Education Action Group Highlights Union Release Time Research
In its national email blast, also featured on the NEAexposed blog, Education Action Group put the spotlight on our research into subsidized teachers union leave from classroom duties.
Bringing Balance to Grand Junction Classrooms
Grand Junction resident, attorney and citizen activist Rose Pugliese talks about her grassroots petitions to bring political neutrality and to restore balanced teaching of global warming theories to the classrooms in her local schools.
Rocketship Education: Innovative Charter School Network Blasting Off to Success
Rocketship Education CEO John Danner talks about his charter school network’s unique hybrid learning model that has shown remarkable results in improving achievement among challenging, low-income students in San Jose, California – as well as possible lessons for reform and innovation nationwide. As Danner prepares to come to Denver on May 21 to speak about his innovative entrepeneurial success, the fast-growing Rocketship network has an eye on possibly coming to Colorado in the near future.
CO Senate Bill 191: Looking Back and Looking Ahead
Colorado executive director of Stand for Children Lindsay Neil discusses the recently-passed SB 191 – the education tenure and evaluation reform bill – in light of the bill’s broad coalition of support, the intense and emotional debates in the legislative process and the national attention it has received. Neil also talks about Colorado’s chances in the much-ballyhooed Race to the Top federal grant competition and the next steps for ensuring the new law will be implemented to promote effective teaching and school leadership.
5/12/10
Newsletter May 12 2010
What To Do about Politically Correct Universities?
Is there anything that reasonably can be done to change the overwhelming Left-leaning bias of faculties at American colleges? Lead editor of the new insightful volume The Politically Correct University, University of Arkansas Department of Education Reform professor Bob Maranto discusses the problem and possible solutions.
Teachers Lobbying on Taxpayer Time Needs to be Addressed
Teachers certainly have the right to speak out on legislation that will affect their professional lives. However, unlike supporters of the bill, many opposing teachers have taken days off at taxpayer expense. The locally negotiated perk of “association leave” enables unions to designate teachers to skip class to perform union business.
The Cartel Director Gives Sneak Peek at Award-Winning Film
Director and executive producer Bob Bowdon gives a sneak peek behind his award-winning new education documentary The Cartel, which focuses on New Jersey to offer a fresh inside look at the K-12 public school system and the need for significant reform. The Cartel is on its way to Denver’s Chez Artiste Theatre for the week of April 30-May 6, including a special screening event (May 4, 7 PM) co-hosted by the Independence Institute.
Union Pushes Tax-Funded Leave to Lobby Against Effective Teaching
Union leaders in some Colorado school districts are urging teachers to take special tax-funded leave from the classroom to lobby against teacher effectiveness legislation. Education policy analyst Ben DeGrow explains that school districts provide little or no oversight of how union release time can be used, and recommends policy changes at the local and state level.
More Accountability Coming for Colorado Teachers and Principals?
Newly introduced Senate Bill 191 would tie Colorado’s K-12 education system more closely to performance, with student academic growth being given significant weight in teacher and principal evaluations and tenure considerations. State senator Michael Johnston (D-Denver) discusses the mechanics of his bill and the large, growing coalition of support it has received, as Colorado continues to pursue Race to the Top federal grant dollars.
Colorado Education and Open Negotiations: Increasing Public Access to School District Bargaining
Forty-two of Colorado’s 178 school districts bargain exclusively with a local teachers union. Often conducted by tax-funded district employees on both sides, negotiations forge policies that determine the use of taxpayer dollars. Yet only one of the 42 districts has an established policy that thoroughly ensures the public’s right to observe bargaining negotiations.
Union Pays Up for Violating Teachers' Free Speech Rights
Marking the end of a decade-long legal saga, the teachers union in Washington state reached a settlement to pay $1.2 million in penalties plus legal fees for breaking state campaign finance laws and violating teacher free speech rights—nearly three years after the U.S. Supreme Court’s historic Davenport ruling. Mike Reitz of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation celebrates a hard-fought victory and looks ahead to future battles for government union accountability and individual free speech rights.
