New Business Items
NEW BUSINESS ITEM A AS MODIFIED
Adopted as Modified
Leading the Professions
NEA will:
- Support Association and member led school transformation efforts and pursue state and district policies that help create great public schools for all students;
- Offer intensive support to struggling schools (including NEA Priority Schools) and share lessons learned at the local and state levels;
- Work in partnership with parents, community organizations, and allied coalitions with the goal of improving student outcomes;
- Lead efforts to fund and establish a coalition of teachers’ professional organizations, higher education professional associations and faculty, education support professional organizations, specialized instructional support personnel organizations (e.g. school social workers, psychologists etc.), and other organizations promoting standards of professional practice with the goal of identifying a universally accepted body of standards for all of the education professions;
- Advocate for including educators and association leaders in all school and district decision-making bodies, including the areas of policy, personnel, and budgets. Use collective bargaining and other multi-party processes to help accomplish this goal;
- Create a network of organizational advocates at the local, state, and national level to convey the over-arching goals and strategies as well as the actions, the desired outcomes, and the value propositions of leading the professions.
Cost Implications
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM B
Adopted as Modified
Misuse of Standardized Tests
NEA will:
- Call on governors, state legislatures, state education boards, administrators, and assessment system consortia or developers, to reexamine public school accountability systems in the state, and work with educators to improve them based on fair testing standards promulgated by experts in testing practice;
- Call on states and districts to develop systems based on multiple forms of evidence of student learning that do not require extensive standardized testing, are used to support all students and improve schools; and are not used for purposes for which they have not been validated;
- Share the NEA Policy Statement on Teacher Evaluation and Accountability with relevant stakeholders in order to inform conversations about the appropriate use of assessments in evaluation systems to support instruction and student learning.
- Disseminate criteria regarding the validity of assessments and promote the productive use of high quality, valid, and reliable standardized assessments as part of robust, authentic accountability systems that include multiple forms of evidence of student learning and school quality designed:
- to improve learning by identifying students’ strengths and challenges,
- to identify successful practices in schools,
- to support struggling schools, and
- to inform educators’ practice.
- Uphold our belief as stated in Resolution B-66 and shall support parents’/guardians’ rights to opt out of standardized testing.
Cost Implications
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM C AS MODIFIED
Adopted as Modified
Fighting for Economic Justice
NEA will continue to identify and pursue strategies to promote progressive taxation policies that close tax loopholes, promote fair economic development, and protect critical school funding, as well as strengthen our partnership with key allies and partners to promote tax fairness at the federal and state levels.
NEA will actively identify and join in coalition with human and civil rights groups to advocate for economic justice policies that impact children and families living in poverty.
NEA will continue to partner with other organizations to document and publicize the effects of poverty on public school students and promote recommendations for action.
NEA will continue to train educators about diversity and cultural competence issues related to working with children in poverty.
NEA will utilize its multiple media platforms to highlight and engage NEA members and the public to:
- Publicize NEA members who are working effectively in priority schools and high-poverty schools;
- Highlight coalitions or other advocacy efforts pursuing tax or fiscal fairness;
- Expose corporations and other institutions that abuse existing taxation laws to evade paying an equitable share of the nation’s tax responsibility;
- Expose corporations and other institutions that are working to privatize public institutions in the name of private profit.
Cost Implications
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM D
Adopted as Modified
Justice for All
NEA will re-affirm its commitment to our proud legacy of promoting social justice, and equality of educational opportunity for every student, and professional status for every teacher and Education Support Professional by:
- Holding a special dialogue on Ethnic Minority Issues. The Dialogue will be a facilitated conversation with diverse leaders from across the organization and will explore social justice issues facing our ethnic minority members, students, and communities of color. The Dialogue will also address our continued efforts to ensure diversity in Association leadership as well as active engagement of ethnic minority leaders at all levels.
- Developing recommendations that address the Association’s ongoing role in ensuring that children and students of color receive a fair, equal, and significant opportunity to obtain a high quality public education.
- Working with state and local affiliates and partnering with other progressive organizations to expand our collective voice in aggressively addressing these injustices: voter suppression, cultural competence, language and cultural preservation, equity and opportunity, racial profiling, the prison pipeline, immigration reform, and discrimination against LGBTQ ethnic minorities.
- NEA shall also address in a special dialogue the unique issues of LGBTQ students and educators and make recommendations.
