KEEPING YOU INFORMED - Negotiations Update By Ruben Mancillas
Good news, we have a ratified agreement!
Our ratification vote passed with a 90.5%
We had 705 ballots out of 972 eligible voters for a participation rate of 73%. We had 638 yes votes and 67 no votes.
As a comparison point, our last tentative agreement vote from 2022-2023 passed with a 80.37% and with 754 ballots submitted.
The district can now place our ratified agreement on the agenda for the board meeting of Wednesday, March 6. If a majority of the board, or four members, vote to approve our agreement it then becomes official.
So pending board approval, the likelihood is that we can expect our 4.5% salary increase to be reflected in our April paychecks. We will receive confirmation from the district on this date as well when the retro check and the 3.72% off schedule payment will be disbursed.
ABCFT negotiates salary and benefits every year. As we conclude our bargaining for the 2023-2024 school year with this tentative agreement the negotiating team is already preparing for returning to the table with Dr. Fraser and his team. The upcoming May Revise numbers will give us a more accurate picture of state revenues and hopefully a more optimistic COLA projection for 2024-2025.
ABCFT will be surveying members next year regarding both our master contract negotiations and future calendars.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this vote. We have a pay raise, a retro check, and an off schedule check on the way. We have two voluntary PL opportunities at $500 a day for every member. We also have a calendar for the 2024-2025 school year. Well done, everyone!
In Unity,
School Facilities Capacities and Declining Enrollment Ad Hoc Committee Update by Ray Gaer
This Wednesday, the Facilities Committee met for their monthly meeting with a full set of committee members in front of a room full of concerned community members. The meeting started with agenda public comments with about 20 speakers. Many of their comments were repeats of their compelling testimonials and valid concerns about the closing of schools and their impact on the community.
After the conclusion of the first public comments section, the committee chair, Kirit Chauhan, moved the agenda to the discussion items for the evening. One of the 12 possible discussion items was #12, “narrowing down the list to six schools”. The former ABC board member Leticia Mendoza motioned that the committee recommend to the board that “NO SCHOOLS BE CLOSED” and that the committee continue to explore alternative solutions. As the ABCFT representative, I seconded the motion. The crowd cheered and Mrs. Mendoza spoke to her motion and she made the point that the closing of schools should be a last resort.
I supported her motion by pointing out that ABC is not in a dire financial situation at this time and that teachers and students are continuing to make academic gains. ABCUSD still has adequate funds to avoid large numbers of combo classes and ABC doesn’t currently have schools so small that we have teachers who are the lone classroom teacher in their grade levels. I made the assertion that, as a lead-up to the committee forming, it would of been helpful to provide the parents financial information about the school district budget or how closures would positively impact students and parents in the form of additional support and resources. After some discussion about the task of the facilities committee and clarification that the committee would continue to meet to recommend alternative solutions or changes.
The committee voted on the resolution that no schools be recommended for closure and it passed.
Some of the alternative recommendations would be centered around a school of choice policy change or the idea of drawing down a school a couple of grades each year (closing TK/Kinder first and then working up). For example, a couple of years ago, a school board committee was formed to overhaul the school of choice policy. At the time, there was a push from certain parts of ABC to make it more difficult for students to come from another school districts or for teachers and other employees to bring their kids to ABC schools. Since this change was made, our school of choice numbers have shrank from 4000 to 2000 and many ABC employees have made the decision to not bring their children to ABC schools. Hopefully, a new committee will look at some of these harmful changes that were made that had a direct impact on our student enrollment.
The final result is that the committee will not recommend any closures to ABC schools but the committee will suggest a number of other possible changes and solutions that can be implemented. This recommendation will go to the school board and the board has a number of options that they can implement. They can accept the recommendation of the committee, they can choose to follow parts of the recommendations, they can file the recommendation and do nothing, or they can choose to make changes as they see fit.
The reality is that ABC may have to close schools at some point in the future but this is not that moment according to the committee and the community.
Previous Younionews report from 2.23.2024
Previous YOUnionews report from 1.26.2024
Previous YOUnionews report from 1.19.2024
Previous YOUnionews report from 12.15.2023
Criteria used to create the preliminary list of schools to do further research on
ABC Demographic Report from January 2023
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FROM ABCFT-R
ABCFT Members do you know an ABC high school senior who is interested in a career in education? If so, please share the information below.
