Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1530930
Share Your TPA Story as Workgroup Considers Changes Our work continues to end the ineffective and unnecessary Teaching Performance Assessments (TPAs), which have become harmful barriers for aspiring teachers. Our union is collecting stories to submit to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing workgroup currently considering potential changes to the TPA and the credentialing process — share yours at cta.org/TPAstory. Women in the Legislature Women now hold a record 59, or 49%, of the California State Leg- islature's 120 seats. Women's representation in the Capitol is up from nearly 31% in 2020 and 25% in 2016, according to the Center for American Women and Politics. More than a dozen of the newly elected women won seats held by men, many of whom were forced out due to term limits. Democrats continue to hold a supermajority in the Legislature, but many of the issues that involve families and cost of living are likely to draw bipartisan support, particularly among women. This could include the Pregnancy Leave for Educators Act (AB 65; see page 28). "Generally, there's less focus on ego and more focus on results when women lead," Susannah Delano with Close the Gap California told KCRA. "Women are more likely to cross the aisle if it means an effective compromise. They really bring this inclusive lens to prob- lems that need to be solved, and they propose solutions that are comprehensive." Bill to End Longstanding Retirement Disparity Passes House, Awaits Senate Vote The Social Security Fairness Act, which would end a longstanding injustice, passed the House of Representatives and as of press time was awaiting a vote in the U.S. Senate, where a filibuster-proof 62 senators have co-sponsored the bill. The House passed the bill in November by an overwhelming bipartisan margin, 327-75. The bill, H.R. 82, would fully repeal both the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elim- ination Provision, which unfairly reduce social security benefits for more than 2.5 million Amer- icans, including many public school educators and CTA members. The GPO and WEP discour- age people from becoming educators, especially those in mid-career who stand to lose Social Security benefits they have already earned. This adversely affects the quality of the education our students receive. More than 280,000 Californians will see a boost in their retirement pay if this bill is passed and signed into law. Let our senators know we want a vote on the Social Security Fairness Act at nea.org/takeaction. Legislative Update 34 cta.org Advocacy