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History
2010
May 7--CFJ Long Beach kicks off "Food for Thought," a new campaign that combines environmental justice and educational justice. Students and organizers are especially interested in air quality due to westside school's proximity to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, a major transportation corridor of freeways and rail lines, and oil refineries.
March 19-21--Forty student leaders, sixteen staff members, and eight board members participate in the annual Statewide Leadership Retreat at the El Chorro Outdoor School in San Luis Obispo
March 4--Across all four CFJ regions, CFJ participates in the National Day of Action to Defend Education, one of the largest nation-wide rallies in defense of education
2009
August--CFJ's Summer Youth Leadership Academy graduates forty-five new student leaders and movement builders. Each region hosts a community event featuring a theme in educational justice. Fresno: High dropout rate. San Jose: School to prison pipeline. Oakland: Issues in OUSD. Long Beach: California High School Exit Exam.
May 13--CFJ and the Campaign Quality Education turn out over 500 students, parents, and allies on the state capitol steps in Sacramento. Following the rally, students marched the capitol grounds and made over 50 legislative visits. The theme of the day is "Don't Pink Slip Our Education!"
2008
January— So Fresh, So Clean campaign at Oakland High School succeeds in getting the Oakland Unified School District to access funds to replace outdated equipment and convinces the district to apply for $13million from the state’s Emergency Repair Program to repair the school’s faulty heating ventilation and air conditioning system.
February—Fresno student leaders hold a joint press conference with Superintendent Michael Hanson of the Fresno Unified School District to unveil new A-G posters and raise awareness for college admissions requirements.
April—In response to CFJ’s campaign demands, Long Beach Unified School Board set five-year goals for the Academic and Career Success Initiative, including increasing the percentage of LBUSD students who graduate with the A-G college entrance requirements from 38% in 2007 to 60% in 2013.
May— As part of the Campaign for Quality Education’s “100 Percent Prepared for College and Career” campaign launch, over 2000 students, parents and teachers from across California brave 100 degree weather to make their voices heard in the state capitol on May 15th. Students and parents from across California converge on Sacramento to call for better schools and adequate school funding. Students, CFJ staff and our allies hold over 45 delegation visits with officials and deliver over 10,000 postcards to the Governor demanding that the State fully fund education.
August—42 student leaders participate in the Summer Youth Leadership Academy. This is the first year that an Advanced Academy was offered in all four regional offices.
August—San Jose’s Better Preparation for Higher Education campaign succeeds in getting the Eastside Union High School District Superintendent to commit to including CFJ student proposals in the district’s ten-year Academic Master Plan. Proposals include more accessible college information, increasing options for students to make up credits, and increasing counseling options, particularly increasing bilingual counselors.
September—CFJ jumps back into electoral campaigns by mobilizing and educating our supporters about issues affecting low-income communities of color and youth on the November ballot. CFJ opposes Propositions 5, 6, 8 and 9, which discriminate against youth, immigrants and LGBTQI residents of California. CFJ supports Proposition 5, which offers a proactive solution to California’s prison crisis.
September—CFJ begins organizing with community college students at Laney College in Oakland.
2007
January—CFJ and our collaborative partners in Parents and Students for Great Schools (PICO California, California ACORN and Public Advocates) begin surveying over 5,500 parents, students and community members across California about school finance and public needs in our education system.
February—San Jose student leaders launch the Better Preparation for Higher Education campaign focusing on increasing college information for students and parents and increasing resources for immigrant and English language learning students.
March—CFJ launches the Building Bridges to Higher Education project, engaging college student leaders on policy issues related to equity and access in higher education. CFJ community college student leaders are active in rallying support for the California DREAM Act by gathering over 1,000 postcards asking the Governor to approve the bill.
August— Oakland’s Can You See Me in College? campaign succeeds in swaying the Oakland Unified School District to expand its College Recruitment Network program to Oakland High School and to create a student advisory committee for its College and Career Readiness Committee, ensuring students have a voice in programs and policies related to college and career preparation.
September—In response to pressure from CFJ student leaders, the Long Beach Unified School District School Board passes the Academic and Career Success Initiative to increase college-going rates in the district.
September—CFJ and partners in the Parents and Students for Great Schools coalition hold town halls in Los Angeles and Oakland to release the results of our school finance survey. Over 350 parents, students, and community members come out to go deeper into the key findings of the studies and to connect the research to the local organizing work happening throughout the state.
November—CFJ and Parents and Students for Great Schools partners release the “Now That We Have the Facts” report to highlight student and parent demands for public education.
November—In Fresno, the Your Future, Your Life, You Have the Power! campaign succeeds at convincing the Fresno Unified School District to improve the student-to-counselor ratio from 800 students per counselor to 450 students per counselor. The campaign also convinces the district to post a new student-friendly college access poster listing the “A-G” university entrance requirements in every classroom.