Cost Implications
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 1
Adopted As Modified
The NEA will advocate for arts education through these means:
Acting as a partner with fine arts education organizations, including the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA); the National Association for Music Education (NAfME); the National Art Education Association (NAEA); the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) and Americans for the Arts to collect and disseminate existing arts advocacy tools to create an electronic “NEA Arts Advocacy Resource Guide”.
Devoting portions of NEA TODAY to arts education and promoting the electronic “Arts Advocacy Resource Guide” in the NEA TODAY, on the NEA website and in social media.
The electronic “NEA Arts Advocacy Resource Guide” will address the importance of the arts in a student’s comprehensive education and the need for the arts to be represented in curriculum reform, highlight models of effective advocacy campaigns and provide specific tools for students, arts educators and supportive patrons to use as they advocate for arts education.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $13,670.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 2
Adopted
Using existing communication infrastructure, the NEA will in coordination with the NEA Health Information Network, develop and implement a national random sample survey of members about Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) problems in the workplace and disseminate the results with related information through 2 articles in NEA Today or other appropriate NEA venues. The articles will address the survey results, challenges that IEQ problems present to members at work, and ways that members and affiliates can work to address some of these challenges.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $7,500.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 3
Referred to Appropriate Committee As Modified
NEA shall compile a list of individuals and corporations who contribute $250,000 or more to “super pacs” and additional activities. The list shall include companies and products they control. The information shall be published in the “NEA TODAY” prior to March 1, 2013.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $25,000.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 4
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 5
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 6
Adopted
NEA will play the film: “NEA Reads the Declaration of Independence DC 2012.” This film, by NEA-MTA member Bill Coleman, features NEA members from around the country in a patriotic mosaic reading the words of our Declaration. We ask that this film be played at this RA on a lunch break for all members to see.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at no additional cost provided there is adequate time during breaks of the RA, and the format of the film is compatible with RA audio/video display equipment.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 7
Adopted
NEA will examine the removal of the entire Miramonte staff by the LAUSD superintendent following an arrest of a former co-worker and then housing them away from all LAUSD students for the second half of the school year. The purpose of this examination is to share with NEA members any information on possible solutions, actions, or implications arising from the Miramonte situation that may have national ramifications. The results of the examination will be made public next year to the RA delegates and all NEA members.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $4,600.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 8
Adopted
NEA will use existing resources to advocate for transparent and explicit procedures in the planning, development and submission of applications for school restructuring. Educational staff and parent stakeholders should be fully involved participants in this process. Applications must not be unilaterally changed prior to or after submission.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 9
Adopted
The President of the National Education Association will send a letter to the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, copied to Superintendent John Deasy and every elected member of the Board of Education of the Los Angeles Unified School District regarding the damaging mishandling of the situation at Miramonte Elementary School. The letter will be written in collaboration with the Miramonte staff regarding the Miramonte community.
The letter will also request the Secretary to provide guidance to all districts on emergency large-scale decisions which ensures that simple justice, fairness, and good educational practice be upheld; that input from staff, their unions, and families be considered; that written timelines be included; and that all actions taken ensure the optimal well-being of all involved.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $920.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 10
Ruled Out of Order
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 11
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 12
Adopted As Modified
The NEA using existing means of communication and resources shall publish an article on the US Conference of Mayors endorsement of parent trigger laws and report on the concern that parent trigger laws conflict with NEA criteria for creating charter schools.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $2,127.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 13
Adopted
The NEA supports the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) in their negotiations with Chicago’s Mayor and his hand-picked school board.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $920.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 14
Object to Consideration
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 15
Object to Consideration
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 16
Adopted As Modified
The NEA will communicate electronically and in other existing social media between October and January an article that:
a) emphasizes the importance of federal funding for special education;
b) details the past levels of federal funding for special education; and
c) calls upon all members to write or cyber lobby Congress and the President in an effort to secure a 40% federal funding share for special education.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $3,795.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 17
Adopted As Modified
Using existing resources and networks, NEA shall endorse the Day Laborer Tour of Clergy, labor organizations, immigrant day laborers and their families through NEA’s existing social networks and other electronic media.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities contemplated by this NBI will be completed prior to the end of this fiscal year. If passed, funding will have to be identified within the 2011-12 budget. This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $1,725.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 18
Adopted
