Since COVID, teachers have continually gone above and beyond for their students and while the pandemic is mostly behind us, teachers are still dealing with the negative impact on our students. Our educators are facing student behavioral, social, and mental health issues and a teacher shortage with no end in sight. While the legislature took several small steps to improve the teaching profession, there was no bold action taken that will address the significant problems facing public education.
The legislature passed a bill that makes critical changes to the teacher certification process, allowing teachers a voice in setting standards for the profession, and provided DCF reporting reforms that reinstate commonsense good faith reporting that protects children, teachers, and families.
But they refused to make the financial commitments needed to address the ongoing teacher shortage crisis and did nothing to improve recruitment or retention, increase starting salaries, or acknowledge the pandemic sacrifices made by our teachers.
With a growing state surplus, this was the perfect time to provide the funding and supports that would allow our education system and students to thrive. Instead, the lack of action will continue to add to the dismantling of our public education system, promote dissatisfaction, and further drive teachers out of the profession they love.
The inaction will be recorded in CEA’s Legislative Report Card and will be remembered by teachers in the voting booth come Election Day.
