We were all shocked by the decision made in Central Falls, RI last week to fire the entire staff of its high school. For many of us who are “long in the tooth” there may even be a sense of deja vu if you look at this as an impasse in a highly charged collective…
DetailsIt’s expected to be over a month before Connecticut policymakers can separate fact from fiction regarding why the state was not named a finalist in the Race to the Top (RTTT) competition for large sums of federal funds. “There’s much speculation, but we really won’t know precisely why Connecticut was not chosen in this first…
DetailsToday’s Hartford Courant has an article about CEA’s new ad campaign. “We’re trying to promote the image of teachers and remind the public of the hard work teachers do, especially during this time of dwindling resources, growing class sizes and budget battles. It’s a critical time to remind the public that teachers have a job…
DetailsTeachers are focusing on much more than academics as they prepare to administer tests. They’re tending to their students’ nutrition, enthusiasm, confidence, and desire to excel in countless ways. That’s what CEA has heard from members in recent days. And we’d like to hear from you about what you have been doing in your school.…
DetailsConnecticut Teachers: Giving their best every day is the tagline for a new public relations campaign from CEA. The aim of the campaign is to promote the important work teachers do, especially in a climate of dwindling resources and increased demands. Teachers are continuously improving, adapting, and innovating. They’re leading change and improvement in our…
DetailsLast week the House Education Labor and Pension Committee issued an announcement that it would begin a bipartisan effort to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). They issued the following statement: Today, we’re announcing a bipartisan, open and transparent effort to rewrite No Child Left Behind – a law that we all agree…
DetailsFederal assistance needed to avert economic crisis in Connecticut With Connecticut still stuck in a severe economic recession and federal stimulus funds due to run out next year, public-sector unions – including CEA — are urging representatives in Washington to pass a federal jobs creation bill. “Economists say that unless Congress acts to help state and…
DetailsIt is great that CEA has asked teachers why they chose to teach. It is an important question to ask, particularly given the shroud of cynicism surrounding the profession going back to the release of A Nation at Risk, and reaching a high point in the first term of George Bush. Teachers need to share…
DetailsThe media often concentrates on what’s wrong with Connecticut’s public schools – but there is also plenty of positive news. Below is a small sampling of positive facts about public education in Connecticut. Reading Scores Are Among the Nation’s Best: Connecticut ranks 4th highest in the nation for having the largest proportion of public school…
DetailsI’ve been “offline” for over a month enjoying a bit of the freedom that comes with retirement. On the national education policy front January was a relatively quiet month as over 40 states scrambled to meet the onerous demands of finishing the application for the Race to the Top competition. Connecticut was one of those…
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