Red for Ed: Raising Our Voices, Protecting Public Schools

Red For Ed in California

#RedForEd Historic Day of Action Wins Massive Victory for Public Education and Students

“And then, suddenly, the stalemate ended when four Assembly members chose a side and stood up for schools with their votes, pushing the total to 42 (the final vote tallied 44 Ayes) and passing AB 1505 out of the Assembly. Thousands cheered in unison and then turned to hug the closest person in a red shirt before letting out a sigh (and cry) of relief. The energy of the #RedForEd Day of Action and this major victory forever cementing this day in the history books of CTA and California public education.”

See more highlights from CTA’s Day of Action on California Educator.

CTA’s #RedForEd Gear is Here! Shop the Online Store Today

California educators are painting the state RED for our students and for public education and we’re not slowing down. Need more red in your closet to wear to actions? Check out CTA’s brand new online pop-up shop and stock up! We have union-made hoodies, hats, tees (including men’s & women’s sizes and v-necks), and more.

Visit our Union Made Red For Ed online store here.

#RedForEd: Hear Us Roar

Hear Us Roar is an interactive experience of California’s #RedForEd efforts, featuring both
historic strikes by members of UTLA and OEA as well as actions by members at other CTA locals in the 2018-2019 school year. Through a timeline, video recaps, social media highlights and photos, readers/viewers get a big-picture view of the movement, key moments and our path forward.

Take Action: Fix Broken Laws that Govern Charter Schools

Send a letter to your CA Legislators to urge their support for #KidsNotProfits and ask them to vote YES on a package of bills that would fix the broken laws governing charter schools in California, including AB 1505, AB 1506, AB 1507, and SB 756. Learn more about those bills and send a letter here.

Learn more and download a flyer for these bills here.

California ranks 44th in the nation in the amount of money it spends per student. This lack of investment makes no sense considering California is the 5th largest economy in the world. Bills making their way through the California Legislature including SB 468 (Jackson) and SB 37 (Skinner) will help address this chronic under funding. Learn more about those bills:

Must-reads about these bills.

- Senator Skinner: California should increase taxes on Big Businesses in San Francisco Chronicle
- California gives out too many tax breaks. And it’s losing billions on them each year, LA Times

#RedForEd in the 2019-2020 School Year

Forestville Teachers Association Strike

Must-read with highlights: BREAKING: Forestville Teachers Win, California Educator

Other #RedForEd highlights:

200 Urge Del Norte School Board to Work with Teachers, California Educator

#RedForEd in the 2018-2019 School Year

NHTA Educators Strike for their Students

After a historic 14 day strike, a contract has been ratified. The fight for public education and students in New Haven Unified continues! Learn more at newhaventa.org

Sacramento City Teachers Association authorizes strike over unfair labor practices

Sacramento City School Superintendent Jorge Aguilar is refusing to honor the negotiated agreement that he personally signed in November 2017 that lowered class sizes and added school nurses and psychologists. He is reneging on a deal that improved student learning conditions. SCTA members say this is unacceptable.

SCTA members want the best learning conditions possible for their students, and they’re willing to strike to make that happen.

Update: Teachers union delays May 22 strike at Sacramento City Unified, SacBee

Show your support by going to the “Sign-on to support SCTA” page – and share “SCTA, we have your back!” on your social media channels using the hashtag #SCTAGotYourBack or #SCTA4Students

Must read: Is Sacramento the Next Big Fight in #RedForEd Wave? California Educator

Oakland Update: OEA Contract Ratified! Fight for Public Schools Will Continue

While applauding the gains made with the agreement, educators vowed to continue their fight. Visit OEA to learn more about the historic strike and get engaged in the continuing fight for public education and students in Oakland.

Richmond Teachers Call for Moratorium on Charter Schools Citing Need for Stronger Oversight, Transparency and Accountability

View their Resolution here. VICTORY! Update on February 28, 2019 –> “With great pleasure we would like to announce that the WCCUSD Board of Education last night passed the Charter School Moratorium and Oversight resolution we’ve been fighting for! With a vote of 4-1 and after hours of public comment from teachers, families, and community members the Board approved this resolution”

Take Action! Encourage your local school board members to join other districts in calling for a moratorium on unregulated charter school growth. Here are some sample resolutions: Short Version, Long Version

Los Angeles: UTLA’s Historic & Victorious Strikes of 2019

Congratulations to UTLA public and charter educators for two victorious strikes in Los Angeles!
UTLA announced a Tentative Agreement has been ratified by a super-majority of members.
CTA’s statement on the historic victory: Los Angeles Students Face Brighter Future Thanks to Tentative Settlement Reached in UTLA Strike
Photos from UTLA’s historic “Let the Sunshine in Rally”and CTA’s Statewide #RedForEd Day of Action on Friday, Jan. 18
L.A. Students Win: UTLA reaches Tentative Agreement, California Educator
33,000 UTLA Educators Strike, California Educator
L.A. Teachers’ Potential ‘Meta-Strike’ Reveals Battle Lines in U.S. Public Education War, Capital & Main

Resources for Educators and Community Allies

#RedForEd Flyer for parents available here. Also in Spanish here.
Tips for planning a walk-in

Why do we wear Red for Ed?

When we think about the promise of education today, we see the future leaders of our nation and the qualified educators who reach, teach and inspire them. We see classrooms with modern tools that help students prepare to make an impact on the world. We see students getting the support they need to thrive and educators having the support they need to serve.

Learn more about the current state of California’s public education here.

We see progress and hope.

But today we also see budgets being cut, overcrowded classrooms and outdated materials. We see educators working around the clock to make a difference in the lives of their students and standing up to lawmakers to ask for better pay and school funding. We’re raising our voices together for our students, for our schools and for ourselves as educators.

That’s why we’re wearing Red for Ed.

Fighting for Our Students

Budget cuts and underfunding have made it harder for educators to prepare their students. Our students deserve better, and so do we. That’s why we push public officials to make funding decisions that better account for school needs.

Upholding Our Value

Students benefit from educators who know them by name, know their community and have a say in the policies that govern their schools. We must ensure that talented educators can afford to stay in the profession they love.

Advocating for Change

CTA and NEA gives educators a voice to advocate for the better pay, benefits and working conditions that have long been ignored. We deserve, and have earned, pay and benefits that match our expertise, education and professional experience.

Share on Social Media

Join our Facebook Take Action group
Use #RedForEd #RedForPublicED and #WeAreCTA on Twitter and Instagram

Sample Social Media Posts

Click to tweet→ I’m wearing #RedForEd today to support public education, our students and the teaching profession!

Click to tweet → We wear #RedForEd to support California teachers and educators across the country who are fighting for decent pay and the quality public education our students deserve! #WeAreCTA