Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1545867
Human Rights Trainings for Members CTA's Equity and Justice Cadre Training Program can bring specialized trainings to your local, service center or confer- ence. The program offers trainings in six content areas: • Transformative Social Emotional Learning (SEL) • Racial Justice Advocacy • Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) Leader- ship Advocacy • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer+ (LGBTQ+) Leadership Advocacy • Women's Leadership Advocacy • Disability Rights Advocacy Cadre trainers are CTA members who are passionate about developing racial and social justice perspectives of other CTA members. They have strong facilitation and adult teaching and learning skills, and training and content exper- tise in racial and social justice issues. For more information and to schedule a training, visit cta.org/cadre. The 2026–27 CADRE trainers. School Closures Are Not the Answer A new Stanford University study finds that school closures, frequently justified as fiscal necessities for school districts dealing with budgetary challenges, do not improve districts' financial standing. " The Fiscal Consequences of School Closures in Califor- nia," published in May, analyzed school closures from public school districts in the state between 2011 and 2019. The study found that because shutting down schools causes significant enrollment drops, the reduction in building expenditures is canceled out by a proportional loss of state funding. Research also found that closures can cause severe col- lateral damage such as lower student attendance, decreased graduation rates and destabilization of neighborhoods. Union educators and the Oakland community organized and defeated a school closure proposal in December 2024. (Earlier research found that permanent closure of majori- ty-Black schools disproportionately displaces communities of color and can accelerate neighborhood gentrification.) Researchers suggest that districts — particularly large urban ones — prioritize revenue-generating measures rather than using closures as a primary budget-balancing tool. Read the full report at bit.ly/3T7QYFi. 33 S U M M E R 2 0 26