2006
January— CFJ completes our organizational strategic planning process, generating a five-year plan to build our local and statewide campaigns, and to gather 20% of our operating expenses from grassroots sources by 2010.
February— CFJ enters a strategic collaboration with the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), Pacific Institute for Community Organizing (PICO), Public Advocates and UCLA-IDEA to educate and engage thousands of grassroots youth and parents across California, and to ensure that the voices of parents and students are included in the public debate on school funding.
February—CFJ continues working to mitigate the negative impacts of the high-stakes California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) on low-income students and students of color by partnering with two litigation allies to bring lawsuits on behalf of students. The first lawsuit was filed on behalf of student plaintiffs by Morrison-Foerster arguing that the State had not fulfilled its constitutional responsibility to provide all California students with a quality education, and thus could not require students to pass a high-stakes Exit Exam. In May, the Alameda County Superior Court ruled in CFJ’s favor, issuing an injunction against implementation of the Exit Exam for the Class of 2006. However, the injunction was stayed by the California Supreme Court and an appeals court upheld that ruling.
The second lawsuit, Californians for Justice v. The State, argued that the State did not follow through on the legislation-mandated requirement to fully explore alternatives to the Exit Exam. The court ruled in favor of the State.
March— CFJ and our allies in the Campaign for Quality Education undertake a strategic planning process to plan out the CQE’s broad vision and strategy for the coming years and build collective ownership of the alliance.
April— CFJ youth and staff in all regions participate in the massive immigrants’ rights mobilizations taking place in early April and on May 1st. CFJ stands in solidarity with immigrants’ rights organizations and advocates in opposition to HR 4437.
April—Oakland office launches the “Can You See Me in College?” Campaign. Long Beach office launches the “Raising Expectations for Higher Education” Campaign.
August— Fifty-five youth leaders complete the sixth annual Summer Youth Leadership Academy (SYLA). The first Advanced SYLA is offered for veteran CFJ student members in San Jose.
August— San Jose office completes a local campaign on Williams implementation, getting the Eastside Union High School District to agree to full implementation and information dissemination to parents and students about their rights under the settlement.
December—Californians for Justice celebrates our tenth anniversary with more than 700 members, supporters and community allies at our special anniversary events in San Jose, Long Beach, Fresno and Oakland.
2005
January—CFJ members worked with two key legislators—state assemblymember Karen Bass and state senator Gloria Romero—to communicate our concerns with the High School Exit Exam and learning conditions in general. CFJ members gave input on how the exam and their school conditions were affecting them as the legislators crafted legislation to improve schools and improve the exit exam.
February—CFJ and the Campaign for Quality Education protest delays in implementation of Williams lawsuit reforms. Protestors in all five CFJ cities denounced state for missing first deadline of settlement.
March—“Building Power to Transform Education” conference at UCLA campus. Three hundred youth, parents, and education advocates from forty organizations came together to share ideas and strategize to win real changes in public education.
San Jose CFJ, working in close coalition with the California Schools Employee Association and the local California Teachers Association, successfully reversed local school district budget cuts, saving up to 900 jobs of teachers and other school personnel slated to be cut in order to fill a $14 Million budget deficit. The coalition was able to identify immediate short-term money and put significant pressure on the school board to find new potential money for future budgets.
August—Fifty-seven Youth leaders complete the 5th annual Summer Youth Leadership Academy (SYLA) are largest academy ever.
August—CFJ files a Public Records Act request
September—Campaign for Quality Education back to school rallies statewide.CFJ and Public Advocates win settlement on Teacher Quality suit
November—Historic defeat of Governor Schwarzenegger’s big business and right-wing agenda. CFJ worked against four initiatives which went down to defeat!
2004
January—Rallies against the Governor’s cuts to UC/CSU outreach programs are held in Oakland, San Jose, Fresno, Long Beach, and San Diego. Media coverage highlights the benefits of college access programs.
April—“Take Down Sactown” lobby days bring 80 campaign members to the capitol to meet with legislators on college access and the Opportunity to Teach and Learn Index. Participants join a rally to fight cuts to college access programs.
May—The Campaign marks the 50th anniversary of Brown v Board of Education by staging public “mock trials” held in all five cities. The events emphasize the link between past segregation and ongoing school inequality.
June—September—CFJ hosts nine workshops on school funding. Students, parents, and other community allies discuss the school funding landscape and challenges to achieving the resources needed for a quality education.
July—“Reality Check” actions are organized by SYLA students in San Jose, Fresno, and San Diego. Students present postcards to staff in the Governor’s regional offices and call for support of the Opportunity to Teach and Learn Index and a prompt settlement of the Williams v. California lawsuit.
August—Forty-nine student members complete the fourth Summer Youth Leadership Academy (SYLA).
