The Administration endorsed plans by Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Tennessee. New Mexico’s application has not yet been approved.

“We’re encouraged by President Obama’s and Secretary Duncan’s efforts to provide NCLB waivers for relief,” said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel.  “These states have committed to working with teachers, parents, and other community stakeholders to implement changes designed to better support students. Our members look forward to being part of a true partnership with school and community leaders to think creatively about how to help all students thrive with this new flexibility.”

“But this is only a stopgap measure. We will continue to work with Congress on a comprehensive bill that works for students and reflects the important federal role of ensuring equity while working with states and local school districts to support the public education system,” said Van Roekel. “Any ESEA reauthorization bill must ensure that all students have access to quality early education, well-rounded instruction, a safe and supportive learning environment, and access to qualified, caring, and committed teachers.  As a nation, we must do more to implement a new vision of public education that helps all students succeed.”

Van Roekel underscored the importance of the new version of ESEA legislation including provisions that ensure educators have a seat at the table for all key decisions, including the development and implementation of school improvement plans. “The face of public education is changing all over the country. We’re seeing great success and long-lasting progress when educators, school administration, parents, and communities come together for the students,” said Van Roekel.

For more information on NEA’s push for comprehensive NCLB reauthorization, please go to http://www.nea.org/home/NoChildLeftBehindAct.html.

]]> http://www.ieanea.org/featured/nea-supports-temporary-nclb-relief-in-10-states-pushes-for-law-revamp/feed/ 0 http://www.ieanea.org/featured/in-2012-iea-members-can-lobby-close-to-home/ http://www.ieanea.org/featured/in-2012-iea-members-can-lobby-close-to-home/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 22:28:08 +0000 IEA Communications http://www.ieanea.org/?p=18588 The Illinois Statehouse is under renovation, but IEA members cannot let the limited access to the State Capitol Building stop them from lobbying their state senators and representatives on school, funding, pensions and all the other issues so important to public education.

IEA leaders are urging members to participate in “Back Home Lobby Days,

IEA members can directly contact and lobby their state representatives and senators by meeting with the legislators in their home districts when the legislature is not in Springfield.

Legislators understand how important it is for them to meet with their constituents and the legislator’s home district makes for a setting in which IEA members can outline what they want and expect from their elected officials.

When should members lobby?

Legislators are not in session until the first week of February and are back home several weeks prior to the March Primary. Anytime legislators are not scheduled to be in Springfield is a good time to schedule a meeting in the home district with the people who make the laws that control teaching and learning conditions.

IEA will be making announcements throughout the 2012 legislative session about home district lobbying opportunities. Keep checking the IEA Website.

Download

• IEA Back Home Lobby Days 2012 Information Sheet
• IEA Back Home Lobby Days Funding Request Form

Your help is needed!

The following are the two candidates seeking election:

• Andrew Matthews
  IEA candidate
  view candidate bio
  
• Dorinda Miller
  AFSCME candidate, and a current SURS Trustee
  view candidate bio
  

We ask for your help in circulating nominating petitions for both candidates.

• Only active SURS participants can sign the petitions for Andrew Matthews and Dorinda Miller.  Each candidate needs at least 400 signatures to be placed on the ballot.

The blank petitions with candidate names and instructions are available here and we ask that you print them off two-sided, or staple the front and backside together.  Each petition shall bear the notarized signature of the individual who circulated it for signatures.

Please return the notarized petitions to Will Lovett, Government Relations Department, Illinois Education Association, 100 E. Edwards St., Springfield, IL 62704 by Jan. 25.  We will then file the petitions with SURS by the end of January.

Thank you for your assistance.

The ad also highlights the leadership role IEA has always played in making schools have the best possible teaching and learning conditions.

“We believe that the people hearing this ad will think about their teachers and how their achievements as adults are connected to what they learned in the classroom as children,” said IEA President Cinda Klickna.

“Quality schools benefit everyone and we believe this ad reminds people throughout Illinois of what teachers contribute to our society. We hope this ad will inspire continuing support for public schools and all public education employees,” she added.

Click the play button or download the .mp3

The IEA media campaign was approved by the IEA Representative Assembly. More information on the campaign is found here.

To place your order, please call Shannon Allen (Rush ticket rep) at 219-628-2079 (cell), email at sallen@arenarush.com or fax the completed form below to 224-567-8952.  You can also mail your order to the Rush front office – 2340 S River Rd, Ste 402, Des Plaines, IL  60018.  We look forward to seeing you at the game!

Download:

2012 Chicago Rush School Days ticket order form

As the Illinois General Assembly returns to work at the statehouse on November 29, IEA President Cinda Klickna provides an update on Senate Bill 512, the proposal that would cut pension benefits for active (hired before 1-1-11) IEA member participants in SURS and TRS. President Klickna reports that it appears the backers of the bill lack the support needed to go forward at this time, therefore no vote on SB 512 is expected before the spring 2012 session. However, IEA lobbyists and leaders are keeping a close eye on the legislature and will sound an alert if anything changes.

If you have ideas on what can be done to improve public education, Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon wants to hear from you.

Simon’s “Classrooms First” commission is taking input via an online survey that is available to anyone with ideas for cutting costs or improving efficiency. The deadline for the survey is December 2nd.

Take the survey and share your ideas.

IEA President Cinda Klickna offers her thanks for the hard work of IEA members and staff in stopping a pension cutting bill in the Illinois House.

Negotiations are continuing today. The SIUC administration delivered a revised proposal to the faculty late Monday, but significant issues remain unresolved.

An estimated 500 to 700 students rallied on campus Monday afternoon in support of striking faculty. With chants demanding a fair contract for faculty, students marched through campus gathering support from others then converged on the student center where negotiators had been working since mid-day Sunday.

Striking faculty had started the day on Monday with a march through the SIUC student center.

Faculty spokesman Dave Johnson said the fight for a contract will continue until fairness is achieved.

“We’re here for as long as it takes,” said Johnson.  “The faculty is strong and the students are very supportive.  I think everyone understands that our stand now will build a better SIUC for the future.”

The walkout began last Thursday after negotiations failed to result in a contract for tenure track faculty.

Three other campus unions reached agreement with the University last week.

For the latest information on what’s happening at SIUC: http://siucunions.wordpress.com/

Electronic messages of support can be sent here!

(Scroll down after the SIUC FA Statement and relay your words of encouragement)

Donations and other written messages should be sent to:
Randy Hughes, President
SIUC FA Illinois Education Association-NEA
500 Plaza Drive, Suite 5
Carterville, IL 62918

IEA member Brandi Martin, a teacher from Aurora, has created a brief  video that makes a compelling case for teacher pensions as a benefit for taxpayers and does so in a highly entertaining way. Watch it and feel free to share it with your friends and colleagues.