Education Reform

Educators Respond to Growing Stress on the Job

Thu, 11/30/2017 - 6:30pm
A survey of nearly 5,000 public school educators released last month by our national union found rates of anxiety to be twice those of working people in other professions. Most respondents said they face disrespect by local, state and federal policymakers and elected officials. By contrast, educators in school districts that foster collaboration reported lower stress levels and higher retention rates. The results mirror those of a survey of AFT Connecticut-affiliated union members conducted earlier this summer.
 
Click here for a full report on the national survey's results.
 

Standing Up to Unprecedented Threats to Schools

Fri, 01/06/2017 - 6:00pm
By choosing billionaire political donor Betsy DeVos to lead the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), President-elect Donald Trump has shown he is serious about decimating our nation's public schools. Congress has scheduled her nomination hearing for next Wednesday, adding urgency to the defense of our shared mission of a high-quality learning experience for all students. Members are encouraged to sign and share an open letter demanding the secretary of education and every elected official respect and uphold this vision.
 
Click here to add your name to the letter.
 

Every Student Succeeds Act Ushers in Sweeping Changes

Fri, 12/11/2015 - 4:30pm
President Barack Obama yesterday signed the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) into law, enacting the most positive changes in nearly two decades to Pre-K through college public education policy. The new law, which reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Elementary Education Act (ESEA), marks the end to the top-down accountability in place since the passage of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).
 
Click here for more on how the new law impacts states and local districts.
 

Re-imagining High School for the 21st Century

Thu, 11/19/2015 - 6:30pm
The administration of President Barack Obama last week convened a first-ever “Summit on Next Generation High Schools,” bringing educators, administrators, policymakers and other stakeholders together from across the nation. Our AFT Connecticut president was among the union leaders to attend the event, which was designed to highlight best practices in recent efforts to prepare students for post-graduation success.
 
Click here for a White House fact sheet on the summit.
 

Comments on Release of Smarter Balanced Test Scores

Fri, 08/28/2015 - 2:00pm
Jan Hochadel, president of AFT Connecticut, made the following remarks in response to students' Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) standardized test scores released today by the state Department of Education (SDE):
 

Cast Your Vote for the Meriden "Miracle"

Tue, 08/18/2015 - 12:00pm
The unique labor-management relationship that union members have established with administrators in Meriden Public Schools has gained national attention as a model for effectively improving student outcomes. Their story has been selected for a potential presentation at next year's SXSWedu Conference and Festival -- but only if it receives enough votes in their public "panel picker" competition.
 
Click here to vote for the Meriden "Miracle" today.
 

Comments on New Law Requiring Charter Manager Transparency, Accountability

Wed, 07/08/2015 - 1:00pm
Jan Hochadel, president of AFT Connecticut, made the following remarks on Governor Dannel P. Malloy's signature today of landmark legislation to increase oversight of schools operated by charter management organizations (CMOs):
 
 

Comments on Legislature's Action to Increase Charter School Oversight

Tue, 06/02/2015 - 8:00pm
Melodie Peters, president of AFT Connecticut, made the following remarks on passage of legislation to improve transparency and increase accountability for schools operated by charter management organizations (CMOs) in the state:
 

Survey Shows Need for National Focus on Workplace Stress

Wed, 05/20/2015 - 12:00pm
The results of a new AFT survey on working conditions and pressures facing education professionals across the country provide vital information about sources of stress on the job. They demonstrate the need for a scientific study on how work affects the health and well-being of teachers, paraprofessionals and school support staff -- and we're mobilizing union members to urge the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) to take on this task.
 
Click here to ask the DOE to conduct this research.
 

Survey: Educators' Working Conditions

Mon, 04/27/2015 - 12:00pm
While many countries have studied the effects of work environments on educators and school staff, no real study of the issue has been done in the United States. AFT has created a robust survey for members of affiliated unions representing PreK-12 teachers and paraprofessionals & school-related personnel (PSRP) to help make the case for a thorough scientific review.
 

 
Click here to take the anonymous survey online.
 
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