The CEA Blog

Your Association is a founding member of the Teacher Union Reform Network (TURN). This independent union-led effort strengthens the national unions’ capacity to promote reforms. The ultimate goal is better learning and higher achievement for America’s children. Unions are in a unique position to stimulate change.

At the recent national TURN meeting, members discussed the following question:

How should local unions operate in the public education industry as education systems evolve in the 21st century?

We are interested in your responses. Log in and blog!

For instructions on how to register, click on the jump below.

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It’s hard to believe we’re halfway through another school year. What’s astounding, however, is how much time testing has eaten from our classroom schedules since winter break.

Since Jan. 7, teachers have given nearly 30 standardized tests, including the Dominie, given in grades 2–5; quarterly assessments given in grades 2–12, and the full-length OAT practice test, given in grades 3–8.

At minimum, that’s 60 hours spent giving the tests, not to mention the hours spent teaching the test format through sample questions and practice exercises and filling out paperwork. Teachers are frustrated by the enormous amount of testing; and our students are burnt out, also. Click on the jump below to read more. (more…)

More than 100 teachers in Columbus City Schools give high school students a second chance at graduating through their active involvement in the districtwide Credit Recovery program (CR).

The 5- year-old program allows students to earn high school credits by retaking previously failed core academic courses through mastery- based computer software.

While CR has helped to increase high school graduation rates across the district, serious questions have been raised and remain unanswered about the day-to-day operations of the program.

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As a result of the implementation of the shortened school year in 2006, teachers in all grade levels throughout CCS were given common planning time to be able to prepare strategies with their colleagues with the goal of improving student achievement.

How has common planning time helped you improve student achievement? If it hasn’t helped you, what is preventing common planning time from being an open-ended collaborative experience for you and your colleagues?

Speak out below—make sure you’re registered!

This is the time when you, the classroom teacher are beginning to give quarterly assessment(s) in your classroom.

As you follow the pacing guide(s) for your subject area(s), are the quarterly assessments helping you to diagnose areas of low student achievement in a timely fashion and giving you the resources and opportunities to go back and re-teach the material to your students?

Speak out below—make sure you’re registered!