With California’s struggling schools unable to meet academic benchmarks, teachers unions are demanding more money while threatening to walk off the job if their demands are not met. The California Teachers Association (CTA) has organized a statewide campaign to negotiate pay raises, even as school districts face financial hardships and student test scores remain low.
Across the state, student achievement has failed to recover from the drastic learning losses caused by extended COVID-era school closures. The latest California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) scores show that fewer than half of students meet English standards, and only 35.5% are proficient in math. Science scores are even worse, with just 31% meeting expectations.
While learning outcomes remain poor, teacher salaries have continued to rise. The average California teacher now earns over $101,000 annually, plus pension contributions, making them some of the highest-paid educators in the country. Meanwhile, K-12 spending has skyrocketed, increasing by more than 100% since 2009. Despite these massive investments, there has been little progress in improving student education.
Instead of focusing on accountability, unions are using collective bargaining to pressure local governments into meeting their financial demands. Some union leaders have suggested that if their demands are not met, teachers may stage walkouts, leaving students and parents in limbo. Critics argue that this tactic prioritizes union members over the needs of students, forcing taxpayers to fund salary increases without requiring improved results in the classroom.
Education advocates have proposed a shift toward performance-based pay, ensuring that effective teachers are rewarded while those who fail to meet standards are replaced. However, unions continue to resist these efforts, maintaining a system that rewards tenure rather than success.
With California taxpayers funding one of the most expensive education systems in the country, the pressure is mounting for lawmakers to demand accountability before agreeing to more union-driven pay hikes.
