Attorney General Bonta issues legal alert warning school districts against forced outing policies
Earlier this month California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued a legal alert addressed to all California county, school district, and charter school boards and superintendents, warning them against "forced outing" policies detrimental to the privacy, safety, and well-being of transgender and gender-nonconforming students.
The alert comes following a wave of anti-trans and anti-LGTBQ+ activism from conservative groups that is causing deep harm to students, school workers, and school communities.
On the same day the Attorney General issued the legal alert, CFT joined CTA and associations representing school counselors, psychologists, and school social workers in filing an amicus brief against an anti-LGTBQ+ lawsuit in the Chico Unified School District. The lawsuit against CUSD was brought by a parent who falsely alleged that a counselor pressured a student to use male pronouns. The parent also claims that parents have a constitutional right to force school districts to out students to the student’s family even when the student objects and feels that disclosure would impact their safety. The suit was dismissed by a federal judge in July, but has been appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
For more on LGTBQ+ rights in K-12 public schools, see this excellent resource from the ACLU.
Berkeley hits the ground running to renew critical parcel tax
Last weekend Berkeley teachers and school workers were joined by parents, students, and community leaders to kickoff their campaign for Prop. H, the renewal of Berkeley Unified’s BSEP parcel tax measure.
The parcel tax, known as BSEP (Berkeley Schools Excellence Program), is an essential funding source for the district, representing almost 20% of district funding and paying for ⅓ of the district's teachers through class size reductions, as well as supporting librarians and visual and performing arts.
“BFT members were out in force at the campaign kickoff and have already been knocking on doors and making phone calls,” says BFT President Matt Meyer. “Teachers know how critical this measure will be not only to our students, but to our jobs, and are ready to take action.”
CFT voter guide now online
The March 5 primary election is just around the corner, with vote-by-mail starting on February 5. Before you vote, please take a moment to review CFT’s Educators Choice Voter Guide for recommendations for state propositions and legislative candidates and for local candidates and measures that will appear on your ballot.
UCLA Labor Center’s Kent Wong honored by L.A. County
Congratulations to CFT Vice-President Kent Wong, who was presented with the John Allen Buggs Leadership Award by the Los Angeles County Human Relations Commission earlier this month for his longtime human relations advocacy and leadership. Kent led the work of the UCLA Labor Center for over 30 years and now serves as the center’s project director for labor and community partnerships. Read more about the honor here.
In Solidarity
CFA faculty reach TA following strike. Congratulations to the members of the California Faculty Association who walked the picket line this week and won a tentative agreement with the CSU for a new contract. In solidarity with fellow educators fighting for professional wages and workplace respect, many CFT members joined CFA on the picket line.
