SAN FRANCISCO, CA - California Teachers Association President Barbara Kerr today announced the California Teachers Association’s support for State Treasurer Phil Angelides’ campaign for Governor and applauded Angelides’ effort to increase the number of public school counselors. The California Teachers Association (CTA) is the largest organization of teachers in California (representing 335,000 members) and part of the victorious Alliance for a Better California. CTA joins other Alliance members supporting Angelides such as the California Professional Firefighters and the California Federation of Teachers.
"Phil Angelides has a commitment to fully fund Proposition 98, which he sees as a floor, not a ceiling," said Kerr. "He believes getting to the national average in per-pupil funding is not enough and that California should once again be at the top in the resources we give our students."
"I am honored that the California Teachers Association is supporting my campaign to become a Governor who will fight to increase educational opportunities for our young people," said Angelides. "I'll be a Governor who praises and supports the teaching profession, so young people become teachers in schools that are safe and have the resources they need. Together, we will continue to lead the fight against the Governor's budget cuts to our K-12 schools and work to open the doors to college wider."
Angelides has pledged to increase funding for education, ensure college opportunity for every young person in the State of California and has called for doubling the number of counselors in California’s public schools. California ranks last among the states in counseling support for students, with only 6,442 counselors for more than 6 million students - one counselor for each 878 students in K-12 schools.
"It's shameful that we're dead last among all states in the number of public school counselors per student," Angelides added. "I'll double that number - because you can't go to college if you can't prepare for it in the first place."
Phil Angelides' campaign for Governor, which is chaired by Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Barbara Boxer, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, has earned unprecedented early support and momentum from a broad spectrum of supporters - progressives and moderates, environmental leaders, education advocates, business leaders, law enforcement organizations, groups representing working Californians, and more than 300 elected officials from across the state.
Angelides had a successful career as a businessman and served as unpaid Chair of the California Democratic Party (1991-93) before taking office as State Treasurer in 1999, the only elected office he has held. During seven years in public office, Angelides has gained a reputation as an innovative national leader advancing groundbreaking new ideas and initiatives to expand home ownership, create small businesses, protect the environment, reform corporate boardrooms, invest in inner cities, and increase educational opportunities for young people.
For more information on Angelides' campaign, please visit www.Angelides.com.
