MCEA Area I, II, and III meetings that were scheduled for Wednesday, March 15, 2017 have been cancelled in anticipation of the snow storm.

Louisiana Federation of Teachers
BESE Report
March, 2017

Even as the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved a $3.4 billion funding formula for the state’s public schools in the coming year, Superintendent of Education John White cautioned that the plan will probably not win legislative approval.

Educators’ basic right to join together in a labor union affirmed

New Orleans— The National Labor Relations Board has approved a settlement of a labor complaint filed against International High School of New Orleans, directing the charter school to pay two teachers fired during a union organizing drive

Once again, the NH House acted like so many of my students do, allowing work to pile up and waiting until the final hour to do the work that needs to be done.  This week, the House met for two long days, and because it had not met the prior week, faced a deadline for acting on over 100 proposed pieces of legislation.  Given how long some debates can take, never mind the time consumed in roll call votes and all kinds of maneuvering, it made for very long days.  Near the end late on Thursday, tempers began to fray and the Republican majority used their power in an increasingly aggressive manner.  When it was done, all legislation had been acted upon, and the House will not meet again for two weeks. 

NO to SB 193 and HB 647

The most controversial educational issue currently in front of the NH Legislature is that of vouchers.  This bill would have a serious impact on our public schools. SB 193, falsely labeled as “Education Freedom Savings Accounts” would establish a full-blown voucher system in NH, taking taxpayer money and placing it in individual accounts for parents to expend at any charter, private or religious school.   Money going to these savings accounts are in all practical terms are vouchers. This is taxpayer money dedicated for public education, which is funneled away from public schools and into the private sector, creating subsidies for a small portion of the population and imposing greater burdens on the majority.  Update: SB 193 has passed the Nh Senate and is now being considered before the NH House Education Committee. For resources to fight vouchers, click more.

Standarized testing season is about to begin. And as history teaches us, it is inevitable that some educators around the state (and around the country) will be accused of testing improprieties.

Here is an essential guide from LFT General Counsel Larry Samuel to guard against mistakes, errors and stress during testing season.

Statement by AFT-NH President Douglas Ley on the passing of Chief Brian Costa

The AFT-Maryland testified before the Senate Health, Education & Environmental Affairs Committee in support of the Protect Our Schools Act 2017.

This to respond to the questions posed about leave by those of you who read ‘The ABCs of Non-Discretionary Leave’.  Several excellent questions were raised and it makes sense to share them and the answers with you.

Question #1:  Can my Principal release me an hour early?