One of President Obama's education initiatives ties student progress to teacher evaluation through a "value added" approach.  What that means is that evaluators would take into consideration differences among students and other factors most would consider out of the control of the teacher.

Now the National Research Council and the National Academy of Education both issue strong warnings against the reliability of using a value added approach and about using student testing data in general.

Here is a link to the article.

Thinking of Retirement?  How to get started.

Mudslingers Competition

Contract between Baltimore County Administration and The Baltimore County Federation of Public Health Nurses. July1, 2010 through June 30, 2012.

SB 438 combined two historic education policy proposals: a set of initiatives intended to improve Connecticut’s Round 2 application for the Race to the Top grant; and legislation, formerly known at the "parent trigger," designed to help close Connecticut’s Achievement Gap. 

• Secondary School Reform 
• Data Expansion
• Teacher Evaluation Linked to Students’ Academic Growth
• Employment of Retired Teachers
• Expanded Tenure in Priority School Districts
• Expanded Professional Development Providers
• Charter School Reforms
• Innovation Schools
• School and School Board Reconstitution Authority
• In-School Suspension Clarifications
• Alternative Routes for Administrators

May 5, 2010

Academic –Administrative Personnel Federation – Local 3983

Your Negotiating Team has begun contract negotiations with the Administration of County College of Morris.  Representing the Administration are, Thomas Burk (Human Resources), Rita Ragany-Bayer (Human Resources) & John Young (Business & Finance).  Your team is comprised of Sheri Ventura, Jill Wells, Gina Garcia, Ronnie Kopp Weiner, Joanne Kearns and Joanna McAvoy (Staff Representative, NJSFT).  In preparation for contract negotiations, we have been meeting regularly since September 2009 and continue to do so almost weekly.  Thus far, meetings with Administration have been held on February 24^th, March 4^th, March 17^th, March 31^st, April 14^th & May 4^th. A calendar of meeting dates has been established for every other week through May 2010. 

Both sides have presented opening remarks and agreed to ground rules for meetings.  In addition, an initial exchange of proposals has occurred with articles for review identified.  As typically is the case, the proposals presented at the first sessions are the simplest while more complex articles are dealt with later.  There is ongoing discussion addressing such items, however, it is too early in the process to comment on progress.

Our next meeting with Administration is scheduled for May 26, 2010.

Be on the lookout for mail from Healthcare Data Management -on behalf of PEIA! Read more...

The GFCCE leadership is urging members to voluntarily contribute to the newly established political action committee (GCOPE) in preparation for the 2010 School Board elections.  With threats to education occuring at both the federal and state levels, it is critical that we recruit and support education allies for the Board.  Our membership can make a huge difference by donating to campaigns and volunteering to walk neighborhoods in the fall.  There is no time to waste, as the election season is just around the corner. 

Becoming a member for GCOPE is a two-step process:

1) The initial "buy-in" cost is $10 (make checks payable to GCOPE) but will increase after June 1. 

2) Fill out a voluntary monthly payroll deduction form and submit it to the payroll department.

The endorsement process will occur in August or early September.

Click on the title for the letter sent to members this week.

Quincy Federation of Teachers Local 809 is seeking members interested in becoming Educational Research and Dissemination Trainers.  Each year the QFT, with the assistance of the ER&D Program sponsored by the AFT, trains three members in one or two of the ER&D modules.  We presently have trainers in Foundations of Effective Teaching 1 and Managing Antisocial Behavior.