August—Students and parents rally in front of the offices of assembly member Fabian Nuñez (Los Angeles) and Senate Majority Leader Don Perata (Oakland) asking for their leadership and the Governor’s support to pass SB 1419, the Opportunity to Teach and Learn Index. These events follow on the heels of the historic settlement of the 4-year-old Williams lawsuit.
November—CFJ helped push for editorial board meetings which resulted in Op-Eds in strong support of instating the Quality Education Commission. At the same time, CFJ organized a Statewide Phone Jam targeting key staff in Governor’s office over the course of a week.
2003
March—Fresno student members complete survey of 500 students in the Fresno School District. Fifty-four percent of students report their classrooms don’t have enough desks, books, or basic supplies.
March—Students hold rallies in all 5 CFJ cities on days the Exit Exam is administered, calling on the State Board to delay the denial of diplomas.
May—“The California Bus Tour for Quality Education” heads from San Diego to Sacramento, stopping in 12 cities to highlight educational inequalities that exist across the state. The tour gets the attention of local and state media and puts the State Board of Education on notice that we want real improvements in our schools, not fake fixes like the Exit Exam.
May—Community Speak Outs—one in LA and one in Oakland—provide a report back from the Bus Tour and release “First Things First” report to the media. The scathing report shows how the High School Exit Exam is punishing students for the state’s own failure to provide an equitable, high quality education. It addresses unequal school conditions as well as problems with test administration.
June—CFJ and CQE members visit their legislative representatives in their field (local) offices to demand that they support a delay to the Exit Exam and an alternative assessment to the exam.
June—CFJ members and allies meet face-to-face with State Board of Education members Reed Hastings, Luis Rodriguez and Carol Katzman to express concerns about the Exit Exam. CFJ members also meet with State Board staff in Sacramento and tell their experiences of unequal school conditions.
August—Thirty student members complete the third Summer Youth Leadership Academy (SYLA).
July—“Summer Jam to Stop the Exit Scam” in Sacramento. The Campaign for Quality Education brings together 450 students, parents, teachers, and community members to the State Board of Education meeting. Inside, CQE members testify to the board, calling on them to delay the Exit Exam. Outside, the rest of the group chants and rallies in support. The Board votes to delay the Exit Exam requirements by 2 years and to shorten the length of the test. Participants meet with 30 different legislators and wrap up with music and celebration in front of the Education building.
October—Historic defeat of Prop 54, the divisive “Racial Information Ban” sponsored by Ward Connerly. CFJ contacts over 20,000 voters by phone and distributes 100,000 doorhangers with information about the dangers of this initiative.
2002
February—“Education & Power! Not Prisons and Poverty” conference at Cal State Long Beach. Over 450 students, parents, community members and education advocates from 90 different organizations across the state come together to discuss improving schools. The conference kicks off the statewide alliance’s first campaign, to stop the California High School Exit Exam.
June—Long Beach rally and press conference about dirty and locked bathrooms is covered by most Los Angeles television stations. District agrees to hire more janitors and change bathroom policy.
June—“State Accountability Day.” Over 150 students, parents , and community supporters converge on the state capitol to speak out for quality education and call for an end to the High School Exit Exam. Activities include a press conference, visits to 25 legislators, and addressing the State Board of Education.
August—Twenty-three student members complete the second Summer Youth Leadership Academy (SYLA).
September—State releases Exit Exam results showing that more than half of the class of 2004 have yet to pass the test. Data show that students who attend the worst schools are failing at the highest rates.
October—Highlighting test results and school conditions, CFJ with Campaign for Quality Education allies holds protests against the Exit Exam at Governor Davis’ offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Jose and San Francisco. Television, radio, and print media cover the protests and begin to highlight some of the inequalities in school conditions as well as the test scores.
October—CFJ opens Fresno office. Fresno Unified School district, located in the Central Valley, is the fourth largest in the state and serves mainly students of color, low-income students, and immigrant youth.
November—San Diego rally and press conference in front of school district offices receives coverage on television and radio. The district superintendent agrees to meet with the students to discuss their concerns about unfair discipline policies.
2001
May—Release of “Still Separate/Still Unequal” report. Based on survey research completed by CFJ student leaders in three school districts across the state, the report highlighted the inequalities in school conditions, college preparation, and discipline faced by students of color, low-income and immigrant students in California schools.
June—CFJ begins meeting with groups concerned about a new ballot tive being proposed by Ward Connerly which sought to outlaw the collection or use of information on race or ethnicity—information needed to protect public health and fight discrimination.
August—Twenty student members complete the first Summer Youth Leadership Academy (SYLA), which combines political education with organizing skills and strategizing around local issues.
August—CFJ hosts regional meetings to discuss forming a statewide education alliance.
October—Statewide Call-In Day to support AB 540. CFJ members help support legislation allowing undocumented immigrant students who graduate from a California high school to pay resident tuition fees at state universities, removing a serious barrier to college access for immigrants.
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