CTA was formed in May 1863. Earlier that year the state's fourth Superintendent of Public Instruction, John Swett, had issued a call for a "teachers' institute" in San Francisco. Once assembled, the group, numbering about 100, created the California Educational Society. In 1875, the name was changed to California Teachers Association.

 

For almost five decades, several regional groups, including the Southern California Teachers Association, worked cooperatively with, but independently of CTA. In 1912 they were all consolidated. A statewide governance structure was created; but the six regional entities, now called "sections," elected their own executive secretaries and staffs. In 1971, the sections were phased out and CTA became a thoroughly integrated organization, with one governance structure and one staff.