A recent New York Times op-ed claimed that parental involvement isn’t important to student achievement and may hamper kids’ success in school. Controversy draws readers, but an article in NEA Today explains the many problems with this assertion and the study the op-ed authors cite. Anne Henderson, a leading expert on family and community engagement…
DetailsUPDATE: The Senate passed the bill mentioned below 33-2 Friday night and it now awaits a vote in the House. At a news conference this evening Senate leaders announced that they will run an early childhood bill tonight that will expand access to pre-K for young children around the state. CEA President Sheila Cohen told reporters,…
DetailsBY CEA PRESIDENT SHEILA COHEN Connecticut has parted company with those who would reduce teaching and learning to a single test score. Today the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC) voted to recommend the prohibition of the further use of a single, isolated standardized test score in teacher evaluations. The recommendation will be forwarded to the…
DetailsTime demands associated with the implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) were front and center among teachers and administrators at today’s meeting of the state’s new CCSS task force. Wallingford K-2 school principal Vicki Reed told her colleagues that her district has made progress in designing its curriculum with the CCSS. “The work…
DetailsWhat are the warning signs? How can educators effectively identify and address students’ mental health issues? Come to a workshop presented by the CEA Human and Civil Rights Commission on May 7 and hear the answers from experts in the field. Dr. Andrea M. Spencer, Dean of the School of Education at Pace University, will…
DetailsSchools across the state are celebrating Earth Day today – but how can you and your students have a positive impact on the planet the other 180+ days a year? Below are some tips and resources for going green in your classroom, reusing everyday items, and teaching your students about recycling. Teaching Tips, Ideas, and…
DetailsAs the 2014 legislative session enters the homestretch before the May 7 adjournment, legislators are considering a universal pre-K plan, an investment that would prepare students for future success. Senate President Don Williams, who has been at the forefront of the pre-K debate, joined other Democratic leaders, including Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey, Senate…
DetailsA symposium — Celebrating Effectiveness in Educator Evaluation and Professional Learning — is coming to the Four Points by Sheraton in Meriden on May 21. The event, co-sponsored by the Connecticut Teacher of the Year Council and the Connecticut Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, is designed to provide an opportunity for teachers, administrators, and other education…
DetailsRetired teachers turned out in droves today at the State Capitol to tell their legislators why it’s so important that the state fully honor its commitments to retirees. “It’s extremely important to be here today,” said CEA Retired member Althea Carr. “Our legislators need to know about the issues that concern us.” “If legislators don’t…
DetailsCultivating and sustaining effective family engagement is some of the most important work educators do, and yet, with everything else on educators’ plates, sometimes the link home to families doesn’t get the attention it deserves. A forum on May 6 in East Hartford aims to change that by focusing on strategies and best practices for…
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