ABC High School Seniors are invited to apply online for the $2,500 ABCFT-Retirees’ Scholarship. Email your name and school to abcftrscholarship@gmail.com to receive a link to the online scholarship form.
Scholarship Requirements:
1. Complete and submit online application (which includes 3 short essays) no later than March 31, 2024
2. Official Transcripts
3. Two letters of recommendation from teachers at your school. 4. One letter of recommendation from your high school counselor.
Transcripts and letters of recommendation must be sent to: abcftrscholarship@gmail.com from an ABCUSD email address (abcusd.us) and received no later than March 31, 2024
The ABC Federation of Teachers, Retiree Chapter, has established a scholarship in order to:
1. Recognize students for their achievements in ABCUSD.
2. Encourage students to pursue a career in the field of education.
3. Honor the legacy of district leaders for their contributions to public education.
4. Keep the community aware that the retired teachers, nurses, and speech therapists in our Union Chapter remain active and committed to our community and to the future of public education.
ABCFT-RETIREE CHAPTER REPORT
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
You’ll find attached our retiree newsletter special report. Please read the entire newsletter for you to understand our journey with fighting racism within our own ABCUSD Board. Although the newsletter is self-explanatory, I’d like to say that I am extremely proud of the dedication of our Social Justice Legislative Committee. Because of this dedication and commitment, our ABCFT-Retiree Chapter drafted and tweaked many times a pledge entitled,“Equity and Racial Justice.” The creation of this pledge was a reaction for what was said many times by a school board member and for what was not said by other school board members to stop the racist comments.
We met individually with five school board members; three of them signed the pledge. After meeting three times with past President Brad Beach, he decided not to sign the pledge; however, he was encouraged by the pledge to have the school district’s lawyers create a resolution that addresses some of the pledge’s spirit. Publicly, the day the resolution was presented during a school board meeting, Mr. Beach thanked our retiree chapter for inspiring him to take such action.
Presently, we are still trying to meet with two school board members who have not answered our emails, phone calls, and certified letters. Covert racism, overt racism, systemic racism, and any other kind of racism always needs to be stopped in order to protect our ABCUSD Community and all communities. My dear brothers and sisters, this is my message to you: Call racism out or in. Do the one that makes you most comfortable. In our case, we called it in and out!
Be well and content.
In Unity,
Silvia T. Rodriguez Click here for the ABCFT-Retiree Special Report
President
ABCFT-Retiree Chapter #2317
ABCFT PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Ray Gaer
Consistent and regular communication is a union’s most important tool for advocating for its members at the bargaining table. Every conversation with members is focused on the end result of negotiating for the future prosperity and well-being of ALL ABCFT members. This weekly report informs members about issues impacting their working/learning conditions and mental well-being. Our work as a Union is a larger conversation, and united, we make the YOUnion.
A few good quotes come to mind from the parents who spoke at the facilities committee, such as, “Schools are not a transaction but a commitment by the district to the community” or “You can’t spell out transparency without parents.” Powerful words.
This morning, I gave a presentation with Superintendent Dr. Zietlow to about forty district and site administrators as part of a leadership training program. I would say that most of the conversation revolved around the importance of constant, consistent communication and its positive impact on ABC employees, the community, and the students we serve. Communication is the secret sauce to our success as a district.
As a rule, it's always best to overcommunicate rather than wait for what you think might be the right moment to communicate. For example, I’m unsure if another union in the United States has a weekly newsletter for its members. Newsletters are not a thing; other union leaders give us funny looks when we tell them about the YOUnionews. Not every member has the time to read what is happening all the time, but for those who read regularly, it has a big impact. You want to know more about what impacts you in the classroom or in your pocketbook. I’ve found that frontloading people about the issues is the best way to communicate. If ABCFT members understand educational challenges more deeply, those discussions in the lunchroom, your departments, and your school communities are more productive.
Education is about having an informed voice. It's about being a part of a process so you have ownership of change. The ABC parent community is activated, and I don’t think it is activated hostilely. What I saw in the town hall meetings and in the facility meetings over the past couple of months is that this community is deeply committed to their children and fiercely protective of their children’s teachers and schools. They are totally committed to being a part of the process of change. Many of them can see that there may be a time when schools close, but you can see that the community first wants to exhaust all the possibilities for mitigating that change for as long as reasonably possible.