The NEA will call upon all members to write or cyber lobby our Congress and the President, requesting the Federal Government provide a 40% federal share of special education funding for public schools as was the goal mentioned when Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) originally passed in 1975. The letters and e-mails should be sent in February for maximum effect.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 19
Adopted
The NEA will call upon all members to write or cyber lobby our Congress and the President, requesting that November 29th be declared National IDEA Day, commemorating the date President Gerald Ford signed the original Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act. These letters and e-mails should be sent in April for maximum effect.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $920.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 20
Adopted As Amended
NEA calls for the US President and the Department of Education, in their commitment to reform education, to embrace successful international models of education, such as the Finnish model, which emphasizes teacher driven collaboration and professional development, and to continue to move away from models of corporate/test driven reforms.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 21
Adopted As Modified
NEA will collaborate with the NEA Contingent Faculty Caucus to request that the Department of Labor (DOL) issue an Employment and Training Administration Advisory, specifically an Unemployment Insurance Program Letter (UIPL), clarifying that contingent faculty members of colleges and universities lack “Reasonable Assurance” of employment as it is discussed in Section 3304 (a)(6)(A) of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act. Recommended language will be provided by the Contingent Faculty Caucus for NEA to ask the Department of Labor to use in the Unemployment Insurance Program Letter.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $2,760.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 22
Adopted As Modified
NEA shall develop a strategy to reverse “Citizen United” Supreme Court decision through an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This will include working with coalitions, office holders and concerned citizens.
In addition, the Plan shall include a component to involve and educate our members through NEA’s affiliates.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 23
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 24
Adopted
The NEA will collaborate with its internal and external partners to push for increased access to broadband capacity to facilitate equitable opportunities for student success.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 25
Object to Consideration
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 26
Adopted
NEA will investigate all possible electronic funds transfer (EFT) options, including credit card transactions in an effort to save NEA state affiliates and their locals fees associated with EFT-related conversions from payroll deduction. Findings will be disseminated to state affiliates.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 27
Object to Consideration
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 28
Referred to the Executive Committee As Modified
NEA-Retired state affiliate leadership shall be provided, on request, with access to retired member data through the Voter Activation Network (VAN). This access shall be granted through the established state affiliate user and access structure and shall be limited to names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses. Access shall be granted for membership recruitment and involvement in political campaigns. Communication to members through these campaigns must be coordinated with state affiliates. The individuals accessing this information for their affiliates may use this data for Association purposes only. Such lists shall not be subject to sale, barter or other exchange to any other organization or for the sale of any products or services.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Corrected Cost Estimate: As written, the NBI would require a separate political data infrastructure that would take the number of committees we currently manage and support from 55 to over 100. Each new committee has implications for maintenance, training and staff time for general questions, data requests and troubleshooting. This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $448,000.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 29
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 30
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 31
Adopted As Amended
Consistent with our Legislative Program, NEA shall publicize lesson plans through appropriate and available online and other no cost vehicles, tools and resources to increase civic engagement that encourages a lifelong habit of informed voting in every classroom, and extending into the community. Special emphasis should be put on collecting teaching lessons on the struggle for voting rights and the current struggles against voter suppression laws.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $3,795.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 32
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 33
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 34
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 35
Referred to the Appropriate Committee
NEA will provide talking points to its state affiliates on why parent trigger laws violate NEA policies and should be opposed within existing resources.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 36
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 37
Referred to the Appropriate Committee
That NEA endorse the campaign for a Financial Speculation Tax, or Financial Transaction Tax (FST/FTT), also known as the “Robin Hood Tax”, which imposes a small tax of .005-.5% on big banks, hedge funds, and other large financial institutions’ transactions. NEA will join with other labor and social advocacy groups in activities designed to urge President Obama and our legislators to aggressively pursue and support this tax.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 38
Adopted As Modified
Through existing resources, NEA will inform its members on ways to challenge administrator, i.e. principal evaluator, etc., abuse of teachers and other education employees, and support the locals effort to defend the rights and dignity of teachers and other education employees.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $8,625.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 39
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 40
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 41
Adopted
NEA will encourage its state and local affiliates to help gather any written communications received from teacher recruitment organizations and/or their operatives that discourage member empowerment and activity in the work of the Association. NEA will then support its local and state affiliates in communicating the inappropriateness of this behavior.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 42
Adopted As Modified
NEA will inform our members and the general public that in 2005, Congress made student loans virtually undischargable in bankruptcy, and the crisis this has caused. These were the only loans affected.
