Education Committee makes positive changes to Governor's Education Bill

AFT Connecticut is in the process of thoroughly reviewing the Education Committee's changes to Senate Bill 24. We understand that the legislation proposed by the Education Committee represents one step on the long road towards passage and that there may be other changes along the way.

"This bill is a work in progress," said Sharon Palmer, president of AFT Connecticut.

We believe that the outreach of our members to the Education Committee had a significant impact. By calling and emailing the Education Committee, educators made their voice heard about our biggest concerns in the legislation.

"Educators across Connecticut spoke up about their concerns in this bill," said Palmer. "They spoke out at the Governor's forums. They emailed and called their legislators. They wrote letters to the Governor and met with legislators at meetings around the state. Those action made a tremendous difference in shaping this bill as it comes out of the Education Committee."

The changes in the bill reflect those concerns:
-Certification and salary schedules are no longer linked to evaluations.
-Instructs the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC) to define the four categories of evaluation and makes recommendations on evaluation focusing on administration first.
-PEAC's role is expanded now to study and recommend a new tenure and dismissal process.
-The current dismissal process is shortened to 115 days and one arbitrator.

"We will be conducting a more thorough analysis of the new legislation and will make that available to members once it is complete," added Palmer.

Again, we will be monitoring this bill as it makes its way through the legislative process to ensure that the end result is improved education for every child in Connecticut.

AFT CT (American Federation of Teachers Connecticut) is committed to improving the quality of education for every child in the state. Education reform issues like teacher tenure, teacher certification, teacher evaluations, early childhood education, charter schools, school funding and more need input from all educators. PreK-12 teachers, paraprofessionals and school related personnel are working every day to improve learning and help students to grow. From urban schools in Connecticut, such as Hartford, New Britain, New Haven and Meriden, to suburban schools, such as, Bloomfield, Simsbury and Waterford,  to regional school districts, our members are working to provide quality education.