminate City College of San Francisco’s accreditation.