California Teachers Association

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**CTA**

California Teachers Association
Founded	May, 1863
Members	340,000
Country	United States
Affiliation	NEA
Key people	Barbara Kerr, president
Office location	Burlingame, California
Website	www.cta.org

The California Teachers Association (CTA), initially established in 1863 as the California Educational Society, is by far the largest teachers union in the state of California. It is considered by many to be the most powerful union in California. The CTA is based in Burlingame, and its current president is Barbara Kerr.

[edit] History

In response to a call in 1863 from the California Superintendent of Public Instruction, John Swett, for a "teachers' institute", about one hundred teachers gathered in San Francisco, resulting in the formation of the California Educational Society. In 1875, the organization changed its name to the California Teachers Association.

In 1912, several regional teachers organizations, including the Southern California Teachers Association, were consolidated into the CTA, enabling creation of a statewide governance structure. The consolidation retained six distinct regional entities, or 'sections', however, which continued to elect their own executive secretaries and staffs. In 1971, the sections were phased out, with a unified governance structure and staff.

[edit] Role in 2005 Special Election

The CTA was known for running numerous ads criticizing Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for refusing to pay back $2 billion that, according to the CTA and reflected by sharply curtailed education programs, the Governor had borrowed from the education budget. The CTA strongly opposed propositions 74, 75, 76, which were advanced by Schwarzenegger. None of the initiatives were approved by voters. CTA also criticized Governor Schwarzenegger for spending nearly $80 million on the special election.