NEA will:
- Publish information in NEA Today existing, planned articles on economic conditions of educators and on the NEA website social media sites.
- Contact Senator Dick Durbin’s office to ask how we can support him in his work to rescind this provision.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $862.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 43
Adopted As Modified
Using existing resources, the Membership Committee of the National Education Association will research policies of local and state affiliates (in regards to substitute teacher and substitute ESP membership, dues and inclusion in the bargaining unit) in order to highlight information that may assist locals who desire to organize substitute teachers and substitute ESPs as a means to increase their membership and NEA membership. The Committee will pay particular attention to how such policies affect former members who have been laid off and are now working as substitutes.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $5,071.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 44
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 45
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 46
Referred to the Appropriate Committee
NEA President, Dennis Van Roekel, will write a letter urging the U.S. Department of Education to spend more dollars for research that illustrates the causes and effects of bullying both inside and outside of the classroom and expand and build upon the instruments and reporting mechanisms of bullying to improve our understanding of how bullying translates to homophobia in society.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 47
Adopted As Modified
NEA will, using existing resources, clearly identify successful interventions to LGBTQ taunting and specifically outline the roles of school administrators and personnel to help make LGBTQ students and staff feel safe and have equal access to an education. This resource will be publicized on NEA.org and included in the “Resources” section of NEA Today.
RATIONALE/BACKGROUND
According to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which has monitored and analyzed the school climate facing gay and transgender students for more than ten years, bullying creates a hostile school environment, inspires absenteeism, and lowers education aspirations and academic achievement. These negative effects call for clear and effective roles and interventions.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $5,862.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 48
Adopted
NEA shall, through existing means, create a link on the “issues action page” to disseminate information about the U.S. Department of Education “Blueprint for Transforming Career and Technical Education”, and the ongoing issue of “Perkins Reform.” NEA’s responses and ongoing actions will also be included.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $920.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 49
Referred to the Appropriate Committee
NEA will, using existing resources, influence state and local governments and educational institutions to specifically include sexual orientation and gender identify as explicitly enumerated categories of protection alongside race, ethnicity, and national origin in their policies and support policies that include proactive elements that prevent bullying.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 50
Adopted As Modified
NEA will work with partner organizations to highlight best practices that meet the unique educational needs of Long Term English Learners, through NEA’s existing social network and other electronic media. Long Term English Learners are students who have remained Limited English Proficient for six or more years.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $11,270.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 51
Referred to the Appropriate Committee
NEA will, using existing resources assist state affiliate in urging policy makers on the district, state, and federal level to push for anti-bullying legislation that specifically enacts three components proven to be most effective in addressing bullying; they specifically name gay and transgender students as enumerated groups, address prohibition, prevention, and intervention of anti-gay and anti-transgender taunting, and clearly outline the roles of school administrators and personnel.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 52
Referred to the Appropriate Committee
Using existing NEA teacher quality research, NEA will provide local leaders and affiliates with the tools necessary to actively combat the use of Teach for America (TFA) in school district contracts.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 53
Referred to the Appropriate Committee
NEA will assist affiliates with planning for policy changes under the Affordable Care Act, augmented by cooperation with the Labor Campaign for Single Payer Healthcare Organization - all in support of the long standing NEA goal of establishing a universal single payer healthcare system.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 54
Referred to the Annual Meeting Review Committee
NEA shall work with host city convention centers to do the following:
- Provide fresh, healthy meal options at the Convention Center.
- Post all nutritional information of food sold on the premises.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost. If passed, this NBI would be referred to the Annual Meeting Review Committee.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 55
Withdrawn
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 56
Referred to the Appropriate Committee
NEA should, through existing publications and resources advocate for proper planning and preparation time for Paraprofessionals.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 57
Referred to the Appropriate Committee
The President of NEA will write a letter to all governors and majority leaders of all state legislations urging the states leaders to protect the pension plans of public educators from the reduction or removal of their hard earned and deserved retirement benefits.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $3,450.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 58
Referred to the Appropriate Committee As Modified
The NEA will support and promote via existing media outlets and interview opportunities the fact that the maximum unique student/teacher contact ratio in secondary core tested subject areas (English, Math, Science and Social Studies) should not exceed 150 students. Exceptions may be made based on teachers’ discretion fo Performing Arts Ensembles and other such classes which by nature would include more than 150 students total.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 59
Adopted As Modified
Using existing resources, NEA will include on the NEA website, Health Information Network (HIN), or NEA Today, current and relevant articles and information on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), its affects on individuals who have the disorder, and those affected by it (ie students, school personnel, community members, etc).
