The House and Senate approved a new education bill that is primarily focused on turning around underperforming schools. Thanks in large part to MTA lobbyists and members who sent thousands of e-mails to legislators on this issue, we succeeded in defeating or modifying some of the worst provisions that were contained in earlier drafts, including sweeping changes in teacher dismissal procedures in underperforming schools and broad powers for superintendents to waive collective bargaining provisions in those schools.
Over the MTA’s strong objections, the bill does include several provisions that we opposed. Most notably, it gives the commissioner of education the power to impose contract changes in “chronically underperforming” schools and districts – low-scoring “underperforming” schools and districts that have not improved sufficiently over several years. Although we believe this would affect a relatively small percentage of all schools, we do not think it is ever in the best interest of teachers or students for teachers to lose the right to be equal partners in school improvement efforts. Because of these provisions, we asked our supporters in the Legislature to oppose the bill.
Although the Legislature did approve the final version, we will continue to fight to modify the language we opposed both through future legislative action and through regulations.
Below is the statement we issued after the bill was passed.
MTA Vows to Help Struggling Schools, but Calls Education Bill Flawed
The Massachusetts Teachers Association, while expressing strong reservations about key provisions of the education bill passed by the Legislature on January 14, is vowing to continue doing everything possible to promote efforts to turn around the state’s neediest schools.
“The MTA applauds the fact that for the first time in a major education bill, the Commonwealth is recognizing the necessity of going beyond the school building to help create the supportive and healthy environment that is crucial to help students learn,” said MTA President Anne Wass. “On the down side, we believe the bill falls short of what is needed to set up the kind of collaboration that’s essential if we are to mount our best effort to turn around struggling schools.
"We feel the Legislature squandered the opportunity to produce a bill that would have been a winner on all counts,” Wass continued. “There are many positive elements in the bill, but some aspects of the legislation simply won’t work. Eliminating collective bargaining in certain situations does nothing to improve schools; it fails to ensure that educators’ experience and expertise will be brought to bear as we face the challenge of helping our neediest students."
The MTA opposed the conference committee version of the bill, calling for it to be defeated in both chambers. Earlier House and Senate versions of the bill included language that promoted collaboration in chronically underperforming schools and districts by protecting educators’ collective bargaining rights and providing for a balanced dispute-resolution process. But the legislation that emerged from the conference committee and was approved does not contain adequate protections in these areas.
Instead of ensuring a fair system through which differences can be ironed out between administrators and educators when contract changes are proposed in chronically underperforming schools and districts, the bill cuts educators – the very people who know best what is needed in these schools – out of the process, giving ultimate decision-making power to the commissioner of education.
The MTA is strongly urging legislators to revisit the dispute-resolution process and make appropriate changes as the plan is implemented.
“Collaboration, mutual respect and trust are essential ingredients in turning around struggling schools. We will fight to make sure everyone understands that as we move forward,” Wass said. “This attempt at education reform will only succeed for our students if teachers in chronically underperforming schools are involved in a meaningful process through which they collectively bargain over changes and are treated fairly.”
27 comments:
In light of the new education legislation that passed in the House and Senate, could the written agreements between the mayor and the union regarding the Race to the Top become null and void should NBHS and/or the district fall into one of the opprobrious performance categories of the state? In other words, can the state (in the person of the commissioner of ed.)decide to abrogate these documents?
It seems to me that the wolf is huffing and puffing at the door. . .can he blow the house down?
Real education reform would allow the teachers to teach, not babysit and raise ill mannered children.
Until the parents take responsibility for raising thier own children education will continue to suffer.
I'd hate to be a teacher in today's America. God bless them all.
The problems in educating our young people and the problems in our schools are due an overly permissive society that unfortunately sees little value in properly educating its children, a distracting popular culture that is vile and degenerate, and lack of proper parenting from moms and dads (if there are any dads around) that ignore their undisciplined offspring.
Lou--
Are there any protections for our union in regard to Race to the Top, now that the House and Senate have given the commissioner of ed. such power over low performing schools and/or districts? Are we protected by the documents signed between the mayor and the union?
Good bye union
There are plenty of school committees that would love to have Portia Bonner as their superintendent because she attacks the union. Yet, when you think about it, how many school committees would want Portia knowing that she attacks school committees?
so now MTA is 0-3 in candidates... Obama's Race to the Top will destroy us if we let him, Patrick's dismantling of Department of Ed to suit his own purposes, Coakley's "harassing phone calls for election. When are we going to stand up like a real union? I say affiliate with the Teamsters- at least they have some muscle.
