We at California Teachers Empowerment Network are teachers, just like you.
As fellow educators we value and respect you and the work you do. This organization, CTEN for short, is a non-partisan, non-political group dedicated to providing teachers with reliable and balanced information about professional affiliations and positions on educational issues.
We believe that advocating for open dialogue and informed choices will empower all of us to experience greater satisfaction and success in our profession.
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While Covid seems to be behind us, there is no way to predict when some other virus will shut down our schools. As such, here are some free online resources for schools that shift to online learning:
Download vs. Streaming, Sans Serif Fonts, Standardized Student Passwords — 10 Things to Know When Converting to an Online Classroom
E-Learning Becomes New Standard as Schools Close Due to COVID-19
NSCW - Educating Students with Disabilities During the Time of COVID-19
CCSA Provides Educators with Special Education Distance Learning Resources
California schools chief recommends that schools prepare for distance learning for rest of school year
Putting Rivalries Aside, Media, Education and Tech Giants Come Together to Offer Free Lessons, Activities During Pandemic — All in One Curated Place
Free, Online Learning Resources When Coronavirus Closes Schools
Online Education That Fits Each Child
Resources for parents who are homeschooling:
We’re All Homeschoolers Now
Welcome to Homeschooling, America!
Free, Online Learning Resources
Home School Legal Defense Association
You are no longer required to pay any money to a teachers union!
On June 27, 2018 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the plaintiff in the Janus v. AFSCME case. The decision means that no public school teacher or any other government worker in the U.S. has to pay money to a union as a condition of employment.
Effective immediately, nonmember agency fee or fair share payers should have no more money taken from their monthly checks by their school district and union. CTA has sent a letter stating as such. If anyone has not received this missive, please let us know and we will email you a copy. We have not seen nor heard about any such communication from CFT, however. If any AFT/CFT agency fee payer has received a “sayonara” letter from that union, please scan and email a copy to CTEN.
If you have been a union member and decide you want out, and pay no more money to the union, you must let your union know that in writing. The National Right to Work Foundation has provided teachers with an easy-to-fill-out template that you can use to resign. To access the form letter, go here. Please send copies by certified mail, return receipt requested to:
-- your local union
-- CTA Member Services at 1705 Murchison Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010
-- your school district
For more help and information on teacher union issues, please visit For Kids and Country and TeacherFreedom.org.
Because agency fee payer status is now a thing of the past, there is no need to send in a yearly rebate/objection letter any more. (The yearly letter required to be submitted by November 15th each year applied to the existing school year in which it was submitted.)
While you will lose liability insurance and legal representation if you leave the union, there are alternative ways to secure this coverage. You can join the Association of American Educators or the Christian Educators Association International for your insurance and legal needs. These are professional organizations, not unions. Also, teachers who mention CTEN when they sign up with AAE for the first time will get a $30 discount off the regular $198 first year membership.
National School Choice Week is time that is set aside to shine a positive spotlight on the need for effective education options for all children . To learn more, go here.
California Independent Teachers is a local-only, independent alternative to your teachers union. For more info, go here.