IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, a non-profit organization, released thousands of emails today, some of which link Jeb Bush, Susana Martinez, and Hanna Skandera.

You were notified recently by AFT-W that the 7^th Circuit Court ruled against us in the Judge Conley appeal.  The two remaining alternatives to appeal that decision are: 

1. "en banc review" which means we ask for all 10 judges from the 7th Circuit to review and rule. Note:  Seven of the ten judges were appointed by Republicans. The two judges who made the majority decision in this case are considered moderate Republican appointees.

...In Defending Against the Use of Meaningless Standardized Tests in Education, January 22, 2013.  Read the whole Resolution here.

Decades of state budget cuts have chipped away at California's community colleges, but now Gov. Jerry Brown seems determined to restore some of the luster....  See the whole article here.

"If you had to put a face on the tech industry in Olympia, perhaps it should be that of Dudley Dursley, the pudgy, spoiled cousin of Harry Potter...."  Read the rest of Brier Dudley's Seattle Times Technology Column here.

(for full article, visit BaltimoreSun.com.)

You wouldn't know it from our nation's debate over Obamacare, but the U.S. has had government-supported health care for nearly 80 years. Not only that, but our nation bolsters a retirement level well beyond the thin safety net provided by Social Security, and it even ensures Americans a path to a family-supporting wage. And, no, I have not mistaken the U.S. for a socialist European nation.

Happy Valentines Day! 

They’re many opportunities for Chapter 48 members coming up.

To be involved:

Our chapter meeting Feb 9^th/Negotiation committee letters of interest due Feb 15^th

OSEA legislative Education Day March 3^rd & 4^th

The Districts Listening and Learning session Feb 12/ School Board meeting Feb 25^th

To receive:

WTA Appraisal Process

The Appraisal Process outlined in the section was agreed upon to help teachers improve their instructional practices, to enhance communication about effective teaching between and among teachers, and to positively affect student achievement. It is also meant to be a collaborative process between teachers and administrators with the final professional performance rating representing everything that an administrator knows about the teacher as a professional.

Headlines across the state declared: "Corbett to play hardball on pension reform;" after state Budget Secretary Charles Zogby told the Pennsylvania Press Club that the administration plans to cut the pensions of current school employees. AFTPA President Ted Kirsch accused the governor of  "using public schools, students and teachers as pawns to advance an privatization agenda." Read Ted's statement...