The Facilities Committee still has some work to do to provide alternatives and solutions, but for now, people are active in determining what is best for students. The ABC parent community's voice was heard, and they want to be part of the process. Ultimately, recommending that no schools close is a win, but for other reasons. This is a win because the community feels heard, teachers and students feel heard, and the facility committee members feel like they have reasonable guidelines to find alternatives with the community. I know that the specter of closing schools has been painful, and I, like others, have shed some tears over it. But I’m thankful that we as a community can find bridges to increase communication on behalf of our students. It’s all about voice.
Thank you to all those teachers who have been engaged in this committee’s progress. Your presence made a difference. And even though it looks like things are fine, we still have a lot of work to do to find a pathway through the next few years. Declining enrollment is real and impacts our schools, but teachers need to be a voice when the enrollment decline starts to hurt opportunities for our students. Thank you for all you do, and a special shout out to the Haskell staff for spending time with Tanya and me during our visit.
In YOUnity,
Ray Gaer
President, ABCFT
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
The latest CFT articles and news stories can be found here on the PreK12 news feed on the CFT.org website.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
----- NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHT-----
Los Angeles teachers' union suspends candidate's campaign
The influential Los Angeles teachers union has suspended its campaign on behalf of school board candidate Kahllid Al-Alim due to rising criticism over his alleged offensive social media posts. The union, United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), has poured over $650,000 into an independent campaign supporting Al-Alim. However, after an emergency leadership meeting, UTLA decided to immediately suspend all campaign activities in Board District 1. Al-Alim's social media posts and likes expressed antisemitism, glamorized guns, and celebrated pornographic images. UTLA leaders did not rescind their endorsement of Al-Alim but stated that a formal multi-step process is required to withdraw an endorsement. The union's decision comes just days before the March 5 primary, where Al-Alim could still make it into the runoff.
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
Office for Civil Rights releases new resources on students with disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released four new resources to help students with disabilities, their families, and schools understand the civil rights protections guaranteed to students with asthma, diabetes, food allergies, and gastroesophageal reflux disease or gastroesophageal reflux. The resources explain how these medical conditions can impact a student’s school experience, how the conditions could require protections for students under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the options for parents and students if they believe schools aren’t meeting their federal legal obligations. Additionally, OCR shared updated statistics showing there were 8.4m students with disabilities who comprised 17% of the nation’s pre-K-12 student population in 2020-21. About 3%, or 1.6m, of the total student population were students with disabilities who received supports and services under only Section 504 that school year.
More states considering chaplains in schools
Florida is considering legislation that would allow chaplains on school campuses as an alternative to mental health counselors. The proposal, initially introduced in Texas, has also gained momentum in conservative-leaning states like Oklahoma and Kansas. Critics argue that the legislation lacks clear qualifications and standards for chaplains, raising concerns about possible proselytizing in public schools. Supporters claim that chaplains can provide guidance and support to students who may not need traditional mental health counseling. The Florida legislation would permit local school districts and charter schools to allow chaplains to offer services and programs to students. The bill does not require certifications but mandates a background check. While conservative and religious groups support the idea, some clergy and religious freedom organizations oppose it. Similar chaplain bills have been filed in at least a dozen states. The National School Chaplain Association, which supports the legislation, is currently certifying chaplains to fill positions in schools.
Federal discrimination complaints still rising
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) received yet another record-breaking number of complaints in fiscal year 2023, and the high volume shows no signs of slowing. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights enforcement arm received 19,201 complaints, representing a 2% increase from the year prior. Some 12,709 of last year’s cases were related to K-12, representing a 144% increase since 2021. Already in 2024, OCR has seen a 26% increase in complaints compared to this time last year.
----- STATE NEWS -----
Proposed legislation could eliminate teacher performance assessments
Newly proposed legislation sponsored by the California Teachers Association would eliminate all performance assessments teachers are required to pass, including one for literacy that it supported three years ago. The bill, Senate Bill 1263, would do away with the California Teaching Performance Assessment, known as the CalTPA, and the literacy performance assessment of teachers. Supporters argue that eliminating the assessments will increase the number of effective teachers in classrooms and remove barriers for prospective educators. However, critics worry that the legislation goes against best practices and evidence-based research on teaching literacy. The bill also raises questions about the future of the Reading Instruction Competence Assessment and the requirements for teacher preparation programs. The California Teachers Association, which originally supported the literacy performance assessment, now wants all performance assessments eliminated. The proposed legislation will be presented to the Senate Education Committee in the coming months.
