Award-Winning Newspaper of United Teachers Los Angeles • www.utla.net Volume XLVII, Number 5, January 26, 2018 “We have to own this moment” Big turnout for healthcare vote will set the stage for powerful action.

UTLA members turning out in large numbers for the school system that addresses the loss of enrollment, healthcare vote will set the stage for an aggressive escala- attracts students, retains educators, and pushes back tion of our contract campaign for the Schools LA Students on privatization. Deserve. Winning a no-cuts, three-year agreement under- scores both the power of collective action and the need Go after $11 billion in funding by getting the for it: The fact that we had to fight to maintain a basic California Schools & Local Communities benefit like healthcare highlights the fact that we must Funding Act on the ballot solve the crisis in public education. Our spring action plan: There is no sustainable future for public schools in California if we continue to rank 46th in the nation in Build escalating actions and a major citywide per-pupil funding. The California Schools & Local Com- event in May to drive our contract campaign munities Funding Act would generate approximately The district has been sticking to its ongoing 2% salary $11 billion for schools, community colleges, health increase offer and has shown no movement in bargaining clinics, and other vital services by requiring all com- on key issues that impact student learning conditions and mercial and industrial properties to be assessed at fair educator working conditions, including class size, student market value, putting the state on par with how the vast discipline, charter accountability, health and human ser- majority of the country assesses these properties. This vices staffing, top-down mandates, over-testing, educator spring, we will be part of a statewide effort to collect and parent voice in school budgets, Community Schools, the signatures necessary to qualify the measure for the and bilingual education. LAUSD has refused to bargain November 2018 ballot. on a number of other items, including our Common “Trump’s massive tax giveaway to big business and Good proposals, and overall has demonstrated a lack the wealthiest 1% will hit California hard—but we can of willingness to take outside-the-box action to support fight back by closing loopholes that allow million- our schools. We must organize to force change at the aires and major corporations to avoid paying billions bargaining table, and now is the time to do it. in taxes,” says UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl. “In 2018, with the leverage of our escalating contract “Passing the measure is a critical step in UTLA’s 20 campaign and the statewide governor and superinten- x 20 campaign to reach $20,000 per pupil by the year dent races, the timing is right for an aggressive fight for 2020 and move California up from 46 out of 50 states a sustainable, thriving public education system,” says in per-pupil funding.” Jennifer McAfee, Dodson Middle School teacher and UTLA Board member. “We have to own this moment.” Beat the privatizers at the ballot box and elect Tony Thurmond Fight the anti-union Janus case and build state superintendent political power with the UTLA All In drive The 2018 elections will again be a face-off between The Janus v. AFSCME Supreme Court case seeks public school supporters and those who would turn to allow union members to get the benefits of union Marshall High students Michelle Hernandez and Eduardo education over to private control. The billionaire representation and the contract without contributing Vazquez, members of Students Deserve, at a December 19 privatizers and the charter lobby are lining up behind dues, which would weaken us as a force to fight for protest outside the office of Netflix CEO and school privatizer Antonio Villaraigosa for governor and Marshall Tuck public education. Reed Hastings. Story on page 4. for state superintendent of public instruction. For state “We are the ones who are fighting for something superintendent, UTLA has endorsed Tony Thurmond, better,” says Gillian Russom, Roosevelt High School Schools LA coalition, we will be holding area forums a longtime legislator and public education advocate. teacher and UTLA Board member. “We have the vision for parents and the community to build support for our “Thurmond is in this fight for the right reasons—to to build fully resourced Community Schools and inspire contract demands for the Schools LA Students Deserve support public education and public school educators,” parents to come back to our district. The state isn’t doing and to organize ourselves into action. King Middle School Chapter Chair Wil Page says. “His it. The district isn’t doing it. Our union must be strong “Our connections to parents and the community are opponent will get Walmart money and Netflix money, to do this work. If the union falters, the fight for public our most important source of strength,” says Trinity but we will be the boots on the ground.” education falters.” Elementary Chapter Chair Jesus Torres. “Our common Our volunteer efforts—phone banking, precinct Through the UTLA All In membership and PACE drive, ground is that we are all fighting for what’s best for our walking, and organizing—will be essential to defeat- members will reaffirm our commitment to our union by students.” ing opponents who will have unlimited campaign filling out new membership applications and contribut- Parents and community groups have been partners in money at their disposal. ing to PACE to strengthen our political program in this bargaining, joining us at the table to present Bargaining critical election year. for the Common Good demands on affordable housing, expanding early education, supporting immigrant Organize parent involvement families, expanding green space at schools, and more. Read more on the Thurmond-Tuck race on page 6, through area forums and actions Parents are key allies in putting pressure on LAUSD Ja-nus and UTLA’s All In drive on page 7, and the In February and March, along with the Reclaim Our to reach a fair contract agreement and help build a California Schools & Local Funding Act on page 6.

