VISION STATEMENT
The Task Force on Education will work to transform the educational system into a learning environment that is rooted in caring and respect to ensure that all women fulfill their potential as human beings. Every girl and woman will have access to the resources she needs to achieve her spiritual, intellectual, physical, and emotional potential throughout her lifetime, regardless of her disability, culture, ethnicity, religion, linguistic heritage, socioeconomic status or gender identity.
California must provide the resources and mandate for a lifelong, safe, accessible and relevant learning environment that empowers all students, and must transform the structure of education to enable each girl and woman to reach her full potential for full and equal participation in society.
CALIFORNIA ACTION OBJECTIVES
California women must work to:
- Ensure equal access to education;
- Eradicate illiteracy among women;
- Improve women’s access to vocational training, science and technology, and continuing education;
- Develop non-discriminatory education and training;
- Allocate sufficient resources for and monitor the implementation of education reforms; and
- Promote lifelong education and training for girls and women.
RECOMMENDATIONS
At the National level, California women must encourage Congress to ratify CEDAW; pass the Vocational Education act; continue funding for higher education; renew the Youth Development Block Grant; provide assistance from DOE for children of migrant workers, and urge support for teen mothers.
State Legislative bodies must be urged to ensure funding for and compliance with Title IX; provide summer training for teachers, and encourage the DOE to integrate CAWA into teacher certification process.
Local Legislative bodies and the community should seek and support proposals designed to address CAWA priorities, ensure effective oversight of grant recipients, fund inservice training in gender equity.
Legislative bodies should:
- Recognize and encourage support provided by private foundations;
- Work to ensure bias-free and inclusive curricula;
- Highlight and support current effective programs;
- Encourage effective communication and collaboration between groups;
- Work with local media to recognize productive collaborations; and
- Positively influence the hiring practices of local school boards to ensure teachers’ commitment to equitable treatment in classrooms.
