Legislators last week missed a critical opportunity to fund priorities vital to elevating the teaching profession. With exactly a month left of the legislative session, CEA is calling on its members to reach out to lawmakers and ask them to act now.
Key proposals that impact teacher recruitment and retention were removed from bills last week, and they require action to be restored. We need legislators to pick them up and support adding them as amendments. These proposals by CEA include establishing a competitive starting salary for educators, a one-time COVID recognition payment acknowledging the critical role teachers played during the pandemic, just cause provisions like the ones afforded to other school staff and administrators, and other important changes to support our contractual rights. We also need legislators’ support to maintain the improved DCF mandated reporting procedures that were left intact in Senate Bill 381.
“Lawmakers must not close out the 2024 legislative session without funding key provisions that would give teachers the respect they deserve and demonstrate that Connecticut values its public school teachers and prioritizes their recruitment and retention,” says CEA President Kate Dias. “We need to give educators more than lip service. Kind words don’t pay our bills or acknowledge our profession.”
Facing similar setbacks last year, teachers continued advocating, and their efforts resulted in additional education funding, play-based learning, and an older kindergarten start age being added back into bills in the final month of the session. This year, CEA members have provided heartfelt testimony about several other provisions and are asking legislators to act on them in the final weeks of the session.
“Now is the time reach out to your legislators, tell them your story, and remind them why supporting teachers is vital to our students’ success,” Dias urges members. “Your voice is more important than ever.”
Use the link above to contact your legislators and register to join us on Lobby Day, April 17, to speak with your legislators face to face.