Healthcare win: Details inside Vote February 8-15 to secure our healthcare Page 8 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net January 26, 2018 United Teacher President’s perspective

PRESIDENT Alex Caputo-Pearl NEA AFFILIATE VP Cecily Myart-Cruz AFT AFFILIATE VP Juan Ramirez The healthcare victory is our launching pad ELEMENTARY VP Gloria Martinez SECONDARY VP Daniel Barnhart It is crucial you vote, reaffirm membership, and join PACE February 8 to 15. TREASURER Alex Orozco SECRETARY Arlene Inouye By Alex Caputo-Pearl EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Jeff Good UTLA President

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2018 started on a somber note with NORTH AREA: Karla Griego, Chair (Buchanan ES), Mark Michelle King stepping down as super- Ramos (Contreras LC), Rebecca Solomon (RFK UCLA intendent. I’ve known King for many Comm. School), Julie Van Winkle (LOOC Liason) years, first working with her when I was SOUTH AREA: Maria Miranda, Chair (Miramonte ES), Ayde Bravo (Maywood ES), L. Cynthia Matthews at Crenshaw High and she was at Local (McKinley ES), Karen Ticer-Leon (Tweedy ES) District West. I respect her experience EAST AREA: Adrian Tamayo, Chair (Lorena ES), within public schools, her commitment Ingrid Gunnell (Salary Point Advisor), Erica Huerta to the civic institution of public education, (Garfield HS), Gillian Russom (Roosevelt HS) her groundedness as a classroom educa- WEST AREA: Erika Jones Crawford, Chair (CTA Direc- tor), Georgia Flowers Lee (Saturn ES), Noah Lippe-Klein tor, and her many accomplishments in (Dorsey HS), Larry Shoham (Hamilton HS) the fight for high-quality education for all CENTRAL AREA: José Lara, Chair (Santee EC), students. So many of us have expressed Kelly Flores (Hawkins HS), Tomas Flores (West Vernon our fullest commitment to stand with King ES), Claudia Rodriquez (49th Street) in her current fight against cancer and Alex with the staff at SOCES VALLEY EAST AREA: Scott Mandel, Chair (Pacoima for her health. Let’s keep Michelle King Magnet), Victoria Casas (Beachy ES), Mel House (Elementary P.E.), Hector Perez-Roman (Arleta HS) in our thoughts and prayers as we move unwilling to lead, our union is our primary called teachers’ unions the greatest barrier VALLEY WEST AREA: Bruce Newborn, Chair (Hale forward and as we continue to engage vehicle for these fights—our union and our to making schools successful, supports Charter), Melodie Bitter (Lorne ES), Wendi Davis the crucial issues of the day with Interim connections to parents, youth, community unregulated charter growth, attempted (Henry MS), Javier Romo (Mulholland MS) Superintendent Vivian Ekchian. organizations, and families. to do away with democratically elected HARBOR AREA: Steve Seal, Chair (Eshelman ES), The School Board, with its billionaire- And, yet at this very moment, the U.S. school boards, has attacked our healthcare Karen Macias-Lutz (Del Amo ES), Jennifer McAfee (Dodson MS), Elgin Scott (Taper ES) bankrolled, pro-privatization majority, Supreme Court, with Donald Trump’s ap- and pensions, and supports the idea of ADULT & OCCUP ED: Matthew Kogan (Evans CAS) will choose our next permanent superin- pointment creating the majority needed, tying our pay and evaluation to student BILINGUAL EDUCATION: Cheryl L. Ortega (Sub Unit) tendent. We must continue to work with is readying to level the most fundamental test scores. And Marshall Tuck, candidate attack on unions in decades. The billion- for state superintendent, rides alongside EARLY CHILDHOOD ED: Corina Gomez (Pacoima EEC) Reclaim Our Schools LA to challenge Ref Rodriguez, who faces multiple felony aire-backed Janus v. AFSCME case, which him on most issues. It is crucial that we HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES: Mallorie Evans (Marlton Spec Ed) counts yet remains the swing vote on we expect to be decided in June and im- defeat Villaraigosa and Tuck in November. SPECIAL ED: Lucia Arias (Knollwood ES) the board. It becomes even more impor- mediately implemented thereafter, will Under the above conditions, it is vital SUBSTITUTES: Benny Madera tant to show unity and strength as UTLA overturn decades of established law that that we show and grow our unity and PACE CHAIR: Marco Flores members since Rodriguez shows no desire required workers who decided not to be strength—and use that unity and strength union members to still contribute to the to defend our primary vehicle for the fight, UTLA RETIRED: John Perez to do the right thing and step down. Certainly it was our unity and strength union financially. That established law our union, from Janus and to drive our AFFILIATIONS that won an excellent healthcare tenta- makes sense. Those workers who decide vehicle into the battles ahead to achieve American