January 2005 NEA Today
Table of Contents

Cover Story

Closing The Gap

Academic success still eludes thousands of students—and the reasons are as complicated as the answers. Race, gender, income, and more all come into play. But public school educators aren't sitting on their hands. With a little innovation and a lot of will, many are working to bridge the academic divide—and they're making progress, one student at a time.

Features

What Now?

The post-election bad news: budget woes, vouchers, and a blurred line between church and state. The good news: A golden opportunity to reshape the Republican Party.

Stop, Look, and Listen

Cookies and Doritos? Exotic destinations? You can't pass up this road trip. Hitch a ride as the Utah Education Association travels 1,198 miles to re-connect with members.

Departments

Spotlight

Pensions 101. With more than a few legislators around the country aiming to chip away at public employees' retirement plans, a lesson on  how your pension works—and the differences between defined-contribution and defined-benefit plans—might be a good idea.

ESP

Working in Pain: It Just Doesn't Pay. A new NEA handbook helps education support professionals avoid repetitive stress injuries and make on-the-job health and safety concerns a priority in their districts.

Money

Budget Basics. Get financially fit this New Year with these tips, and find out how to make the most of those holiday gift cards. 

People

The Manatee Man, Mother Hen. Meet Gary Pane, the Manatee Man—he sings, he teaches, he advocates for these endangered animals. Vocational teacher Jackie Ray advocates for foster children by running a program to help foster kids in public school cope with challenges.

Last Bell

Why Wait? Should children with problems really wait until the second grade to get professional attention in school? Some first-graders (and their teachers) need help now.

Editor’s Note

President's Viewpoint

UpFront

Finally, a new special education law—it's far from perfect, but an improvement.

Leading the Way

State Report

Rights Watch

Debate

Should students have to take drug tests to participate in extracurricular activities?

Resources

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