The CTA Empire Strikes Back

By Edward Ring
07/28/2015
Emperor Palpatine: There is a great disturbance in the Force. Darth Vader: I have felt it. Emperor Palpatine: We have a new enemy, the young Rebel… Darth Vader: How is that possible? Emperor Palpatine: Search your feelings, Lord Vader. You know it to be true. He could destroy us. The Force is strong with him. –...

TAGS: California Teachers Association, CTA, Friedrichs vs. the CTA, Palm Lane Elementary School, Parent trigger laws, Vergara vs. California

Union Controlled Legislature Continues Assault on Charter Schools

By Private: Gloria Romero
04/10/2015
When it comes to dealing with California’s successful, independent charter schools, powerful, monied special interests – and the lawmakers they fund – prefer a twist on the adage “If you can’t beat them, join them.” Their version: If you can’t beat them, destroy them. This was manifested last month when four Democratic lawmakers trumpeted their introduction...

TAGS: California Federation of Teachers, California Labor Federation, California Teachers Association, Charter schools, Vergara vs. California

Vergara Education Reform Lawsuit Emulated in Other States

By Private: Gloria Romero
09/10/2014
The Vergara lawsuit – in which nine children successfully challenged the constitutionality of key California teacher employment and dismissal provisions – has gone national. Amid much pomp, Students Matter, the nonprofit fundingVergara, announced support for a similar challenge, Davids v. New York. Since then, peculiar things have occurred: Both Students Matter and the high-profile law firm Gibson, Dunn...

TAGS: Gloria Romero, Students Matter, Vergara vs. California

Being Open About Financial Support is the Smartest Policy

By Private: Gloria Romero
08/13/2014
I recently admonished former U.S. Department of Education undersecretary Diane Ravitch for making what I considered sexist remarks seeking to discredit former CNN journalist Campbell Brown’s credibility on education issues. Brown founded New York’s Parent Transparency Project and is championing the newly formed Partnership for Educational Justice, dedicated to supporting the latest challenge to overturn...

TAGS: Campbell Brown, Diane Ravitch, Gloria Romero, Vergara vs. California

Union opt-out campaigns log incremental gains, but two court cases could change the rules

By Edward Ring
10/29/2013
Whenever anyone suggests that public sector unions are forcing their members to make political contributions, the unions retort that the contributions are strictly voluntary. Technically speaking, this is true, but the tedious process of opting out of making political contributions is a powerful deterrent. The California Teachers Association, for example, allow their members to become...

TAGS: agency fee payers, CTA, Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, UTLA, Vergara vs. California

Momentum Shifts in Fight to Fire Bad Teachers

By Private: Gloria Romero
10/16/2013
Thank you, Gov. Jerry Brown. The governor on Thursday sided with California parents seeking to protect their children from sexual predators in the classroom, over the interests of the California Teachers Association and the California Federation of Teachers seeking to protect their members by circumventing and defeating the most significant lawsuit – Vergara vs. California...

TAGS: California Attorney General Kamala Harris, CTA, Governor Jerry Brown, Vergara vs. California