California Educator

When we fight, we win. I’ve been saying this for a long time, and I’m not sure I’ve ever felt it more in our union than in this moment right now. This issue celebrates the power of us and our historic string of victories during the past year, including six major strikes across the state, huge wins on health care for thousands and organizing together to push back on austerity schemes at the local and state levels.

The future of California’s public schools and healthcare is on the line. One in six educators could be laid off so that the wealthy can get another massive tax break. We have the power to protect this critical funding for our communities in November. For nearly 15 years, tax rates paid by the top 2% have delivered $120 billion for smaller class sizes, school lunches, mental health counselors, and the Medi-Cal coverage millions of families rely on, all with no new taxes on working Californians.

Overshadowing gains made for public schools, Gov.

CTA-Endorsed Candidates Progress to General Election (BURLINGAME): This weekend, the 800 delegates of the California Teachers Association’s top policy-making body, the State Council of Education, met to determine the union’s recommendations for November’s general elections. At the heart of those recommendations is a determination to elect California leaders who will fight for the safe, stable, fully-funded public schools that California students deserve.

THE FIRST-EVER lawsuit filed to enforce the landmark 2004 Williams v. California settlement resulted in a victory for students, parents and educators in West Contra Costa County in late March. In Cleare v. West Contra Costa Unified School District, the California First District Court of Appeal found that WCCUSD failed to carry its burden of demonstrating it had exhausted all available options to fill teacher vacancies.

BURLINGAME – California Teachers Association President David Goldberg released the following statement regarding the governor’s May Revise announcement: “The governor’s proposed budget revision clearly ignores the will of voters by proposing to withhold $3.9 billion from California’s constitutionally-guaranteed Prop. 98 funding minimum, but rightfully includes significant and long-fought-for wins for educators, students, and families.

SACRAMENTO, CA — Californians for Protecting Public Education, Healthcare and Budget Stability today announced submitting more than 1.6 million signatures to county elections officials to qualify the California Children’s Education and Health Care Protection Act of 2026, also known as the extension of Proposition 55, for the November 2026 ballot.

Richard Barrera has devoted his life to fighting for working people. As the President of the San Diego Unified School District for the last 16 years, he has turned one of California’s largest districts into one of the highest performing in the country—by working with teachers to invest in students and classrooms. Barrera has earned the endorsement of 310,000 educators in California in CTA with his proven track record of putting students first.

(BURLINGAME): CTA President David Goldberg released the following statement regarding the California gubernatorial election: “Today our democratically elected board voted to recommend Tom Steyer in California’s 2026 gubernatorial primary. Steyer has promised to reform Proposition 13 to ensure that corporations pay their fair share in California.

Compounding state, national teacher shortage, Newsom’s proposed underfunding of Prop 98 weaponized by districts BURLINGAME: This year, Governor Newsom proposes to cut $5.6 billion from Prop 98, California’s constitutional school funding guarantee. Now, administrators at more than 100 California school districts have weaponized the Governor’s proposal by issuing at least 2,400 preliminary layoff notices, all while the Governor touts historic, high funding for education.