Federation of Teachers National Education Association tive agreement. It was achieved through not to be union members still, as a matter the Schools LA Students Deserve. We have strategic, concerted, and broad escalating of law, get the pay raises, the healthcare, a plan to do exactly that. STATE & NATIONAL OFFICERS actions, and we successfully pushed back the wins on working conditions, the rep- CFT PRESIDENT: Joshua Pechthalt district officials and privatizers who threat- resentation when facing discipline or arbi- Our plan: The SLASD campaign, the CTA PRESIDENT: Eric Heins CTA DIRECTOR: Erika Jones Crawford ened to cut our healthcare for months. See trary bosses, and so on, so it makes sense ratification vote, and “UTLA All In” CFT VICE PRESIDENTS: Arlene Inouye, John Perez, Juan Ramirez the details of the agreement in the cover that they would contribute, and not allow The first action we take centers around NEA PRESIDENT: Lily Eskelsen Garcia story and on page 8, showing the actual their co-workers to carry the financial load the school-by-school healthcare ratifica- AFT PRESIDENT: Randi Weingarten agreement as well as a summary of the TA for them. In overturning that established tion vote, which offers a great opportunity AFT VICE PRESIDENT: Alex Caputo-Pearl NEA DIRECTOR: Mel House and the pro/con statements. law, Janus is an attempt to financially un- to fight back these privatizers by engag- dermine our union. ing in our membership reaffirmation and UTLA COMMUNICATIONS Why showing and growing our Janus will overturn that established PACE (political action fund) membership EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Alex Caputo-Pearl strength is essential now law with the clear intent to deal the final drive, between February 8 and February COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: Anna Bakalis blow to unions in the United States—our 15. The first phase of this plan is based on COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALISTS: Kim Turner, We now must use the momentum gath- Carolina Barreiro, Tammy Lyn Gann, Pablo Serrano ered through our recent organizing victory country has dropped from over 33% union doubling-down on tried-and-true organiz- ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Laura Aldana to get California out of 46th place among density in the 1960s to density approach- ing practices. I’ll give you an example. the 50 states in per-pupil funding. We are ing single digits now. The billionaires and In 1997, after having taken a couple EDITORIAL INFORMATION fighting for California to stop privatization anti-union forces behind Janus will use the of years to focus on community organiz- UNITED TEACHER and the unregulated growth of indepen- decision to target the largest and strongest ing and the master’s program in Urban 3303 Wilshire Blvd., 10th Fl., LA, CA 90010 Email: [email protected] dent charters that is undermining neigh- unions. Teachers’ unions nationally will be Planning at UCLA, I entered LAUSD as a UTLA main line: 213-487-5560 borhood schools and the future of our targets, and UTLA, as the second-largest decently experienced teacher. I had taught ADVERTISING district as a whole. We are fighting for a vi- teacher union local in the country, will elementary school from 1990 to 1995 in Senders Communications Group Brian Bullen: 818-884-8966, ext. 1108 sionary Community Schools model and for be a specific target. The billionaires will the Compton Unified School District. But, investments in our neighborhood schools create phone banks to specifically encour- I had not yet had the experience of par- UNITED TEACHER accepts paid advertisements from outside age our members to drop their member- ticipating in citywide, school-by-school companies and organizations, including UTLA sponsors that will reverse the declining enrollment and vendors with no relationship with UTLA. Only approved that threatens our students’ learning con- ships. They will take legal action to wrap contract ratification votes the way UTLA vendors can use the UTLA logo in their ads. The content of ditions, our working conditions, our jobs, us up bureaucratically. They will take legal does it. At my new LAUSD school, Muir an advertisement is the responsibility of the advertiser alone, and UTLA cannot be held responsible for its accuracy, verac- and our healthcare. We are demanding action to challenge whether or not our old Middle School in South LA, my chapter ity, or reliability. Appearance of an advertisement should LAUSD stand up for its own survival, the membership forms hold up legally under chair, Carol Jordan, made sure that the not be viewed as an endorsement or recommendation by the new Janus construct and try to establish election station during ratification votes United Teachers Los