PreK-12 Resources

Overview

Resources

Union Media

  • CFT Unitedformerly named California Teacher, is the CFT’s all-union news magazine that contains information relevant to all members with a section specific to the issues of early childhood educators and preK-12 certificated staff.
  • AFT Schoolhouse Voices is part of the national union’s Voices blog and covers issues of relevance to preK-12 educators.
  • AFT Teachers provides preK-12 teachers with news of union issues and campaigns and helpful workplace information. (Subscribe to the email newsletter.)
  • AFT Early Childhood Education provides early educators national news and helpful workplace information.

Union Resources Prepared by the EC/TK-12 Council

Special Education in Turmoil: A Guide to Negotiating Solutions to Common Problems
A comprehensive report prepared by the EC/TK-12 Council about the state of special education in California. The report includes contract language from local unions around the state. 

White Paper: What makes quality public education? Ask the experts
In this award-winning white paper, Diane Ravitch, Linda Darling-Hammond, and Pasi Sahlberg support the position that “public education can be done right.” Written by the EC/TK-12 Council for member and general public education. 

Government Agencies

California Commission on Teacher Credentialing The state government agency that regulates teaching credentials.

California Department of Education Regulating K-12 education in California.

Educational Data Partnership Fiscal, demographic, and performance data on California’s K-12 schools.

Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE) Makes hundreds of Internet-based education resources supported by agencies throughout the federal government easier to find.

First 5 California Funding county programs that educate parents, grandparents, caregivers, and teachers about the critical role they play during a child’s first five years.

TEACH California How to get a teaching credential in California from the California Department of Education.

U.S. Department of Education The national home of regulations for early childhood and K-12 schools.

Retirement System

CalSTRS The retirement system for K-12 teachers and community college faculty working in public schools and colleges. The CFT monitors CalSTRS actions and sends a representative to its board meetings.

Advocacy & Research Organizations

California State PTA The largest organization of parents of school children statewide, with local chapters in virtually every K-12 school district.

Center for Education Policy Analysis Supports “high quality, multi-disciplinary empirical research that is informed by collaboration with stakeholders and practitioners and that, in turn, informs the improvement of education policy and practice.” Produced the “Getting Down to Facts” studies.

Center for the Future of Teaching and Learning A public, not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening teacher development policy and practice.

Center for Teaching Quality The Center for Teaching Quality improves student learning through developing teacher leadership, conducting practical research, and engaging various communities.

Center on Education Policy National, independent advocate for public education and for more effective public schools.

Child and Family Policy Institute of California A non-partisan, independent organization whose mission is to help establish sound public policy that benefits the children of California.

Educating for Democracy The California Campaign for the Civic Mission of Schools, sponsored by the California Coalition for Civic Renewal, seeks the support of education, business, labor, and service groups to promote civic education.

Learning First Alliance A permanent partnership of 18 leading education associations dedicated to improving student learning in America’s public schools and work toward the continual and long-term improvement of public education based on solid research.

National Committee on Teaching and America’s Future A nonprofit organization “dedicated to providing every child with competent, caring, qualified teachers in schools organized for success.”

Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE) California education policy research center.

Special Education Guide The go-to online resource for parents and educators who want to master the terminology, procedures, and best practices in special education.

Teaching for Change provides teachers and parents with the tools to create schools where students learn to read, write and change the world.

General Media

EdSource Nonprofit analysis and information source for California PreK-12 public schools

Education Week “American Educators’ Online Newspaper of Record”

Kappan Magazine A professional journal for educators

Rethinking Schools National publisher of educational materials, written by activists, that focus on urban schools, and issues of equity and social justice