Effective Organizing Includes
Community Engagement
Penny Upton, Regional UniServ Staff, CTA
Primary Contact Staff, Region 3
Kenya Spearman, Regional UniServ Staff, CTA
Primary Contact Staff, Region 2
This session will help provide resources and ideas to
help Presidents demonstrate that an ongoing
reciprocal relationship with the community is vital
for the Association to be progressive in public
education. Utilizing the Local Control and
Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the CTA Long Term
Strategic Plan as an impetus to internal and
external organizing will be stressed.
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Welcome
Mission
The California Teachers Association exists to
protect and promote the well-being of its
members; to improve the conditions of
teaching and learning; to advance the cause of
free, universal, and quality public education;
to ensure that the human dignity and civil
rights of all children and youth are protected;
and to secure a more just, equitable, and
democratic society.
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Goals
IV.
CTA strengthens its role as the preeminent voice for public education
in California – projects a strong, coherent and consistent image such
that its members play the major role in shaping public policy on
education.
XII.
Maintains internal and external communication systems to ascertain its
members’ priorities, to keep its members informed, and to improve its
relations with the public.
X.
CTA works to promote human and civil rights.
www.cta.org
Strategic Plan
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Community Engagement and Coalition
Building (local/SCC/Statewide)
Goal areas
Community Engagement and Coalition Building
Building vibrant, ongoing and mutually beneficial
partnerships with parents, students, other unions and
community organizations
Building collaborative community relationships and
strategic partnerships that advance free, universal
and quality public education
Recognize educators as positive contributing
members of the community
Gaining recognition for CTA and local unions as a
source of expertise on education issues4
LCAP
52060-52077
The LCAP must be adopted
every three years and updated annually. Districts shall consult with exclusive
bargaining representatives, teachers, principals, administrators, other school
personnel, parents, and pupils in developing the plan.
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Climate
Attacks on Public Education
Student Discipline Policy
Common Core State Standards / SBAC
TK, Childcare
Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP)
Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF)
http://www.cta.org/en/Issues-and-Action/Education-Reform/RTTT.aspx
Assessment: Community Involvement
and Communications
No recruitment effort for legislative and issue campaign……….Provides workers
and resources and participates in coalitions to support campaigns
Parents seen as troublesome……….Union and organized parents are partners in
improving schools
Unions in employing district are not in contact with each other……….Active in
labor councils and ongoing labor efforts in the region
No contact with school board…………..Has an ongoing working relationship with
endorsed school board members regardless of union electeds in office and has a
plan to achieve and maintain a favorable board majority
Limited to no involvement with community leaders……Forms ongoing coalitions
with community organizations and expands the power base of each participating
organization
No involvement in developing LCAP……..Consultation and negotiation before
submission of LCAP
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LCAP
52060-52077
The LCAP must be adopted
every three years and updated annually. Districts shall consult with exclusive
bargaining representatives, teachers, principals, administrators, other school
personnel, parents, and pupils in developing the plan.
What are ways to engage
the parents and the
community?
Hayward fights for a voice
Norwalk and La Mirada help build
renewable future
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Pomona protests dump stations near schools
Community Forums
Merced Coachella and San Jose call for closing
achievement gap
Community Forums
LCAP
Educate
Gather information
Escalate involvement with association and district
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Putting It All Together
Create a team
Identify the issue(s)
Develop a plan
Be sensitive to all cultures
Plan, act, evaluate
Build and sustain coalitions
Plan, act, evaluate
WHAT ARE YOUR NEXT STEPS?
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Resources
Institute
For Teaching Grants
Community Outreach
Strategic
Service
Grants (COS)
Organizing Grants (PCS)
Center Council
Training
opportunities
Region
2 Leadership Conference
Summer
Institute
CTA.org
[https://www.cta.org/Parents-andCommunity/Community-Engagement.aspx]
NEA.org
Suggested Readings
http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/teacher-community-unionismlesson-st-paul
Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam
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The End or the Beginning?
Assume that you will need this coalition in the future
You Will!!!
.
Thank you so very much for
allowing us to share with you,
what Community Engagement is
all about.
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