Angeles. survival of a public school system that serves all. We are fighting for LAUSD that we have no or very few members. was prominent and that educators didn’t to get into the above struggles with real While many California Democrats will take for granted the fact that we were vot- United Teacher (ISSN # 0745-4163) is published nine Janus times a year (monthly except for February, June, and might—particularly in the wake of cities say publicly that they oppose , priva- ing—a right that people in society have July) by United Teachers Los Angeles, 3303 Wilshire like New Orleans and Detroit no longer tizers like Antonio Villaraigosa and his fought and died for more broadly, and a Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Subscrip- having true public education systems, but longtime colleague Marshall Tuck—both right at workplaces with unions that we tions: $20.00 per year. (Price included in dues/agency running for state office in 2018—will do should not take for granted as the United fee of UTLA bargaining unit members.) Periodicals rather loosely networked sets of privatized postage paid at Los Angeles, California. POSTMASTER: independent charter schools that do not the bidding of their financial backers and States has steadily become a more non- Please send address changes to United Teacher, 3303 serve all students, are non-union, and are secretly push to undermine teacher unions union environment since the 1960s. Wilshire Blvd., 10th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. becoming teacher turnover factories. and our right to collectively bargain. Vil- Carol had put together an informal team Telephone 213-487-5560. With the state and district unable or laraigosa, candidate for governor, has (continued on next page) 2 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net January 26, 2018

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE about signing a new, updated-for-Janus (continued from previous page) membership card to defend our union and our ability to fight. It is a huge op- of leaders across campus, and together, portunity to get those cards signed during they hustled around the school to make the ratification process between February sure that everyone was reminded to vote. 8 and February 15. Carol’s strategy is grounded in what we are 4. Educate. As we engage with our col- building now at each school site: our Con- leagues during this healthcare ratification tract Action Team, which we have formed vote, we systematically use the opportu- at hundreds of our schools. I always have nity to increase the number of members thought of Carol as the kind of person who who contribute to PACE, the voluntary is the backbone of UTLA—a leader who political action fund, and encourage those motivates a core of other leaders to then who already contribute to up their contri- reach into every corner of the school, to bution. Villaraigosa and Tuck will have every member. tens of millions of dollars behind them, Carol used the TA vote as an organizing and while we cannot match that, we need tool: a way to connect and build power as much political funding as possible to among her colleagues. Now, we must stay in the ring with them. PACE con- double down on Carol Jordan’s approach tributions are crucial because we cannot and get as many of our members to par- spend regular dues money on political ticipate in the UTLA All In campaign to: 1) campaigns—it must be through members ratify our healthcare TA; 2) get everyone signing up for voluntary contributions to sign new membership cards that will be under PACE. We have a huge opportunity Alex with the staff of Mack Elementary stronger legally in a Janus environment; to strengthen PACE during the ratification and 3) get everyone contributing to PACE, vote of February 8 to February 15. tions, having dialogues with members, and down dozens of schools in that city, but which legally must be a separate, volun- 5. Build power. Crucially, we must use the encouraging people to vote, recommit, and communities and educators fought back tary fund, to defeat Villaraigosa and Tuck. ratification vote, membership, and PACE sign up, as a way to identify CAT leaders, and didn’t let him get what he wanted. By using the unique, citywide opportu- process outlined above to strengthen our and help them follow through on concrete We can face the challenges of 2018 to- nity and engagement of a ratification vote, school-site structures between February 8 work, so that by the end of the process, gether, and we can win. As Jennifer Ritz, and by using our Contract Action Teams and February 15—in the same way Carol you have an ongoing CAT. Remember, chapter chair at San Pedro High School, at our sites to engage our co-workers in Jordan did at Muir Middle School back CATs help with