Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1291735
'' I am voting in the 2020 election because the fight for democracy is never over. People fought, marched, were harassed, beaten and died for the right to vote." KRISTIE IWAMOTO Napa Valley College Faculty Association I'm voting in 2020 because our nation needs healing, peace and unity." ROSALINDA ALCALÁ Westminster Teachers Association '' Six Reasons We're Excited About Kamala By Amanda Menas Leaders Who See Us & Know Us She respects educators Harris gave her first speech on the Senate floor in opposition to the nomination of Betsy DeVos, focusing on her utter lack of qualifications and experience as a teacher. In support of the #RedForEd movement, she also supported educators' strikes in Los Angeles and Oakland in 2019. "Teachers in my hometown of Oakland will begin striking tomorrow because they know they deserve a raise," Harris said. "It's shameful that they don't earn enough to live in the communities where they teach." She called out DeVos' incompetence on reopening Harris called out Secretary DeVos' stunning lack of effort to support families and educators in reopening of school campuses, noting that "DeVos' lack of leadership on how to safely resume schools is danger- ous to our students, our teachers, and our staff." She investigates for-profit charters and votes against vouchers As California attorney general, Harris launched a probe into a for-profit charter school company that used false advertising, inflated attendance numbers, and forced schools into debt, saying she was "particularly concerned with expan- sions of for-profit charter schools." In 2017, Harris opposed an amend- ment to create tax benefits for tuition at K-12 private schools. She advocates for increased K-12 funding In agreement with Biden's plan, Harris proposed increasing funding for Title I schools to make sure every student has a nurse and social worker in their school, in addition to providing incentives to states to conduct racial and resource equity audits, increase their public school spending, and adopt more equita- ble funding formulas. She also worked in the Senate to advocate for bills that provide funding to K-12 schools, and opposed budget proposals that would have led to cuts in education. She supports racial justice and equity efforts During the 2020 primary campaign, Harris proposed plans to ensure all children can access a full continuum of early care and learning, and a safe, high-quality public education. She also advocated for the full funding of IDEA and enforcing civil rights laws designed to protect every child's right to an education. She proposed making college more accessible Harris shared with educators that she supports reforming the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program and advocates for debt-free college. Her presidential platform included a $60 billion proposal to support historically Black colleges and universities and additional funding for teacher training programs for students of color. This story originally appeared in NEA Today. '' I'm voting in the 2020 election because I can't afford not to. I have a responsibility to vote for what's best for my country, my state and my community." – RANDA WAHBE Community College Association Vice President I'm voting to make sure that my voice is heard and that I'm counted and to make a differ- ence in the community." RAMONA ROCHA Inglewood Teachers Association '' 35 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0