CFT members came to Sacramento this week to advocate for stronger support for public education
We had a fantastic day in Sacramento on Wednesday, as over 100 CFT members from throughout the state came up to the State Capitol to urge lawmakers to support public schools in California.
A key focus of the day was to urge lawmakers to take action to address the staffing crisis for both certificated and classified TK-12 workers. And we are happy to report that CFT-sponsored AB 938, which would raise funding for TK-12 school salaries by 50% over seven years, passed with all yes votes out of the Assembly Education Committee with bipartisan support.
“AB 938 is a big and bold idea, but that is exactly what is necessary to tackle this problem,” said CFT President Jeff Freitas. “Because our teachers and classified professionals deserve a wage that enables them to build a long and successful career in our schools. And our students deserve educators who are not stressed and strained and at the end of their rope, but solid on their feet, focused, and working together to give them the education they deserve.”
CFT members also spoke up for other critical bills that passed out of their respective Assembly and Senate committees, including AB 5 (Zbur), which would require professional development for teachers to support LGTBQ+ students, SB 872 (Min), which would require more accurate reporting of K-12 class sizes, AB 800 (Ortega), which would require public schools teach 11th and 12th grade students their rights as workers, and ACA 6, which would require the UCs to adhere to state labor laws. This is in addition to our successful advocacy to pass CFT-sponsored AB 811 out of committee last week. AB 811 would provide greater opportunity for students to take the classes they both want for enrichment, and need for transfer or other certifications.
Thanks to all the educators and classified professionals who took time to do the critical work of meeting with legislators and speaking up in front of powerful legislative committees in Sacramento this week!
Check out the CFT website for more information on CFT’s legislative priorities this year, and these wonderful photos of CFT members in action at the Capitol.
Weingarten sets the record straight over school reopening
AFT President Ranid Weingarten appeared before a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee hearing April 26, where Republican legislators falsely accused her of working to keep schools closed during the pandemic. Nothing could be further from the truth. Citing example after example of the AFT’s commitment to the exact opposite—safely reopening, not closing, schools—Weingarten easily deflected the misrepresentations despite rapid-fire questions, interruptions and personal attacks, and level-headed legislators defended her with the facts.
Read more about Randi’s appearance and why it is so important to push back against these false narratives. And if you are on Twitter, you can help by retweeting Randi Weingarten and CFT President Jeff Freitas offering your support.