everything—getting your said, “In the coming weeks, I’m going to conversations and to ensure everyone in the 1990s. Those of our schools with members involved in taking on school make sure that my members stand up, participates in the process, we build our established Contract Action Teams: use the site issues, contract enforcement, citywide re-commit, and say ‘In your face’ to the strength and unity through five actions: process of voting, reminding people to vote, issues, and more. privatizers who don’t think we get it.” 1. Massive voter turnout. As privatizer the membership card and PACE process, Educators are used to struggling, and Couldn’t have said it better myself. Nick Melvoin publicly criticizes the health- etc., to strengthen those CAT leaders and we can win. At the height of John Deasy’s It is wonderful working with you. Keep care tentative agreement, saying the dis- CATs. Give CAT leaders responsibilities in reign at LAUSD, there were people who up your great work with the students of trict should have gone stronger for cuts, getting folks to the election/membership/ thought that he would never be removed LA every day, and let’s make February 8 we reemphasize the crucial importance PACE stations and give them support to and that educators and students would to February 15 a week that goes down in of healthcare for the long-term, through a help them succeed. Those of our schools remain under him and his policies forever. history as one of the most active, positive, massive turnout for this ratification vote. without CATs: use this process of setting We organized and got rid of him. Mayor reaffirming weeks in the history of teacher 2. Organize. As we reiterate to our up the election/membership/PACE sta- Rahm Emanuel in Chicago tried to shut unions. Together, we can do this. co-workers that we won the healthcare tentative agreement through building CATs, organizing coalitions, and doing escalating public actions, we educate In this issue them on the crucial need to now, in turn, escalate our contract campaign 4 Community tells billionaires: Stop privatizing our public schools 6 Five facts about the new in exactly the way we escalated to win on healthcare—through Big Red Tues- Protest at Netflix HQ launches new ROSLA campaign. school funding measure days, school-site actions like picketing, regional rallies, and more. The district 5 LAUSD leads the nation in new NBCTs 8 Info on the healthcare is stonewalling on issues that are funda- UTLA members make up the largest and most diverse class agreement mental to saving LAUSD: salaries during achieving National Board Certification this year. a teacher shortage, class-size limits and 17 UTLA meeting board school discipline to attract parents, local decision-making instead of principal- 6 2018 election priority: Tony Thurmond for state superintendent 18 Involvement opportunity: only decision-making, staffing such as It would be disastrous for California’s schools if privatizer Marshall CTA State Council elections nurses and librarians, cutting top-down Tuck succeeded in his second bid for the seat. mandates and testing, common-sense 19 2017 union dues for tax independent charter accountability, 7 Building power for the Schools LA Students Deserve deductions and building support for Community We take on the threats from the Janus v. AFSCME case. Schools. Our goal is to reach an agree- 21 STRS preretirement ment this school year. As we escalate workshops and build to major actions in May, we will be increasing our strike readiness. 22 Committee events If the district isn’t willing to take care of the most basic building blocks for its own 23 Bilingual issues survival and isn’t committed to not going the way of New Orleans and Detroit, we 25 UTLA-Retired will be ready to take the actions neces- sary to save our schools. This escalation doesn’t just help pressure the district—it helps move our campaign for 20 x 20 and Get connected to UTLA state funding around California, as we Facebook: facebook.com/UTLAnow challenge the state to correct its dismal 46 Twitter: @utlanow out of 50 ranking in per-pupil funding. YouTube: youtube.com/UTLAnow 3. Recommit. As we reiterate to our co- workers that it was our union that won a great healthcare TA and that our union is the best vehicle for saving public education At the citywide UTLA meeting on January 4, chapter leaders took time from their for the above fights, we use the ratifica- winter break to set UTLA on a proactive course for 2018. Above: YES Academy tion process to talk with every member Vice Chair Dionne Lambert (right) with UTLA staff. 3 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net January 26, 2018 Community tells billionaires: Stop privatizing our public schools Protest at Netflix HQ launches new ROSLA campaign.

