California's schools are too crowded and underfunded, yet test results and graduation rates are showing improvement.
Teachers are the reason.
An estimated 300,000 new California teachers will be needed over the next 10 years, and there is a serious lack of ethnic minority teachers. CTA last week shipped to more than 300 California radio stations a CD featuring ethnic minority celebrities calling on youths to become teachers. These public service announcements are by musician Carlos Santana, author Alice Walker, recording artist Rita Coolidge, TV news reporter Lisa Ling and actress Lindsay Price. The PSA project is a joint effort of CTA, the state PTA, and CalTeach, a teacher recruitment program of the California State University system, to coincide with Day of the Teacher, May 9. California's Greatest Resource.