COST IMPLICATIONS
Assuming distribution on the HIN Network, this NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $2,500.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 60
Referred to the Appropriate Committee
NEA will establish a Disaster Crisis Fund for states that have experienced severe natural disasters. The money in the fund will be voluntary contributions collected from delegates at the annual NEA convention and from members of locals across this great country. NEA will coordinate the collection of funds in their 501(C)(3) foundation. Distribution of the funds will be through a request to NEA’s Foundation by requesting state affiliates.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Currently, a Disaster Crisis Fund exists within NEA Health Information Network. This NBI can be undertaken with no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 61
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 62
Adopted As Modified
That the NEA—in conjunction with state affiliates—encourages organizing efforts in non-union public charter schools and will broadly share with state and local affiliates key information—i.e. the knowledge acquired and lessons learned from past organizing efforts, as well as the resources necessary to organize—that is relevant to any efforts by local and state affiliates attempting to organize non-union public charter school staffs.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 63
Adopted As Modified
The National Education Association (NEA) will develop and implement a proactive, cross-unit plan for the NEA’s Fiscal Year 2012/2013 and each year thereafter until “Full Funding” of IDEA is accomplished. This plan will be targeted at alleviating budget pressures on local school systems caused by unfunded mandates, in particular the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The plan will encourage lobbying by members of the NEA, the NEA Directors, the NEA Executive Committee, the NEA Executive Officers, NEA Staff and other supportive organizations to increase the additional statutory funding of IDEA to the 40 percent level stated in the original legislation.
This action plan will focus on educating, informing, and mobilizing the NEA membership in particular, along with Local and State Governments, Congressional members of the Appropriations Committees as well as key Congressional leaders of both Houses, the Department of Education, the Secretary of Education, and the President of the United States, with specific regard to the negative impact on general education, resulting from years of under-funding IDEA and the need for the implementation of an appropriations program that achieves “Full Funding” for IDEA as soon as possible.
The education part of plan should include the use of existing resources such as the NEA Today, “Dennis 2 Delegates,” Educational E-mails, internet applications, NEA workshops and regional conferences, etc. to educate our membership on the impact that this unfunded mandate has on their students, classrooms, and curriculum.
The action portion of this plan should intensify and expand NEA’s efforts with other coalitions and support groups beyond lobbying to insure that all future IDEA appropriations meet the objective of the original federal legislation “Congress may fund up to a maximum of 40% of the excess cost above the national average per pupil expenditure (APPE)”, which is the definition of the “fully funding” of IDEA.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $1,840.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 64
Referred to the Executive Committee
The NEA will review the possibility of offering a “Friends of Public Education Card” to the public for a fee. This card will permit the carrier to purchase items from the professional library at a discount and access online educational resources.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 65
Referred to the Executive Committee
The NEA reaffirms its support for the Federal Dream Act which includes a pathway to citizenship for undocumented youth and will publicize this position through existing media channels in all areas where the NEA is active.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 66
Adopted As Modified
NEA will publicize comparisons of teachers in the U.S. and other countries regarding: 1) face-to-face time with students, 2) instructional time lost to discipline issues, 3) instructional time lost to fundraising and other non-instructional issues, 4) public esteem of teachers, and 5) student diversity, including but not limited to, diversity of ethnicity and ability.