----- DISTRICTS -----
Bellevue Union battling to stave off staff cuts
Bellevue Union School District board members, in a unanimous 5-0 vote Tuesday night, postponed a vote on a controversial proposal to cut 30 staff positions across the district’s four elementary schools. The plan, which would offset a significant decrease in state funding attributed to inflation and declines in revenue, would eliminate 25 classified employees including literacy professionals, teacher’s aides, family engagement facilitators, and certified staff such as, teachers on special assignment. The board’s decision followed a string of emotional pleas from parents and teachers who urged members to reconsider this plan, which they contended would immediately, directly and negatively impact students’ overall success.
Moreno Valley School Board pushed to cut 70 positions
The Moreno Valley school board has agreed to cut about 70 positions due to financial hardship. The district is facing a projected deficit of $2m and needs to pay legal fees and settlements. The layoffs include management and non-management positions, with no management employees expected to lose employment. However, four school counselors could lose their jobs. The resolution to lay off non-teaching employees was approved, but no employees are anticipated to lose their employment entirely. The board members have asked district officials to continue looking for ways to keep funding more employees. The district may face a state loan if it runs out of cash. The board is determined to speak on the budget at every board meeting.
Santa Rosa School Board meets on consolidation issue
The Santa Rosa Unified school board is meeting to discuss a closely watched consolidation issue. The meeting is focused on whether or not to consolidate certain schools in the district. The consolidation issue has sparked controversy and is a hot topic among the community. The board is facing a dilemma as they weigh the pros and cons of consolidation. One board member states: "We need to carefully consider the impact of consolidation on our students and community." The meeting is expected to address concerns and gather input from various stakeholders.
Temecula school board pays for cell tower emissions analysis
The Temecula School Board has agreed to pay for an analysis of cell tower emissions at Chaparral High School and Temecula Middle School. The study, conducted by an environmental consulting firm, found that the emissions fall within federal limits. This study is seen as evidence that the cell tower ban implemented by the board is based on junk science. However, critics argue that the federal limits are not as stringent as those in other countries. The board's decision to ban new cell towers on school property and not renew existing leases was supported by a conservative majority. The study's results have alleviated concerns about the safety of cell towers, with experts stating that the probability of being affected by radio waves is lower than getting sunburned. The board has no plans to measure cell tower emissions again unless there are significant changes to the towers. Stopping the lease contracts for existing towers would be costly for the district.
Affordable housing for teachers in Cupertino
The Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors has selected Eden Housing to develop affordable housing for teachers in Cupertino. The project aims to make it easier for teachers at West Valley schools to live in the communities where they teach. The housing will be built on a site currently owned by Apple. County officials hope that the development can eventually house 75 to 100 teachers and staff from West Valley schools. Similar projects are already underway in Palo Alto and Mountain View. Katherine Tseng, a member of the Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District board, emphasized that creating affordable housing for teachers is an investment in the community. Eden Housing will be hosting community meetings to gather input on the project's design and features.
Oakland Unified battling budget crisis
Oakland's schools are facing a budget crisis as federal COVID funding granted to the Oakland Unified School District is set to expire. The district is now dealing with a structural budget deficit of nearly $23.6m and an additional $27m in labor costs from a new three-year contract. Declining enrollment and competition from charter schools have also contributed to the district's financial struggles. Preliminary discussions have begun regarding budget cuts, but projected cuts of $16m would not be enough to address the over $50m deficit. The district is considering restructuring its staffing calculations and adopting a more centralized budgeting approach. Oakland Unified has been under state oversight for two decades and currently receives yearly bailouts of $10m. The district had previously planned to merge several campuses but canceled the closures due to community opposition and concerns about equity. The state Attorney General's office has warned that any future mergers or closures must address school segregation.
