Update from the AFT

AFT Connecticut and CEA continue to participate in discussions with the Governor’s office, the Commissioner’s office and legislative leadership on SB 24.  Much like contract negotiations, these talks are technical and time consuming.  Progress is slow and there is nothing yet of significance to report.  Talks are scheduled to continue throughout the week.  I will update you on any progress as it develops.  You can be sure that AFT Connecticut is committed to emerging with a bill that improves student learning  and is also fair for teachers.

 

In the meantime, the Education Committee is expected to JF (pass) a version of SB 24 on Monday, March 26.  We don’t yet know what this version will look like.  The most important thing you can do is to call and e-mail your legislators and members of the Education Committee and urge them to make three key changes to the bill:  (1) add AFT & CEA’s teacher evaluation and dismissal language: (2) remove the link between teacher evaluation and certification; and (3) remove limits on collective bargaining.  You can e-mail Education Committee members here:  http://action.aft.org/c/340/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=3870.   More information is attached. 

 

There are seven active teachers on the State Evaluation Plan committees. I am on the Implementation of the Plan committee, but another AFT CT Vice President is on the committee that actually is drawing up the plan itself. I attended a workshop that included all the committees yesterday, and can tell you I am not as upset about the actual plan as I was. We all participated in a workshop by a researcher (Laura Goe) on Research Based Teacher Evaluation plans. Although 22.5 % of our total score will be linked to some standardized test, (different for people who have no classes), the other 78.5% is going to be linked to hard evidence--Evaluators will receive intensive training (my role right now on the committee) so that they evaluate based on evidence, not judgements. It was stressed that it was a Teacher Evaluation and Support plan--not a gotcha plan. That sounded good to me! I will provide more information after our next meeting (April 4) so that you are in the loop.

 

For now--make those calls and make the points on the attached document. There is also a sheet with phone numbers and e-mail addresses of the Education Committee members. Let's keep the pressure up! It is working!!!