Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/22108
¡Sí Se Puede! ¿Por Qué No? focus and begin to hope and plan for a good year ahead. Every day, CTA members are working to I make things better for our students and our pro- fession. And it’s not the easiest thing to do, given our current economic climate. We already know that the fiscal forecast for next year is dismal. The state is facing a $28 billion deficit. Gover- nor-elect Jerry Brown convened a group of lead- ers from across the state to discuss the budget a few weeks ago. I attended to make sure our law- makers know that public schools and colleges have endured a disproportionate amount — more than 50 percent — of the budget cuts in the past three years, totaling $21 billion. Our educators have been making sacrifices, too. The country’s and state’s economic woes have left many of our local school systems cash-strapped. Even those districts with rainy day funds are fearful to spend them, not know- ing how much more rain lies ahead. Local chapters throughout California have stepped up to the bargaining tables this year with a clear understanding of what’s possible, what’s fair, and what’s best for the learning and work- ing environments of students and teachers. Educators have taken concessions when they were necessary and fought against them when they were excessive. This was the case for Cap- istrano teachers earlier this year, and it is the case right now for the La Habra Education As- sociation. I joined LHEA members and their dedicated local president, Danette Brown, on the picket line recently to stand up against pro- posed permanent take-backs, to stand up for our teachers and our students. And just a bit north in Compton, our teach- ers and students are under an attack from a dif- ferent angle. A privatization-driven group known as the Parent Revolution has filed a peti- tion to turn McKinley Elementary School into a charter school. This is the first use of the “Par- ent Trigger” law implemented last year by the Legislature, and chaos has ensued for this small neighborhood school. Many parents claim they were misled and intimidated into signing the ¿Por Qué No? B Y C T A P R E S I D E N T D A V I D A . S A N C H E Z love the holiday season. While we’re catch- ing up with good friends, repeating old family traditions, and taking time to reflect on the years behind us, we also renew our petition by the hired representatives of the Par- ent Revolution. There are a lot of questions sur- rounding this law and the petition filed at McKinley, and the Compton Education Asso- ciation is working with CTA to make sure the law was followed, that parents weren’t misled, and that the community knows the truth. McKinley is actually a school that is a perfect example of how educational change can work when teachers, administrators and parents work together to best meet the needs of students. Al- though the Parent Revolution was able to target McKinley Elementary because it has not met the statewide API target of 800 out of 1,000 points, McKinley students have been making steady and significant progress for the past three years. And they have been making this progress since the implementation of CTA’s Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA). McKinley is one of nearly 500 schools serving at-risk students that are receiving $3 billion in additional resources over an eight-year period to lower class sizes, align professional development using student data, and create a collaborative approach to re- form among parents, teachers and other local stakeholders. The good news is that McKinley’s API score has risen more than 70 points in the last two years alone. With continued progress, and to the credit of McKinley’s educators and the QEIA system, McKinley could be out of Pro- gram Improvement in the next few years. The results McKinley is seeing from its par- ticipation in QEIA aren’t unique. A recent re- search report shows that QEIA schools averaged nearly 50 percent greater growth in API scores than similar non-QEIA schools in 2009-10. Just three years into the eight-year program, we are already seeing promising results in closing the achievement gap. It’s this type of teacher-led reform effort that can transform our struggling neighborhood schools into thriving ones that serve all students and engage our communities. These efforts and results give me hope for the year ahead. Through collaboration, through working with parents and lawmakers as partners, we can build a better state for public education. EDITOR IN CHIEF Malaika Costello-Dougherty STAFF WRITER Sherry Posnick-Goodwin CTA WEB EDITOR Karyn Ferrera Donhoff CTA WEB EDITOR Tiffany Hasker EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Craig Hamilton CTA ELECTED OFFICERS PRESIDENT David A. Sanchez VICE PRESIDENT Dean E. Vogel SECRETARY-TREASURER Gail M. Mendes BOARD OF DIRECTORS Larry Allen, E. Toby Boyd, Donald L. Bridge, Tyrone V. Cabell, Mikki Cichocki, Elana Davidson, Don Dawson, Dana Dillon, David Goldberg, Jim Groth, Eric C. Heins, Marty G. Meeden, George Melendez, Theresa Montaño, Mary Rose Ortega, Cynthia Peña, Jim Rogers, Bonnie Shatun, Marc Sternberger, Michael Stone, Curtis Washington EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Carolyn Doggett ASSOCIATE EXEC. DIRECTOR Rebecca Zoglman COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Jonathan Goldman CONTRIBUTORS Scott Buschman, Dave Earl Carpenter, Dave Crosland, Len Feldman, Bill Guy, Sheri Miyamoto, Mike Myslinski, Kamran Nasser, Frank Wells EDITORIAL INFORMATION California Educator is published for the information and edification of its members. The editorial philoso- phy is governed by the policies of CTA. Articles and advertising reflect that philosophy. Letters to the editor may be sent to editor@cta.org. Publication of advertising in the California Educa- tor does not indicate CTA approval of the product or of the companies that purchase advertising. Advertising rate card and information is available from WebSolutions, Media Division, 5666 Spruce Harbor Court, Las Vegas, NV 89122 (702) 838-3434; FAX (702) 838-3355 CTA/NEA membership dues for the fiscal year, Sept. 1-Aug. 31, are $805, including a $20 voluntary contribution. Up to $26.30 of CTA annual dues is designated for CTA/ABC political activ ities to support state and local candidates and/or initiatives and is not deductible for income tax purposes. Subscription to the California Educator is $10/year, available only to persons or institutions not eligible for CTA/NEA membership. California Educator (ISSN 1091-6148) is published monthly except January, July and August for $6.17 per year (included in dues) by: CALIFORNIA TEACHERS ASSOCIATION 1705 Murchison Dr., Burlingame, CA 94010-4583 (650) 697-1400; FAX (650) 552-5002 editor@cta.org, www.cta.org Postmaster: Send change of address to California Educator, P.O. Box 4178, Burlingame, CA 94011-4178. Periodicals Postage Paid at Burlingame, CA, and additional mailing offices. ¡Sí Se Puede! [Yes we can! Why not?], words inspired by César Chávez, encourage us to remember that, together, we can achieve great things. 4 California Educator | DECEMBER 2010 • JANUARY 2011