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.

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.

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.

Strategic Plan

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 issues 4

LCAP  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.

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)

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

LCAP  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

Pomona protests dump stations near schools Merced Coachella and San Jose call for closing achievement gap Community Forums

 LCAP  Educate  Gather information  Escalate involvement with association and district

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?

Resources  Institute For Teaching Grants Institute For Teaching Grants  Community Outreach Grants (COS)  Strategic Organizing Grants (PCS)  Service Center Council  Training opportunities  Region 2 Leadership Conference  Summer Institute  CTA.org [ Community/Community-Engagement.aspx] Community/Community-Engagement.aspx  NEA.org

Suggested Readings  lesson-st-paul lesson-st-paul  Bowling Alone, Robert Putnam

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.