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $5,232.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 67
Referred to the Executive Committee
NEA will support a constitutional amendment to reverse the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling. NEA will participate with other existing organizational efforts to: 1) Assist local efforts calling for a constitutional amendment to reverse the Citizens United Supreme Court ruling; 2) Pass state resolutions calling for such an amendment; 3) Gain congressional support for such an amendment; and 4) Publicize through existing NEA media outlets a national day of action for such an amendment.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $5,520.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 68
Referred to the Annual Meeting Review Committee
NEA will ask for NEA affiliate sponsors to provide wireless internet on the RA floor for the exclusive use of green delegates, separate from the wireless internet already provided.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost. If passed, this NBI would be referred to the Annual Meeting Review Committee.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 69
Referred to the Annual Meeting Review Committee
NEA will ask for NEA affiliate sponsors to provide charging stations on the RA floor for the exclusive use of green delegates, separate from other charging stations.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost. If passed, this NBI would be referred to the Annual Meeting Review Committee.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 70
Referred to the Executive Committee
The NEA will promote using existing resources, the “Let’s Move Initiative” that was launched by our First Lady Michelle Obama in February 2010.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 71
Adopted
The NEA will partner with other national labor groups to compile and/or develop a framework of pro-public education, pro-collective bargaining policies and laws that state affiliates can have shared access to and use to combat the legislative attacks being waged against middle class workers in state legislatures all across America.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 72
Referred to the Annual Meeting Review Committee
The NEA RA should use tablet computing device technology and synchronized form and database software from an open source to replace paper slip and call in system for microphone recognition. Phones would become a backup method.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $443,750. If passed, this NBI would be referred to the Annual Meeting Review Committee.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 73
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 74
Objection to Consideration
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 75
Referred to the Executive Committee
Defend K-12 Integration Plans and Affirmative Action in Higher Education
The NEA supports racial integration at all levels of education, including magnet schools and voluntary transportation plans to achieve integration in pre-K through 12, and for affirmative action in higher education. The NEA will investigate writing amicus briefs in support of defending the Univeristy of Texas affirmative action plan in Fisher v. University of Texas, and in support of the constitutional challenges to Michigan’s and California’s bans on affirmative action in higher education. We will publicize this support to NEA members.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 76
Adopted As Modified
NEA will encourage state and local affiliates to actively recruit itinerant educational employees and include their itinerant colleagues in activities when appropriate. In this case, itinerant educational employee is defined as an employee serving students in multiple settings such as hospitals and school districts.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 77
Adopted As Modified
The NEA will tell the story of our NEA lobbyists in its online resources through a web link from the cyber lobby webpage, Education Votes and other online media properties.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $1,840.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 78
Referred to the Executive Committee
NEA will reaffirm its commitment to the achievement of English Language Learners (ELL) by advocating the importance of fully funding and expanding ELL programs utilizing existing communication sources.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 79
Adopted As Modified
The NEA will go on record to fight against growing segregation in public schools by:
- Publicly endorsing efforts that demonstrate a commitment to integrated schools;
- Initiating active recruitment efforts of ethnic minority teachers and those who are fluent in languages other than English.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 80
Referred to the Annual Meeting Review Committee
During each RA, the NEA will show a short video presentation on the 1966 mergers between the American Teachers Association (ATA) and the NEA.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $2,875.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 81
Adopted
That the National Education Association’s Representative Assembly will encourage, within existing resources, all members to participate and support the International Day of Peace which takes place annually on September 21.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $920.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 82
Adopted As Modified
NEA will, as appropriate and within the Adopted strategic 2012-2014 budget support locals, councils, and state affiliates with one or more online surveys to aid in the collection and dissemination of data relating to money and time spent by school staff and students preparing for, administering, proctoring, scoring and/or other required duties related to mandatory tests by publishing the resulting information online by the end of the calendar year 2014 for the purpose of informing teachers, parents, and taxpayers at the local levels NEA will publicize access to the surveys in NEA Today Express and other existing digital properties.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $11,150.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 83
Withdrawn
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 84
Referred to the Executive Committee
The NEA shall, using existing staff and resources, expand efforts to encourage members to use www.ALECexposed.org and other resources to organize in opposition to the American Legislative Exchange Council.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 85
Defeated
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 86
Adopted
NEA will educate its members to distinguish between independent, peer-reviewed, unbiased research, and the advocacy research that misinforms and is prevalent in educational research; and encourage its members to develop the habit of demanding from administrators, consultants, and board members the elementary principle of validating their claims with proper evidence.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 87
Withdrawn
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 88
Adopted As Modified
The NEA require all commercial vendors participating in non-profit fundraising activities at the NEA RA clearly post the name of the NEA affiliate and/or caucus that is sponsoring the vendor and the portion of the profits going to the sponsor.
COST IMPLICATIONS
Activities to fulfill the requirements of this NBI can be undertaken within the proposed 2012-2014 Strategic Plan and Budget at no additional cost.
NEW BUSINESS ITEM 89
Referred to the Executive Committee
The NEA President will write a letter of support for the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers (PACT) and the Pulaski Association of Support Staff (PASS) to the Arkansas Governor and Arkansas Commissioner of Education requesting the restoration of union recognition and reinstatement of the union contract.
COST IMPLICATIONS
This NBI can be accomplished at an additional cost of $920.
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