The coalition Reclaim Our Schools Los Netflix security responded to the peaceful Angeles protested the offices of several and festive rally—which included people billionaire CEO school privatizers on De- of all ages, from toddlers to grandparents— cember 19, calling them out for spending by physically blocking the entrance to the millions of dollars each year to privatize building, blasting horns to drown out pro- public education and in doing so crippling testors’ chants, and calling the police. By our school system and hurting our students. the time the police arrived, the crowd had First stop on the Posada for Public Edu- already dispersed, chanting, “We’ll be back” cation (inspired by the traditional Mexican on their way to their next stop, the offices holiday pilgrimage) was the offices of Netflix of Great Public Schools Now. GPSN was CEO Reed Hastings. Hastings has given the group founded by Eli Broad originally more than $2.5 million to the California to push his scheme to put 50% of LAUSD Charter Schools Association (CCSA) as well students into charter schools. as funded the criminal defense of indicted The Reclaim Our Schools LA coalition LAUSD Board member Ref Rodriguez. has launched a new campaign to hold In a boisterous rally outside Netflix head- billionaires accountable for agendas that At a rally outside Netflix headquarters on December 19, students, parents, educators, and quarters, students, parents, educators, and hurt public education, such as donating community members called out CEO Reed Hastings’ support for an agenda that is hurting community members demanded that all generously to charter operators and their students in traditional LAUSD public schools. schools be fully funded—not just those lobbying arm, the CCSA. The national that further the privatization of education. network of wealthy individuals support- operations have increased by almost 300% students, who tend to be served by district “We believe that education is a human ing privatization includes the Walton in the past 10 years. Charter operators are schools more so than by charter schools. right and should not be privatized,” student family of Walmart (Walton Foundation), draining a half-billion dollars each year from Wendy Garcia said. “We are trying to make Eli Broad (Broad Foundation), Bill Gates LAUSD—money that could pay for smaller Next Reclaim Our Schools LA action it so that the district spends $20,000 per (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), and class sizes, arts, music, and ethnic studies on February 8 at 4 p.m.: Join parents, student by the year 2020. Netflix puts a Doris Fisher (GAP Foundation). Some of programs as well as librarians, nurses, and students, educators, and community stop to this by investing money into charter these donors, like the Walton family, also counselors. Explosive charter growth has members outside the offices of Bill Siart schools. When students go to charter fund anti-union candidates and causes. happened with no planning and no over- (11858 La Grange Ave., 2nd Floor, LA, schools, LAUSD loses funding and that Their deep-pockets funding has pro- sight, and it is leading to inequities in re- 90025). Siart is the co-chair of Great Pub- makes it so that other students can’t learn moted the unchecked growth of charter sources and opportunities for students. This lic Schools Now and one of the founders with the resources they deserve.” operations across the country. In LA, charter has a particular impact on the highest-needs of ExEd, a charter think tank.

Critical DACA renewals funded by UTLA grant A thank-you from CHIRLA for investing in the lives of immigrant youth.

By Angelica Salas come from LAUSD families you work Executive Director with every day. Coalition for Humane Immigrant The $60,000 grant from the United Rights-CHIRLA Teachers Education Fund (UTEF) to help both CHIRLA and Asian Americans Ad- Last September 5, President Trump vancing Justice-LA made all of this work tried to put an end to Deferred Action for possible. Last September, during the Childhood Arrivals, better known as the DACA renewal campaign, hundreds of DACA program, which since 2012 has been DACA recipients were lining outside our the only immigration relief available for building at times starting the night before thousands of immigrant youth who im- to have a guarantee that they would be migrated with their parents or guardians seen the following morning for our legal to the U.S. at a very young age. Immedi- immigration services clinic. The need is ately after the announcement was made, great, and you helped us meet that need. CHIRLA went into emergency mode to As of early January, we thought that reach out to as many DACA recipients as had been the end of the DACA program, possible, especially those whose permit but on January 9, 2018, Judge William Lines outside of CHIRLA’s offices in the fall confirm the deep need for services to support im- would expire before March 5, 2018, and Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the migrant families. were still eligible to submit a renewal ap- Northern District of California ordered plication before the October 5, 2017, dead- a halt to the federal government’s ter- Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Help Go to www.sharingbringshope.org or look for line. Even as we took action to prepare to mination of DACA. Thanks to the case us spread the word! information in February on the 2018 Sharing help hundreds with what could be “last Regents of the University of California, et Thank you for investing in protect- Brings Hope campaign. chance” DACA renewals, UTLA also al. v. Department of Homeland Security, et ing the lives of