Student leaders have achieved an incredible feat in the last year. In four districts across the state, students have fought for, and won the creation of student led budget decision-making bodies within their districts. In some regions, students are breaking ground in the state, piloting projects California schools have never tried. In Long Beach, Oakland,…
Angel Fernandez was one of many CFJ student leaders who led an effort in San Jose to move their district to implement an innovative democratic process that would allow students to allocate a portion of their school’s budget to where they felt it was most needed. In early 2014, students began meeting with school and…
Just a few weeks ago, 50 students gathered in the Santa Cruz mountains for a weekend of learning, bonding, and growing – the first of many steps ramping up toward the launch of a new campaign this fall. Students learned from each other, built new relationships with students from across the state, and weighed in on…
When students and adults are empowered to lead, our schools thrive. On May 16th, almost 100 students and adults representing 17 grassroots organizations, education associations, and unions filled the room for Cal Justice Talks: United Voices for Change to launch a movement where students and adults continue to flip the frame by working together to…
by Mary McGinney, featured in Fresno Alliance As a Fresno City College student and recent graduate from Edison High School, I realized that I’ve learned so much in my four years with Californians for Justice (CFJ). CFJ approaches some of the issues we as teenagers and of color face nearly every day of our lives,…
In February 2015, Californians for Justice piloted an innovative addition to our Leadership Development Program – an intensive Leadership Bootcamp intended to enhance the skills of our advanced leaders. The 24 students who participated from Oakland & San Jose were the first cohort of advanced and empowered youth leaders who will lead their peers in…
With over 90 people in attendance from all over California, the “What’s working in Education” convening was highlighted by powerful community building, deep & valuable conversations among students, parents, community organizers and 16 presenters who are doing amazing work in Public Education. Attendees discussed a range of educatio n topics: from health, school climate, Common Core,…
“This is going to affect Overfelt in a positive way. I think it will inspire students to make more democratic decisions like voting in the future. Most of our youth of color vote at low rates, and this will inspire them to see how it benefits themselves and the nation.” – Brisa Rojas, Overfelt High Student, PB Steering…
by Reginald Quartey, CFJ Student Leader This is my vision of student voice: It is a place where quality teaching isn’t a person reading from a textbook verbatim , going to a counselor isn’t just because you want to change your class, and a student doesn’t have to feel like they aren’t learning because there…
WE DID IT! After just 7 months, the State Board of Education has officially approved all of the demands of the Student Voice Campaign! After a year of intense deliberation among lawmakers, education advocates, unions, parents, and students, the State Board of Education unanimously voted in the permanent Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) regulations. The regulations…
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