Earth Day Curriculum Resources
Explore new and review familiar ways to live responsibly this Earth Day with these lessons, projects, activities, and games compiled by Phil Nast for NEA. Resources for: Grades K-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12
DetailsBuilding Community through Books
Members of the Bloomfield Education Association (BEA) have found a great way to build relationships—within their community and their Association—while also promoting literacy thanks to a great idea by teacher Jennifer Coleman. The second annual BEA Community Book Swap allowed families to come and swap a wide variety of books, from picture books to adult…
DetailsApril Deals & Discounts from NEA Member Benefits
This spring, check out special highlighted offers from NEA Member Benefits, including deals from 1800Flowers.com, J. Crew Factory, Omaha Steaks, and more. NEA Click & Save “Buy-lights” for April 2016 NEA Click & Save, the online discount buying service for NEA members, highlights select retailers and merchants each month. Check out these featured “Buy-lights” for…
DetailsWhy We Opt-Out: CT Black & Latino Parents Discuss SBAC
Although much of the media coverage surrounding parents opting their children out of state tests has focused on white, suburban parents, these families are not alone in taking a stand against tests they see as having no value for their children or schools. At a panel discussion last week at Trinity College, Black and Latino…
DetailsState Board of Education Members Want SBAC in Your Evaluation: Contact Your Legislators Today
If you haven’t yet felt the need to let your legislators know why SBAC shouldn’t be part of your evaluation, comments today made by state Board of Education members should drive you to action. After an hour of intense discussion and strong reluctance towards delaying the use of SBAC in teacher evaluations for one year,…
DetailsRetirees Converge on the State Capitol: Ask Legislators for their Support
“It’s important to talk to us and express your views.” That was the message Sen. Paul Formica gave to nearly 100 retired teachers who converged on the State Capitol today for Retired Teachers’ Lobby Day. The event, organized by CEA-Retired, AFT Connecticut, and the Association of Retired Teachers of Connecticut gave retirees the opportunity to…
DetailsOn Trial: Every Child’s Right to an Equitable Education
What’s more important when it comes to helping students in high-poverty districts succeed—increased funding or better leaders? The Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding (CCJEF) spent the first two months of the landmark education funding trial currently underway in Hartford making the case that public schools need more funding in order to adequately and…
DetailsNew CEA TV Ad Steps Up Campaign Against Unreliable Testing
Teachers are turning up the volume on the problem of unreliable testing that has overtaken Connecticut public school classrooms. “We are airing new TV and digital ads that raise awareness—from parents to policymakers—about the need to reduce testing and test prep and restore more time for learning in our classrooms to help every student achieve,”…
DetailsList of States Abandoning SBAC, PARCC Growing
Connecticut is one of only 14 states still using SBAC. A recent report on state testing by Education Week shows that 61% of public school students live in states that are NOT using the federally funded PARCC or SBAC tests. Six years ago, 45 states had signed onto the federally sponsored tests, but in 2015-16,…
DetailsPEAC Considers Allowing Increased Flexibility for Local Districts
As teachers around the state are writing, emailing, and calling their legislators, asking them to pass a bill to permanently decouple SBAC from their evaluations, the committee that advises the State Board of Education on educator evaluations is still meeting to discuss revisions to other parts of the evaluation guidelines. At a meeting earlier this…
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