Economic Stimulus Package Progress

Hello Everyone!

I hope by now you have all been watching the results of your work last week to get the Senate to pass the economic stimulus package.  It was a fight to the finish, but we were able to keep almost all of the money in the package for school renovation and pell grants!  THANK YOU!

But if you know anything about politics, you know it ain't over 'til the President signs the bill!  So where are we in the process?

• The House passed one version of the bill.
• The Senate passed a different version. 
• Yesterday a small group of Senators and House members compromised on a package that incorporates both bills.
• Starting today...well this is where the action is happening--Congress (the House and Senate) will vote on the compromised bill!
  

TODAY we need you to contact both your Senate and House member to urge them to pass this bi-partisan bill!  This bill contains over 90 BILLION for education!  We can't let this opportunity pass us by.  You can make this happen by going to our very easy to use Cyber-Lobby Site...you don't even have to leave your email--just click here and follow the directions (all you need to know is your zip code, we've got your back on the rest):  http://capwiz.com/nea/issues/alert/?alertid=12647771.  It will take you less than 5 minutes to help your states, your schools and your own finances!

And if you want to see a short video on YouTube about NEA's stand on this recovery/stimulus package, check it out at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBKENd-fumg. 

Questions: contact kimberlyanderson@nea.org
Go Forth and Change the World!
NEA Student Program

One of the most perplexing actions taken by the Florida Legislature this mystifying session has been its apparent disregard for many of our excellent public school teachers. More than 11,000 teachers in Florida have earned the designation of national board certified teacher over the last 10 years and they have been recognized and rewarded by the state through the Dale Hickam Excellent Teaching Program.

This program has grown as teachers complete a rigorous evaluation of their teaching skills and must complete hundreds of hours of demonstration that they do indeed pass the national certification requirements. By their actions this year, the Legislature has made it clear that the incentives offered for achieving this lofty position are no longer valued. The funding for the program has been cut by 46 percent over the budget passed by the Legislature a year ago. But even more troubling are the permanent changes made to the program. State support for the fee subsidy to seek certification has been permanently removed; support for the portfolio preparation fee is permanently cut; paying the retirement benefit of those who earn national board bonuses has been eliminated; and the program was restricted to a single 10-year period.

The most troubling aspect is that these permanent changes made to a popular performance pay program that teachers support were made with no debate in House committees and little debate in Senate committees. Teachers who have benefited from this program were given little or no chance of defending the program.

We continually hear only about performance pay for teachers from many of the same lawmakers who voted to decimate this program. Many in the Legislature have tried to impose performance pay plans that were unrealistic or unfair. Yet they bulldoze a popular program that will result in a pay cut of more than $4,000 to the teachers who earn this prestigious certification.

This kind of decision makes it difficult for teachers to trust Florida’s commitment to public education and its employees. The national certification program has been the sole successful merit pay program ever in the state. It encourages our best teachers to stay in the classroom here in Florida. Isn’t that what everyone wants?

The Florida Education Association is the state’s largest association of professional employees, with more than 140,000 members. FEA represents pre K-12 teachers, higher education faculty, educational support professionals, students at our colleges and universities preparing to become teachers and retired education employees.

Andy Ford, President
Florida Education Association
NEA, AFT, AFL-CIO
850.224.1953
Imagine the Future!