hard-working immigrant took action by making a large donation al., Judge Alsup granted a preliminary youth. Thank you for continuing to col- Immigration resources to support these efforts, and challenging injunction—a temporary order while the laborate and work in coalition with us to others to do so as well. case goes forward—requiring USCIS to create a just society inclusive of all! • CHIRLA’s free legal clinics are open To meet the impending October 5 dead- resume accepting DACA renewal ap- Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at line and submit as many DACA renewal plications. This is a great judicial win, a The grants awarded to support DACA 8 a.m. No appointment necessary. Check applications as possible, we spread the second chance, and an incredible relief to renewal came from the UNITED TEACHER www.chirla.org for other resources, in- word about our legal services. In less many dreamers who didn’t get a chance Educational Foundation, created by UTLA in cluding a “know your rights” toolkit. than a month, we managed to submit to renew their DACA before last October 1990 as a separate nonprofit entity following • Asian Americans Advancing Justice 667 DACA renewal applications. CHIR- 5. However, the DACA program is still in legal guidelines. UTEF’s goal is to support (advancingjustice-la.org) offers legal as- LA’s legal team completed every single limbo; its future is uncertain. The reality student advancement and teacher profession- sistance to low-income people in the application free of charge, waived the is that federal elected officials in Congress al development, through scholarships and areas of immigration, public benefits, $40 consultation free and the cost of at- need to pass a clean Dream Act! funding for programs such as The Support employment, housing, and civil rights. torney representation and follow-up, as For now, CHIRLA’s legal team has Network for National Board Certification. • The UTLA website (www.utla. well as covered the $495 fee due to U.S. resumed helping DACA youth complete UTEF is funded through charitable contribu- net/resources/social-justice-resourc- Citizenship and Immigration Services and submit their renewal applications tions and not member dues. Its board, since es) has resources on DACA, immigra- (USCIS) for every renewal application. No free of charge. Unfortunately, the court its inception, are the seven UTLA officers. tion raids, and more that educators one was turned away for lack of funds, injunction doesn’t cover new DACA ap- Donations to UTEF can be made through can share with the community. and we know that many of those served plications. Our legal clinic opens at 8 a.m. LAUSD’s Sharing Brings Hope campaign. 4 United Teacher • for the latest news: www.utla.net January 26, 2018 LAUSD leads the nation in new NBCTs UTLA members make up the largest and most diverse class achieving National Board Certification this year. PHOTOS BY LAURA ALDANA By Michael de la Torre, NBCT and peer review. Candidates can take up to The Support Network Program five years to certify. To encourage accom- Coordinator plished teachers to stay in the classroom, NBCTs in LAUSD can earn a 15% salary This year, the 20th anniversary of increase (an incentive UTLA negotiated The Support Network, we celebrate the into our contract in 1997). amazing accomplishments of the 169 To help teachers through the certifica- LAUSD teachers who met the rigorous tion process, many candidates join The standards and achieved National Board Support Network, a joint UTLA-LAUSD Certification from the National Board for program headquartered at UTLA, that Professional Teaching Standards. offers facilitated workshops and peer For the fifth year in a row, LAUSD support. It is the largest union-sponsored gained the largest number of newly cer- program of its kind in the nation. tified NBCTs of any school district in the nation. We also lead the nation in having Teachers interested in National Board the most diverse class of new NBCTs, with Certification can contact Michael de la more than 55% being teachers of color. Torre, NBCT, program coordinator of The Sup- Since 1997, there have been 2,797 educa- port Network, at mdelatorre@thesupportnet- LAUSD educators with LAUSD School Board member Scott Schmerelson and LAUSD Teacher tors who have certified while teaching in work.net or visit the website at www.thesup- Support Director Peggy Taylor Presley (left center) at an event honoring new NBCTs at Cal LAUSD. Those numbers are having an portnetwork.net for more information. State LA on January 18. impact on the classroom: Harvard Uni- versity’s Strategic Data Project reported that on average students of Board-certified teachers in math and English language arts gained the equivalent of two months’ ad- ditional instruction in math and one month additional ELA instruction. National Board Certification is a volun- tary, high-risk assessment designed to rec- ognize and reward accomplished teachers. It is one of the profession’s highest distinc- tions. The process involves written portfo- lios and assessments that probe the depth of a candidate’s content knowledge and pedagogy. Like board-certified physicians UTLA Elementary Vice President Gloria Mar- and accountants, teachers who achieve tinez congratulates the new NBCTs at the National Board Certification have met Cal State event. UTLA has two officers with the rigorous standards through intensive National Board certification: Martinez and The Support Network coordinator Michael de la Torre (center) with new NBCTs Yesenia Duran, study, expert evaluation, self-assessment, UTLA Secondary VP Dan Barnhart. Christina Cook, Marissa Suri, Shaheen Munjee, and Shelley Singer.<