I think she has sealed her fate here, there, and everywhere. Godspeed!
I want to know what teacher has ill manared students as the problem??? I and many others are "teaching" kids who are physcotic.These kids need therapy, medication or hospitalization and why is this not happening??? The district cannot afford it. Now what???
So now who gets reformed? It would be difficult to believe that NB will escape this process. Welll perhaps we can think of our union dues as a cost of living raise.
How disappointing. This blog was running full steam ahead as members bashed any number of people. Now that we are faced with problems that will change the furture of teaching in New Bedford there are few posts. What do you think this is about?
If we belonged to the National Federation of Teachers I wonder if this would have happened. I don't doubt the MTA but I think we need a stronger presence at the State House. I am tired of campaign promises that fall short once individuals are elected. They need to know we will not back up anyone who is opposed to the rights of teachers.
Wringing your hands in despair serves no useful purpose. Action is the only recourse. How about a petition signed by teachers in New Bedford that expresses dissatisfaction with the new legislation addressed to the MTA President? I would ask for a reply with some ideas regarding how the MTA proposes to address objectionable language in the legislation. Maybe you can get some other locals to do the same. Contact members of the Board of Directors. They stand ready to assist you and may have some other suggestions. Remember, there is strength in numbers. Do not have a defeatist attitude. You, too, as an NBEA and MTA member have a voice. Use it! Remember--you are the NBEA and the MTA. Be the wolf and not the sheep. Lou will help you howl.
The nbea does a great job of keeping its members informed. Having worked in another district that never informed us of anything I am appreciative.
Our union blindly backed Patrick, and then Obama. What we got in return is more Charter Schools that are not required to keep the disruptive and often absent students that we are forced to entertain at NBHS. When are the politicians going to figure out that it is all about attendance and discipline, and not about more bureaucracy and teacher requirements!
The Charter School push(and voucher push) did not start with the Democrats. Do the research. I agree with you on your other points.
Duh!I know Charter Schools and vouchers started with the Republicans. I'm upset Obama and Patrick are buying into this without dealing with the real issues of attendance and discipline, especially after taking millions from our union.
Well, they are chasing the $$ the Republicans attach to this crap.
didn't the ACLU fight to dismantle our "levels" in schools? That it was against the law to "label" our students according to ability? Isn't this what is going to happen with more Charter Schools? They don't have to take our discipline problems or underperforming students... they can send them back to the public schools, but keep the money allocated for them. Then the public schools get larger classes of the highest risk students and no funds to support what we need to try to help them to be successful.
The Office of Civil Rights wanted levels to be abolished.
Why does the superintendent feel that she has the right to be rude and insolent to the very people that hired her? It's obvious that first impressions don't always reveal a persons true colors.
nbeducators.blogspot.com; You saved my day again.
On an educational note did anyone see the recent article in Time Magazine on the status of elementary and middle schools in Atlanta?? It seems 191 elementary and middle schools are under investigation because of suspicion of grade changing on standadized tests. Apparently an abnormal amount of erased answers were found to be changed to correct answers. That's right. The powers that be even have a formula for estimating how many changed answers should be changed to correct answers. School officials and teachers are now being investigated for suspicion of changing answers to show school progress and AYP under the NCLB and Race to the Top requirements. No need to worry. The investigation is being conducted by local school officials. Wouldn't we all like to conduct out own investigation of ourselves when accused of wrong doing?
Thanks for the info. Big W. It seems that the need to excell makes folks do strange thngs. The Dallas field trip is one and now in our backyqrd Brockton's student exedous?
The Big W said...
I was listening to a talk show on the way home yesterday. Naturally the topic was the now national news situation in Central Falls RI where all the teachers were just fired. The host kept saying that under the reform model used no more than 50% of the teachers can be rehired so 1 out of every two teachers will be rehired. I tend to disagree. To me "not more than" is math code for what we teach as "less than or equal to."
By that I mean the following: Not more than 50% of 74 teachers translates to not more than 37 teachers. Not more than 37 translates to 37, 36, 35, ......10, 9, 8, .....5, 4, 3, etc. If the district decides to hire back only 5 of the teachers, hasn't it complied with the law by hiring back "no more than 50% of the teachers?" If the district hires back only 5 teachers and is in compliance with the law, doesn't this open up a tremendous opportunity to look for and to hire younger, less expensive new teachers who can be molded and trained the way the powers want? What an impact this would have on the budget and what an opportunity to further make national news. I think it was Bob Dylan who years ago sang about "The times they are achanging."
how about reforming the parents of these kids-they are their first influence. Then we have to deal with them and get blamed for their failings.
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