FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Flawed Decision Hurts Students, Punishes All for A Few Poorly Run Districts

Burlingame—California’s educators are disappointed by the judge’s decision in the Vergara v. State of California as it hurts students and educators. From the beginning, this lawsuit has highlighted the wrong problems, proposed the wrong solutions, and followed the wrong process. Today’s groundless decision has been stayed and all laws remain in effect while parties appeal.

“We are deeply disappointed, but not surprised by this decision. Like the lawsuit itself, today’s ruling is deeply flawed. This lawsuit has nothing to do with what’s best for kids, but was manufactured by a Silicon Valley millionaire and a corporate PR firm to undermine the teaching profession and push their agenda on our schools,” said CTA President Dean E. Vogel. “We plan to appeal this decision on behalf of students and educators, while teachers continue to provide all students a quality public education every day.”

“Rather than provide resources or working to create positive environments for students and teachers, this suit asserts that taking away rights from teachers will somehow help students,” said CFT President Joshua Pechthalt. “This suit is not pro-student. It is fundamentally anti-public education, scapegoating teachers for problems originating in underfunding, poverty, and economic inequality.”

There is nothing unconstitutional about these laws and the plaintiffs clearly failed to show harm to any student. Testimony and research actually showed that teaching experience enhances classroom effectiveness and increases student productivity at all grade levels. All three of the issues in this case contribute to better outcomes for students. Eliminating the professional and due process rights of educators will not improve student learning, but will make it harder to attract and retain quality teachers in our classrooms.

More information about the Vergara lawsuit, including trial video, can be found at cta.org/Vergara and vergaratrial.com.

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The 325,000-member CTA is affiliated with the 3.2 million-member National Education Association. The California Federation of Teachers is the statewide affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, and represents more than 100,000 faculty and school employees in public and private schools and colleges, from early childhood through higher education.