Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/740763
GET OUT THE VOTE 2016 We can't go back — keep California schools moving forward Time to Act E ducators have great inf luence over stu- d ents, oft en wel l b e y ond tim e in th e classroom. e same can be said for their influence with parents and communities — both trust educators and look to them for direc- tion on what is best for students and schools. So during election season, and especially during this one, when the choices are so critical to educa- tion, you play a hugely influential role. Your activism and support in the days leading up to Nov. 8 can determine whether California stu- dents and public schools continue to forge ahead and build on recent successes — or fall behind and succumb to the same devastating, demoralizing cuts we experienced in the Great Recession. What can you do? Get out the vote! Arm yourself with information, and join CTA colleagues who are walking precincts, phone-banking, and spreading the word in communities all over the state. CTA supports three initiatives on the state ballot: * Proposition 55, the Children's Education and Health Care Protection Act, will protect our chil- dren and our schools, and help us solidify gains made in recent years. It does this by maintaining the current income tax rates on the wealthiest Cal- ifornians for 12 more years. Prop. 55 revenue goes directly to the classroom and results in smaller class sizes, the hiring of new teachers, college affordabil- ity, and increased access to health care. Local school boards determine student needs; local districts, with input from educators, parents and communi- ties, identify how funds are spent. ere are strict accountability and transparency requirements. * Proposition 58, the LEARN (Language Edu- cation, Acquisition and Readiness Now) initiative, gives our students a competitive edge in the global marketplace by expanding their access to multilin- gual education and allowing teachers, parents and schools more control over the curriculum. It broad- ens instructional methods school districts can use to teach English to English learners, while expand- ing opportunities for English-speaking students to learn a second language. * Proposition 52, the Medi-Cal Funding and Accountability Act, extends California's partnership with hospitals to secure billions of dollars per year in federal matching funds for Medi-Cal. e alliance ensures access to health care for nearly 7 million California children. For CTA's recommendations on the local school board races and bond measures that affect you and your students, please see cta.yourvoter.guide. We can't go back. It's time to act. Our students are counting on us. For information, resources, toolkits: cta.org/campaign2016 Elections and voter information: www.sos.ca.gov/elections To build your personalized voter guide: cta.yourvoter.guide 26 cta.org #CTAGOTV