New Mexico

NEA-New Mexico is mobilizing voter turnout for a September 23 statewide referendum on two proposed amendments to the state constitution, one to create a first-ever cabinet position of Secretary of Education, the other to inject more than $600 million into public K-12 education over a 12-year period--through increased annual distribution from the $6.9 billion Permanent School Fund. The added money would fund a three-tier teacher licensure system with minimum salaries of $30,000 (Tier I), $40,000 (Tier II), and $50,000 (Tier III). A bipartisan, multi-organizational coalition supports passage of these amendments.

California
Pressure from the California Teachers Association and its local chapters has forced school districts statewide to rescind thousands of layoff notices issued in March. Just one example: After every one of its members received a layoff notice, the Alameda Education Association filed a suit that forced the district to cancel 624 of the 635 notices.

Louisiana
Lobbying by the Louisiana Association of Educators (LAE) has helped bury a series of voucher bills. "With this issue behind us," says LAE President Carol Davis, "we can now concentrate on the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and continue making public schools great for Louisiana's children."

Colorado
The Colorado Education Association (CEA) is leading a broad coalition of community groups, from the state NAACP to the Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, to challenge the legality of a new law creating a "pilot" voucher program for 11 Colorado districts and targeting low-income children or students in struggling schools. The suit, financed by NEA, charges that the voucher scheme will compel taxpayers to support religious schools and will remove local control from school boards.

Texas
Mass lobbying by tens of thousands of Texas State Teachers Association members has killed a package of "home rule" bills sold as reforms that would increase local control and give administrators "more flexibility." The legislation would have allowed districts to eliminate the salary schedule, grade K-4 class size limits, planning time and duty-free lunch, teacher certification standards, and teacher contracts and due process.

Missouri
Three Missouri NEA local affiliates, representing teachers and education support professionals, have filed a lawsuit over the Independence district's 2002 decision to revoke a negotiated labor-management "discussion" process, adopt a new non-bargained procedure, and implement unilateral changes in other longstanding agreements and working conditions. The suit seeks reversal of a 1947 Missouri Supreme Court ruling that prohibits collective bargaining for public employees.

Georgia
The Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) has won passage of a law reinstating fair dismissal rights for new K-12 teachers. These rights were eliminated in education reform legislation passed in the 2000 legislative session. "Restoring fair dismissal," says GAE President Merchuria Chase Williams, "returns respect to the teaching profession by protecting academic freedom and freeing teachers from intimidation."

Utah
The Utah state legislature has killed legislation, strongly opposed by the Utah Education Association, that would have provided tuition tax credits to parents who enroll their children in private schools. The measure was vigorously promoted by business groups and the American Legislative Exchange Council, which links conservative, pro-privatization state legislators across the country.

Nebraska
Following two years of district collaboration with the Nebraska State Education Association and the Omaha Education Association, Omaha teachers have a new evaluation system based on building-to-building uniformity and constructive feedback. A teacher is now assessed on four "domains" (such as classroom preparation and professional responsibilities), and each follow-up administrator/teacher discussion focuses on specific skills or areas where the teacher should--or hopes to--improve.

Vermont
By 30-0, education support professionals in the Vermont-New Hampshire Rivendell Interstate School District have voted for representation by Vermont-NEA (V-NEA). Rivendell staffers called in the Association after reading an NEA Today article about an aggressive ESP campaign for a livable wage in Winooski, Vermont, backed by V-NEA.