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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2001

News Release

NEA Representative Assembly Strengthens Positions on Charter Schools, Testing and Help for Low-Performing Schools

Los Angeles - The National Education Association (NEA) brought alive this year's Representative Assembly theme - "Making Every Public School Great" - with a renewed commitment to finding solutions to familiar challenges in public education. From school safety and low-performing schools, to charter schools and high-stakes testing, more than 9,000 delegates took responsibility for ensuring all students receive a quality education in America's public schools. The Assembly met in Los Angeles, July 4-7.

In his keynote address, NEA President Bob Chase challenged delegates to help students and schools of greatest need: "It is not a question of whether we can lift up low-performing schools, but whether we have the will to do so." Taking the first step, Chase said he would visit low-performing schools across the country during his final year in office. "In every city and town that I visit during my last year as NEA president, I will make it my business to visit those schools that are not showcases," Chase said. "Not to shine a spotlight of shame on these schools, but to offer a small beacon of light."

On the policy front, delegates adopted new charter school guidelines to be used by educators, policymakers and parents in evaluating state charter school laws. The policy, drafted by a special committee made up of NEA officials, educators and charter school experts, provides principles for ensuring taxpayer-funded charter schools are held to the same instructional standards as other mainstream public schools.

In addition, NEA delegates approved a historic partnership agreement with the American Federation of Teachers that provides a framework for regular and focused cooperation between the two unions. The AFT must vote on this agreement before it can be finalized, and that vote will occur on July 11. A successful partnership vote on both sides will also formally enact a no-raid agreement between the teachers unions.

At the classroom level, delegates expressed concern about the harmful effects of high-stakes tests that are imposed on students without giving them the extra support required to achieve at higher levels. With overwhelming support, delegates directed NEA to support legislation giving parents the ability to let their children opt-out of high-stakes tests. "Setting high standards and implementing a regime of testing and consequences is easy," said Chase. "The hard part - the part that we have seriously neglected - is giving every child the good schools and quality teachers and individual assistance he or she needs to have a fighting chance to succeed."

Further, delegates embraced several new resolutions addressing teacher quality through compensation innovations. They overwhelmingly approved a resolution that endorses additional compensation to retain experienced educators in the classroom, and approved criteria for additional compensation to education employees beyond the traditional single-salary schedule.

Improving public schools through Association advocacy was a hallmark of the week. A new exhibit this year featured materials and Website resources on boosting student achievement in low-performing schools while a team of NEA staff offered guidance and practical support to NEA members working in these schools - more than 10,000 school improvement guides were distributed.

In his first RA address as NEA executive director, John Wilson urged delegates to "wear the union label proudly" and propose solutions that improve education employees' professional standing. "That's why NEA's initiative to make low-performing schools a top priority for our nation is so important," he said.

In a commitment to creating harassment and discrimination-free learning environments, NEA delegates also called for the establishment of a task force to look at issues relating to policies on sexual orientation in a thorough and meaningful way. "NEA has a responsibility to our members and to our students to ensure that they teach and learn in a safe, supportive environment," said Chase, "and we fully intend to live up to that responsibility." The task force will make its recommendations in February 2002.

Additionally, NEA delegates brought focus to school safety in a presentation titled, "The Strongest Links," which featured individuals taking action to create safer schools and communities. Hosted by NBC News anchor Maurice DuBois, the speakers included six ordinary people - an ESP member, a high school student, a mental health professional, a deputy sheriff, a parent, and a former teacher - who made an extraordinary difference in the effort to keep students and schools safe from violence.

Providing quality teaching and learning opportunities for all students filled discussions and debate at the 2001 Assembly and was the focus of events including:

A beautification project at Jordan High School in South Central Los Angeles where more than 200 NEA member-volunteers partnered with community and civil rights groups to paint, landscape, build shelves and make other improvements, as well as create a long-term partnership for that school.

A "Read-In" that celebrated NEA's commitment to early childhood literacy by donating thousands of books to Los Angeles youngsters. NEA delegates also delighted hundreds of local elementary students by reading aloud and staging photo shoots with the Cat in the Hat.

2001 Teacher of the Year Michele Forman challenged delegates to speak out against emergency licenses, waivers and other practices that lower teaching standards. "Every child deserves a fully certified, licensed teacher. No child's education should be in the hands of someone ill-equipped to meet that child's needs," she urged.

Morris Dees, co-founder and chief counsel of the Southern Poverty Law Center, was named the 2001 NEA Friend of Education for his contributions towards the progress of civil rights and tolerance and for developing resources that promote interracial and intercultural understanding in the classroom.

Education Support Professional of the Year Irma Valdespino urged delegates to respect the language and culture of bilingual students and fully recognize their talents and strengths. Valdespino, an educational assistant from Las Cruces, New Mexico, is the first Hispanic female to receive the ESP award.

An Independence Day address by Vietnamese refugee Lieu Tran, a teenager who related the three miracles in her life: her escape from a prison camp, her reunion with her mother in the Philippines, and America's public schools.

Six innovative union partnerships received NEA-Saturn/UAW Awards for developing successful mentoring programs for new teachers.

In addition, delegates elected new leaders to the NEA Executive Committee including Michael Marks, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Rebecca "Becky" Pringle, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Mike Billirakis, of Mogadore (Portage County), Ohio. Marks and Pringle were elected to three-year terms, and Billirakis will serve for one year, completing the unexpired term of Executive Committee member Eddie Davis, who is returning to North Carolina.

NEA's Representative Assembly is an annual forum for addressing critical issues facing American public education, equipping educators with valuable information and innovations. Next year's Assembly will meet July 2-5 in Dallas.

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.