New resources and trainings to support immigrant students and families
To help better prepare school workers in supporting immigrant students and families, earlier this month the AFT released a new resource guide that provides essential tools and information to help educators and school support staff prepare immigrant youth and their families in the face of immigration enforcement actions. The guide and additional resources are available on AFT’s immigration page. Additionally, through their Share My Lesson page, the AFT also has a new, printable “You are Welcome Here” poster available for download (pictured above).
June 28 Informational Session for DACA Recipients Working in Schools – In conjunction with PATH2PAPERS and the AFT, CFT will host an informational session for DACA recipients in a school setting on Saturday, June 28 from 1:00-2:00 p.m. in Los Angeles. Path2Papers is a national initiative based at Cornell Law School that helps DACA-documented professionals understand their options and take action. For more information, and to RSVP, click here.
Call your Assembly member now to urge them to VOTE YES on AB 84
Next week the State Assembly will vote on AB 84, a bill that would enact comprehensive reform to nonclassroom-based (NCB) charter school law. The charter lobby is pushing hard to stop this common sense reform bill, and we need to make our voices heard.
AB 84 was written in response to the A3 Education scandal, where nonprofit charter operator A3 Education defrauded the public of over $400 million. The A3 scandal clearly demonstrated how California’s existing system of NCB charter oversight is inadequate.
Please take a moment by using this Action Network Click-to-Call link to be connected to your Assembly member and urge them to VOTE YES on AB 84.
California court affirms rights of students' access to honest education
Temecula teachers, students, and parents won a key victory in their efforts to secure the rights to teach and learn accurate and inclusive history in Temecula schools, when the California Court of Appeals earlier this month held that a broad curriculum ban was unconstitutional.
In 2022, the Temecula Valley Unified School District's ideologically-driven school board enacted a resolution purporting to ban "Critical Race Theory and other similar frameworks." This vague and overbroad prohibition limited teachers from providing instruction on a broad range of subjects, including content mandated by California state educational standards, and prevented teachers from having truthful classroom discussions about race discrimination and racial oppression. CFT, along with CTA, filed an amicus brief in the case.
"This decision is a victory for every student in California," said CFT President Jeff Freitas following the ruling. "Every student in California has the right to an education that gives them a deeper understanding of our common history, and an opportunity to learn and thrive in our complex and diverse society.”
June 14 No Kings Day
In response to President Trump's planned military parade in Washington, D.C. on June 14, rallies are being organized across the country, including dozens scheduled in California. CFT will be prioritizing two large rallies on that day. At the first rally in downtown Los Angeles, we will gather at 10:00 a.m. at Los Angeles City Hall. At the second rally in San Francisco we will gather at 11:30 a.m. at Dolores Park.
If you cannot make one of these two events, please contact your local union and find a rally near you at www.nokings.org.
Volunteer opportunities to reach out to fellow AFT members – In the coming weeks, the AFT will also run a member-to-member phonebank to urge fellow AFT members to contact their U.S. Senators to stop the devastating cuts in the big, awful reconciliation bill. Upcoming dates include June 4, 9, and 17. AFT will also run a member-to-member text bank on June 3.
