The RA just approved its first new business item, and it’s an interesting one.
The item, which was proposed by the union’s board of directors, would develop a plan to influence policy around the $5 billion over five years school-turnaround proposal that President Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan have been chattering about lately. Among other things, the union would seek to protect the contractual rights of NEA members, develop indicators of school success other than test scores, and integrate the teaching of 21st century skills.
The item dodged a little bit of a bullet, too. California delegates pushed to include language to require the NEA to oppose the conversion of low-performing schools into charter schools, something that the Duncan team apparently supports. NEA President Dennis Van Roekel ruled the amendment out of order because it conflicted with other NEA policy on charter schools.