AFT on the PDK/Gallup Poll on Investing in Teachers


WASHINGTON—Statement by Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, on the 2014 PDK/Gallup Poll on teacher preparation and training:

“This poll should be yet another wake-up call to policymakers, who for too long have ignored the sentiments of parents and teachers on what it takes to meet students’ needs.
“We entrust teachers with great responsibility yet there’s schizophrenia in the treatment of the teaching profession. We recognize teachers’ importance in preparing students for college, career, life and citizenship, yet we don’t provide teachers with appropriate preparation and we ask them to do their jobs with less trust, less latitude and less support.

“This poll reaffirms what I have seen in my visits to schools and communities across the country: Parents trust teachers and want more investment in preparing and assisting teachers, yet those who make policy are not listening. They are starving schools of critical funding and pushing market-based, test-driven policies that create a system of winners and losers and ultimately fail our kids.

“The public’s frustration with testing has reached critical mass. Parents want data about how their kids are doing and educators and kids want feedback, but more and more those closest to the schools are fed up with standardized tests driving every decision affecting students and teachers. The poll numbers reflect the need for a new accountability system based on multiple and meaningful measures of student learning and teacher practice, and a rigorous teacher preparation program focused on the real world of teaching, which the AFT has been promoting for more than a decade.”

Supreme Court to rule on Jindal’s education law

Oral arguments in the September 5 hearing will be streamed online from the Supreme Court’s Web site. Go to www.lasc.org and click a link to Oral Arguments on the right side of the page. The session begins at 9:30 A.M.

(Baton Rouge – August 29, 2014) The Louisiana Supreme Court will consider Governor Bobby Jindal’s appeal of a ruling that Act 1 of 2012, the so-called teacher “talent act,” violates the State Constitution on Friday, September 5.

Arguments will be presented in what could be the ultimate legal decision on the act, which the Louisiana Federation of Teachers says violates a constitutional ban on bundling multiple objects into one legislative bill.

Last January, 19th Judicial District Judge Michael Caldwell ruled for the second time in less than a year that the act is unconstitutional.

The act was one of the bills that Gov. Bobby Jindal touted as his education reform agenda in 2012. It amended and reenacted nine statutes and enacted two entirely new statutes. It tied teacher salaries, tenure, promotions and termination to a new evaluation system. It changed the way school boards contract with superintendents, altered the general powers of school boards, delegated new authority to principals and superintendents and mandated different reduction-in-force policies.

Judge Michael Caldwell first ruled the act unconstitutional in March of 2013. But the State Supreme Court remanded the case to the 19^th Judicial District, asking Judge Caldwell to reconsider his ruling in light of another decision.

In his ruling last January, Judge Caldwell acknowledged the Supreme Court’s reservations. He said that even though the high court’s decision in another case had broadened the definition of a bill’s objects, he did not believe that Act 1 of 2012 met that standard.

“The object (of the bill) is not apparent to me in several provisions of the act,” Judge Caldwell said, concluding that Act 1 is “unconstitutional in its entirety.”

The law remains in effect until the high court makes a final decision. No matter what the final outcome, LFT President Steve Monaghan said, sections of the act dealing with teacher evaluations, tenure, promotions and salaries are unfair and unworkable.

“Ultimately,” Monaghan said, “the legislature will have to revisit the whole concept of education reform. Their actions thus far have disrespected our constitution, vilified teachers, siphoned funds from already underfunded public schools, and resulted in endless legal battles. It’s time to refocus on teaching and learning.”

 It’s almost election time, and this year we have school board elections. Red River United is inviting you join our COPE (Committee on Political Education).

The COPE committee will be convening to discuss and advise Red River United on school board elections. The COPE committee also visits with, calls, and sends e-mails to local state legislators letting them know how the recent legislation has impacted teachers and school employees AND to let them know about much needed, new legislation.

Interested in joining the COPE committee? Just fill out this form, and we will be in contact with you.

Caddo Parish School Board Amends Sick-Leave Policy

Well, the CPSB heard your concerns loud and clear, but the fight is not yet over! The board voted to delay passage of the policy until September. They discussed, but did not vote on an amendment that removed the requirement that an employee produce a doctor’s note after three days absence or a single absence preceding or after a holiday. Red River United was concerned that this measure would unfairly impact the employees that are not abusing the current sick leave policy and the board’s actions would be in violation of state law.

Send your School Board members a message today: http://action.aft.org/c/464/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=8951

What Constitutes a Pre-Observation Conference?

All observations must be announced and include a pre-observation conference according to Louisiana ACT 54. The key to this step is that both parties “confer” about the upcoming evaluation. To confer means, to consult together; compare opinions; carry on a discussion or deliberation. Sufficient time must be set aside to go over lesson plans and ANY information the teacher considers pertinent (extenuating circumstances, class size, discipline, IEPs, student-para ratio, etc.).

According to Red River United a quick conversation in the hall ahead of an evaluation does not meet the requirements of a pre-observation conference as prescribed by law. Contact us at 318-424-4579 or redriverunited@redriverunited.org if you have questions.

PS – A post-observation conference must be held within 10 days of the observation.