Californians
Together is a statewide coalition of parents, teachers,
education advocates and civil rights groups committed to securing
equal access to quality education for all children.
Founded
in 1998 after the passage of Proposition 227, Californians Together
joined with other organizations to foster full participation in
a democratic society through quality education for children and
parents from underserved communities.

What's New
LAWSUIT FILED TO PROTECT PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS, NEGLECTED, MIGRANT, ENGLISH LEARNERS AND OTHER “AT RISK” STUDENTS
June 11, 2009: Concerned parents and community groups throughout California filed suit in San Francisco Superior Court today challenging State Superintendent Jack O’Connell’s decision to suspend monitoring of specialized education programs for Homeless, Neglected, Juvenile Justice, Migrant, English learners, and other disadvantaged youth for at least one year. The money for these special programs comes primarily from federal funding under the No Child Left Behind Act, and must be spent to augment general education programs funded by the state.
The lawsuit, Alejo, et al. v. O’Connell, et al, Case No. CPF 09-509568, alleges that the state must monitor and oversee the use of these funds by school districts to ensure that they are used to help academically “at risk” students overcome educational challenges. The state retains a percentage of these federal funds so that it can fulfill the promise it made to the U.S. Government to monitor and evaluate these programs. The Petitioners allege that the state is unlawfully spending the money for other purposes and leaving school districts to do the same.
Alejo, et al. v. O'Connell Press Release
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Alejo, et al v. O'Connell Petition to State Superior Court
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Immersion Film
Watch "Immersion Film" Directed By Richard Levien,
Produced By Richard Levien
Moises, a ten-year-old student, struggles to communicate in his new school with limited access to his native language. He has just immigrated to California from Mexico. He doesn't speak English, but he's good at math, so he hopes to do well on his first math test in the USA.
Using untrained child actors from public schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, “Immersion” plunges its audience into the visceral experience of a child who cannot understand his teacher. The film puts a human face on the education of English Language Learners and the punitive state testing system.
Court of Appeals Oral Arguments - Update
Coachella Valley Unified School District et al. v. State of California et al. Case no. A120667--- Oral argument May 18, 2009—status report
On May 18, 2009 over 80 parents, teachers, administrators and board members gathered in San Francisco to witness the oral arguments of our NCLB Testing Lawsuit, Coachella Valley Unified School District v. the State of California. Prior to entering the court house, Senator Gloria Romero, our attorney – Mary Hernandez, a teacher, board member and superintendent spoke to our supporters and the press as to the importance of this lawsuit and the significance it has to close to 1.6 million English learners. Our numbers were so large that once the oral arguments started half of the group had to participate in an overflow auditorium where the hearing were broadcast live. At the oral argument, the court declared the matter submitted, which means that the court will now consider the record (evidence and argument) closed. The one exception is the request from the court to the State, to provide citations to the record (the evidence presented to the trial court) of statistical or psychometric data that the CSTs and CAHSEE are valid and reliable and/or accurate measures of English Learner academic knowledge. Per the court website, that information is due May 22.
The appellate court now prepares an opinion. The opinion can be unanimous or split 2-1. The internal operating rules for the First Appellate District are posted on its website and explain the court process for reaching agreement on an opinion. A dissenting justice can issue his/her own opinion as well. There is no set time really for the issuance of an opinion. It ranges from a week to several months. Although technically an opinion must issue within 90 days, if the court needs more time, it procedurally can. Opinions can be published or not. Published opinions are precedential.
Either side can appeal the Court of Appeal decision to the California Supreme Court. However these appeals are discretionary and a very low percentage of appeals are actually taken.
Continue to check this website for updates. We will post the decision as soon as the court decides.
Californians Together Announces the Seal of Bilitereacy
 The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school, school district or county office of education in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. Appearing on the transcript of the graduating senior, the Seal of Biliteracy is a statement of accomplishment for future employers and for college admissions. We are looking for school districts and schools that want to implement the Seal of Biliteracy Program. The attached brochure gives direction and support for establishing this program. Contact our office for more information 562-983-1333.
2008 STAR Testing Results: Lack of Solutions to Help English Learners
State School Superintendent Jack O'Connell again fails to recognize
the lack of academic progress for 25% of California's students. For the
sixth consecutive year, he offers no solutions to address or improve
student performance. School Districts across the state will
continue to be deemed as failures because of the large number of
"misassigned" teachers, ineffective resources and inappropriate
programs for English Learners.
2008 STAR Testing Results Press Release
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No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Reauthorization Recommendations
Below are recommendations for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and NCLB that could make significant improvements for English learners. It is hoped that other organizations and agencies will incorporate these recommendations into their comprehensive set of recommendations and Congress will be able to modify the implementation of the law to fit the context and needs of students who come to school speaking a language other than English.
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download] (pdf)

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