----- TECHNOLOGY -----
Study underlines gender differences in schools' AI adoption
A new report from the University of Southern California’s Center for Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Society reveals gender-based differences in the adoption of AI technology in K-12 classrooms. The survey found that female teachers leaned toward rule-based approaches to AI, while male teachers focused more on outcomes. Stephen Aguilar, associate director of the center, hopes that these findings will lead to the implementation of guidelines that make learning more efficient for students and teachers. The report emphasizes the importance of considering diverse perspectives when forming AI policies in education. Aguilar recommends that education leaders consider the core values of their work and institutions when developing formal AI policies. The findings of this report shed light on the gender divide in AI adoption and its implications for the education sector.
K-12 education slow to set artificial intelligence policies
It has been over a year since the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in K-12 education was questioned. However, most school districts are still struggling to establish clear policies on issues such as plagiarism, data privacy, and the ethical use of AI in class. According to a survey, 79% of educators say their districts lack clear policies on AI tools. While 56% of educators expect the use of AI tools to increase in their districts, 20% of educators reported that their districts prohibit students from using generative AI. The lack of clear direction and inconsistent policies can lead to confusion and inequity. District leaders are overwhelmed and overloaded, making it challenging to make decisions about AI use. Educators also lack the time and capacity to teach students about AI. However, understanding AI is crucial as it is already prevalent in daily life and future job prospects. Districts are advised to seek guidance from states, nonprofits, and early adopters of AI policies to navigate this innovative environment. Advocates feel that the purpose of education and teaching methods need to be reevaluated to incorporate AI effectively.
Will AI replace Colorado teachers? Here’s what experts say
Colorado schools are experimenting with artificial intelligence in the classroom, figuring out how to use the technology to enhance — not replace — student learning.
LONGMONT — The questions that baffle Mai Vu’s students, that frustrate them one second and motivate them the next, also foreshadow the future.
At first glance, their work seems ordinary. Scattered across a classroom, they each pore over their laptops, eyes firmly trained on their screens like any other teens.
But the queries consuming each of them hint at the kinds of challenges high schoolers will take on in coming years: How do you teach a camera to spot pedestrians and stop signs from inside a self-driving car? What does it take to speed up a pizza order in a short-staffed restaurant? Can gaming technology help students better master a second language?
Both the students and their projects are part of a new wave of learning that educators say will transform how kids grasp information. The engine driving their work: artificial intelligence.
“This is a tool that is going to be a part of our future world,” said Michelle Bourgeois, chief technology officer for St. Vrain Valley School District, where Vu’s students are experimenting with AI. “How do we make sure that we are ready not only to use it, but also to make sure our students are ready to use it?”
----- WORKFORCE ----
Students aren’t the only ones missing too much school
Chronic student absenteeism has spiked in the wake of the pandemic but there is another problem that has also left some school districts in the lurch: Teachers across the country are also missing more school, as the New York Times reported.
Over the 2022-23 school year in New York City, nearly 1 in 5 public school teachers were absent 11 days or more, up from the previous year. In Michigan, roughly 15% of teachers were absent in any given week last school year, compared with about 10% in 2019, researchers found.
Teacher absences led a school in Ohio to close for a day and left high school students in Massachusetts to gather in the cafeteria during class time with little supervision.
“The proof in the pudding is how many people have exhausted their leave and are asking to take days off that are unpaid,” said Jim Fry, the superintendent in College Place, a small district in southern Washington state, the Times reported. “That used to be a really rare occurrence. Now it is weekly.”
Research shows that a large number of teacher absences can have a negative impact on student learning, which has already been hit hard by pandemic disruptions.
Certainly, employees in many professions have been taking more sick days since the pandemic. Women, the majority of the teaching work force, may also be juggling child care, as children stay home from school or from day care more frequently. Mothers are 10 times as likely as fathers to take time off work to care for a sick child.
https://edsource.org/updates/students-arent-the-only-ones-missing-too-much-school
Too few substitutes to fill teaching workforce holes
Over the 2022-23 school year in New York City, nearly one in five public schoolteachers was absent 11 days or more, an increase from the year prior, and from before the pandemic. In Michigan meanwhile, roughly 15% of teachers were absent in any given week last school year, compared with about 10% in 2019. More recently, teacher absences forced a school in Ohio to close for a day, research has found. Notably, schools serving low-income areas are the least likely to be able to find enough substitutes. “The proof in the pudding is how many people have exhausted their leave and are asking to take days off that are unpaid. That used to be a really rare occurrence. Now it is weekly,” says Jim Fry, superintendent at College Place, a small district in southern Washington State. “Exhaustion is hitting them,” agrees Ian Roberts, superintendent of schools in Des Moines, which has recorded about 300 daily teacher absences this school year, up from about 250 last year. The pool of substitutes has also changed, educators say. Some substitutes were reluctant to return after the pandemic closures, while others took different jobs and never came back. The pay for substitutes, which averages around $20 an hour, is also less competitive in a strong economy.
