California Educator

December/January 2019

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O W D O E S C TA's S t a t e C o u n c i l o f Education celebrat e som e of th e big- gest victories in our union's 156-year h i s t o r y ? B y k i c k i n g o f f t h e S c h o o l s a n d C o m m u n i t i e s Fi r s t ( S C F ) c a m - p a i g n t o b e g i n r e v e r s i n g d e c a d e s o f e d u c a t i o n funding cuts, and to make students and fami lies a top priority in Cali forni a . At State Council's October meeting, CTA President E. Toby Boyd led a news conference to announce the SCF ballot initiative, which will close corporate property tax loopholes and generate $12 billion a year for public schools and community services. CTA has committed to gathering 150,000 of the 1.6 million signatures needed to qualify SCF for the November 2020 ballot. "We're here to celebrate the start of a new day for pub- lic schools and communities all across California," Boyd said at the press conference. "Schools and Communities First will reclaim $12 billion every year to fund world- class schools and make our local economies stronger. It also starts to undo the effects of decades of chronic underfunding of our schools, colleges and public ser- vices." (Read about SCF on page 38.) Making history Boyd outlined the important fight ahead during his speech to Council, and thanked CTA's assembled leaders for their efforts in CTA's victories for students and public schools over the past year. e biggest win was the sign- ing into law of SB 126, AB 1505 and AB 1507, the first changes to California's charter school law in nearly 30 years. ese laws will ensure transparency and account- ability of privately managed charter schools, give local school boards the power to consider the fiscal impact charters will have on other schools before authorization, and require that charters operate within the borders of the districts that authorize them. "ey also will ensure that students attending charter schools are taught by fully credentialed teachers," Boyd said. "Together, we made history!" Our Work Continues While celebrating victories, State Council prepares for 2020 By Julian Peeples H CTA President E. Toby Boyd and State Council kick off the Schools and Communities First campaign. NEA President Lily Eskelsen GarcĂ­a tells Council delegates: "We are fighting for the two most important words in the English language: for all." 49 D E C E M B E R 2 019 / J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 CTA & You

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