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Race to the Top rules becoming clearer
Modification of the teacher effectiveness component was enough to get the American Federation of Teachers to give the department kudos for striking "the right balance between what it takes to get systemwide improvement for schools and kids, and how to measure that improvement." A second major change in the final draft of
RTTT
rules is a lessened emphasis on charter schools as the
main drivers of reform: "While the Department believes that
charter schools can be strong partners in school turnaround
work, it does not believe that charter schools are the only or
preferred solution to turning around struggling
schools..." State Superintendent Paul Pastorek, though, seems to believe
that local systems' input will be limited to opting out if they
disagree with the program's requirements. As a state department
press release puts it, "Districts have the option of whether to
participate in the state application, and participating
districts are not required to volunteer all of their
schools." EdLog, the LFT blog, has been following Race to the Top since it was announced last summer. Please click here to see all EdLog posts about Race to the Top.
Appeal court okays class action for fired New Orleans educatorsThousands of New Orleans teachers and employees who were fired in the wake of Hurricane Katrina may continue their class action lawsuit against the state and the Orleans Parish School Board, according to a ruling by the Louisiana Court of Appeal. Two months after Katrina struck, a few Orleans Parish employees filed suit against the board, hoping to prevent the board from firing them without respecting their rights to due process. After the state seized control of over 100 schools in November of 2005, the suit was expanded to include the State of Louisiana, Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Recovery School District and Department of Education. Thousands more educators were added as plaintiffs after the school board fired virtually all administrators, teachers and school staff in 2006. Last December, Judge Ethel Simms Julien agreed that some 8,500 employees could proceed in a class action suit against the defendants, a decision that was promptly appealed. Defendants now have the option of appealing to the Louisiana Supreme Court. LFT General Counsel Larry Samuel is one of the attorneys working on behalf of the fired educators. A Web site has been established to provide more information on the case at www.nopsejustice.com.
Tentative
Agenda Sunday, November 22, 2009 3:30 P.M.: Opening Session 5:10 P.M.: Panel Discussion: Education Reform 6:45 P.M.: Webmasters' Workshop and
Reception 8:00 P.M.: Hospitality Monday, November 23, 2009 9:00 A.M.: General Session 10:30 A.M.: Convention Committee Meetings 12:30 P.M.: LFT Awards Luncheon 3:00 P.M.: Committee Reports 4:45 P.M.: Higher Education Report - Elsie Burkhalter, Chair, University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors Tuesday, November 24, 2009 8:00 A.M.: Convention Breakfast AFT Benefits offers online shopping bargainsUse
AFT Advantage to complete your Holiday shopping online and save
money and time!
Discover all the discounts, services, insurance, financial services and travel programs available to AFT members as a benefit of membership. For more information on these programs, contact Cynthia Posey, your AFT+ Member Benefits Coordinator at 225-923-1037, tool free 800-634-5089 or click here to visit LFT’s Member Benefits Page.
Other
resources
Louisiana Federation of Teachers Web site: click here EdLog - A regularly updated source of information on the latest educational issues: click here American Federation of Teachers Web site: click here |