Quality concerns shadow lower entry requirements to teaching careers
In 2015, 25 states required teacher candidates to pass a basic skills test for admission into a teacher preparation program. By 2021, that had declined to 15. At present, it’s down to 11, according to the most recent count by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), with most of the holdouts being red states in the Southeast. Of those 11 states, some allow candidates to fulfill the requirement by meeting a minimum score on the ACT, SAT or GRE. Many education leaders have applauded the shift, saying that it allows more students of color, first-generation students, and students from low-income families a shot at becoming teachers. Others worry that by eliminating these test requirements, states are lowering the bar for becoming a teacher, to the detriment of the profession and students. “For states to drop standards without replacing them with another meaningful measure of academic aptitude doesn’t do anyone a favor in the long-term,” says Heather Peske, president of the NCTQ. “States are making it easier to become a teacher, though the job of being a teacher hasn’t gotten any easier.”
----- CLASSROOM -----
A student's perspective on transforming school climate
A student who was part of the California Center for School Climate's Youth Advisory Team highlights the challenges faced by pupils due to high levels of stress and the pressure to excel academically. They emphasize the importance of fostering a supportive environment and giving students opportunities to discover their own paths. The student also emphasizes the need for adults to actively listen to and engage with students to build trust and meaningful relationships. The student makes several recommendations for improving school climate, including integrating mental health discussions into curriculums, and creating healthy environments in school clubs. The student calls for collaboration between students and adults to create a more positive and inclusive school climate, where students feel cared for and empowered.
Most students struggling in math
Most American students are struggling in math, with 65% of fourth graders and nearly three-quarters of eighth graders scoring "below basic" or "basic" in math on the most recent NAEP test. Math disabilities, present in about 7% of students, often go undiagnosed. Additionally, many students without disabilities are still working below grade level. While schools have strategies to help students learn to read, fewer offer the same help for math. Only 23% of schools have numeracy specialists compared to 50% with trained literacy specialists. This lack of support in math education is hindering students' understanding and proficiency in the subject, impacting their college readiness.
----- FINANCE -----
Partial FAFSA fix lets students from immigrant families apply for financial aid
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Students whose parents lack a Social Security number can finally fill out federal financial aid forms after the Biden administration announced a workaround Tuesday for one of the most glaring problems with what was supposed to be a simpler, easier form.
U.S. Department of Education officials say these students can leave their parent or spouse’s Social Security number blank for now, and manually enter the person’s income and tax information. The department provided details about the workaround to Chalkbeat, and plans to post them online Wednesday.
Chalkbeat first reported in January that the Social Security glitch was preventing potentially tens of thousands of eligible U.S. citizen students from applying for financial aid.
-----CHARTER SCHOOLS -----
Charter operators struggling to survive in California
Charter operators in California are facing numerous challenges, from declining enrollment to new policies governing approvals, renewals, and real estate. Some feel they are fighting to survive amidst the difficulties. According to a report, charter school parents, educators, and supporters recently gathered for a rally outside of Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters to show their support. Policy changes have further threatened their survival, making it even more difficult for them to stay afloat. The future of charter operators in California is uncertain, but they continue to fight for their existence.
----- HIGHER EDUCATION -----
HBCUs working to build Black teacher pipeline
A United Negro College Fund report underlines how historically Black colleges and universities are working to get Black students in the teacher pipeline by tapping into faculty networks, establishing relationships with school districts, and using financial aid as a recruitment tool. Additionally, some HBCUs are leveraging long-standing connections with their local Black church communities to promote teacher prep programs and financial aid offerings during religious services. Amid ongoing efforts to diversify the K-12 teacher workforce, UNCF suggested higher ed institutions develop pipelines for Black educators beginning in high school, by offering students opportunities to work with children and then maintaining relationships with them through their matriculation into college, and eventual completion of a teacher certification. While HBCUs make up only 3% of colleges and universities, 50% of all Black educators come from these institutions.
