California Teachers Association

The California Teachers Association (CTA) is a prominent nonprofit educational organization and a major teachers' union based in California. Despite the query mentioning "campbelleta.net," the actual website of the CTA is not associated with that domain, and it's likely an error.

Overview

The CTA was founded in 1863 and is one of the largest and most influential teachers' unions in California, boasting over 300,000 members. It represents educators in public schools and colleges across the state, advocating for students and public education.

Mission

CTA's mission is to protect and promote its members' well-being, improve teaching and learning conditions, advance the cause of free, universal, and quality public education for all students, protect the human dignity and civil rights of children and adults, and secure a more just and democratic society[1][2].

History

The organization has a rich history of legislative victories, starting with the establishment of free public schools in California in 1866. It also secured public funding for schools educating students of color in 1867. Other significant achievements include securing free textbooks for students, establishing teacher tenure, and creating the California State Teachers' Retirement System[3][4].

Governance and Structure

CTA is a democratic, member-driven organization with over 1,100 local chapters across California. These chapters elect delegates to the State Council of Education, which acts as the top policy-making body of the union[2]. The organization is affiliated with the National Education Association (NEA), the largest labor union in the United States[2][3].

Membership and Activities

CTA members include teachers, counselors, psychologists, librarians, education support professionals, and other non-supervisory personnel. The organization provides various benefits and resources to its members and is actively involved in advocacy efforts for public education[2][5].

Advocacy and Impact

Throughout its history, the CTA has led numerous campaigns to improve public education, including significant legislative victories like Proposition 98, which guarantees a significant portion of the state budget for schools and community colleges[3][4]. It continues to advocate for fully resourced schools, equal opportunities for all students, and respect for the teaching profession.

References