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KEEPING YOU INFORMED - Negotiations Update By Ruben Mancillas
Welcome back!
I was asked during our PL days to give a brief recap of upcoming checks so that members could know when to expect them and what each is for.
Retro checks are scheduled to be disbursed on or before August 31, 2023. This will come in the form of a separate check and not a direct deposit.
For those members who chose to participate in the two voluntary professional learning days on August 8 and/or August 9 they will be paid at a rate of $474 per day. Thank you to the team from Academic Services for facilitating this successful event and thanks to the negotiating team for bargaining for this opportunity for additional compensation. The checks for the PL days are scheduled to arrive as part of the September 5, 2023 pay period.
And then of course we receive our standard paycheck on September 1, 2023.
Regarding Keenan training videos; I have not yet started the process and am aware that the listed minutes for each course do not always precisely match how long they take to complete but four hours looks to be a reasonable amount of time that site administrators should set aside during the coming months to complete everything by October 24, 2023.
During the rep council meeting, I had proposed a larger number but that was before I sat down to add them up and taken into account that we no longer have a COVID video (knock on wood!). So, again, four hours to complete the Keenan training appears to be a reasonable expectation.
A frequent question we receive is, “When are we going to bargain for salary again?” The answer is that we bargain for salary and benefits every year and then we negotiate the overall master contract every three years. More specifically, when during the school year we begin the bargaining process depends on both sides initiating a process wherein we agree to “sunshine” particular parts of the contract which we agree to discuss. For example, this year we have agreed to sunshine the articles of the contract pertaining to salary, benefits, and our calendar. This agreement is then approved by the board and allows us to move forward with the negotiating process.
Why do we sunshine? (And yes, it is awkward for this English teacher to use it as a verb but that is the usage in this context). It helps both sides by narrowing the scope of the elements that we are bargaining for. We have agreed to open up on these three articles, so there are no surprises that we are suddenly talking about something like class maximums.
A thank you and welcome to Dr. Fraser, ABCUSD’s new Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources. We have been working with him regarding these sunshine agreements and I appreciate his willingness to submit these to the board in time for the board meeting of August 15. So in answer to the question of “when are we going to bargain for salary again?”, this year it looks like we will begin the process sooner rather than later. The negotiating team will meet internally and then we can schedule dates with the district team.
Our current master contract covering 2022-2025 is being printed and hard copies will be delivered to the sites as soon as it is ready. It is not the most pressing issue and I am not sure as to the exact shade but the cover color will be…pink. I am at a career stage that I think of John Mellencamp’s MTV “Pink Houses” promotion rather than the latest blockbuster film but you can choose whichever pink cultural reference that works best for you!
In Unity,
KEEPING YOU INFORMED: Union Office Has Moved By Tanya Golden
Understandably as the new school year begins, teachers are focusing on all of the things that need to be done to prepare for the students' first day on Monday. However, I just want to remind you that the union office has temporarily moved since the rental lease for the union office expired on June 30th and we were unable to reach a deal with the landlord that met our financial needs.
We have moved to a temporary workspace at 17777 Center Court Dr. #618 in Cerritos until December. ABCFT leadership is searching for a new union office which includes the possibility of being housed in a district space. When we have more concrete details, we will share them.
The new workspace does not have a landline phone so if you need to contact us please email at ABCFT@abcusd.us or ABCFT2317@gmail.com and we will get back to you.
KEEPING YOU INFORMED: Agreement Reached on State Budget for 2023-24: Summary and Highlights
Overall - Top line issues
TK-12 Schools and Community Colleges: Core funding for schools and community colleges will be increased by the statutory COLA of 8.22%, which will be applied to the LCFF and to community college apportionments and the SCFF. The total Proposition 98 funding for 203-24 remains high at $108.3 billion, slightly above the re-calculated amount for 2022-23. The funding for TK-12 schools includes new funding to account for the continued implementation of Universal Transitional Kindergarten. Funding for Categorical programs that are outside of the LCFF and SCFF will also be increased by the 8.22% COLA.
Cuts to TK-12 funding were largely avoided: the Arts, Music, and Instructional Materials Discretionary Block Grant (initially funded in 2022-23 at $3.6 billion to be used through 2025-26)) will be cut by $200 million. The Learning Recovery Emergency Block Grant will not be cut at all, though $1.1 billion will be delayed to 2025-26 (initially funded in 2022-23 at $7.9 billion to be used through 2027-28).
Cuts to Community College COVID-19 Recovery Block Grant ($650 million, in the 2022-23 budget) were avoided in the budget deal, but the budget will cut $494.3 million from the 2022-23 deferred maintenance funding (was $840.7 million). In addition, districts will gain flexibility to use funding from the COVID-19 block grant, student retention and recruitment, and the deferred maintenance and instructional equipment funds for any of these purposes. Other funding flexibility proposals under discussion were ultimately rejected. The Proposition 98 “Rainy Day'' fund is projected to be funded at $10.8 billion; this amount continues to trigger the statutory 10% cap on local TK-12 school district reserves, and would reach the state constitutional cap for this reserve fund.
Early Childhood Education: The budget deal provides notable increases to the state’s support for child care and state preschool, including $2.8 billion for reimbursement rate increases. Child care and state preschool fee waivers will be extended through September 30 and starting October 1, family fees for child care and preschool will be reduced and capped so that families with income below 75% of the state median income will pay no fees and for those at or over 75% of median income, fees will be 1% of income.
University of California: The ongoing base funding for the UC will increase by $215.5 million, or 5%, and the budget sets an enrollment target of 7,800 additional full-time equivalent students in 2023-24. $30 million ongoing General Fund is allocated to continue the 5-year program to replace nonresident students with California students at the Berkeley, Los Angeles and San Diego campuses. The budget avoids cuts and delays to infrastructure and student housing projects by shifting costs to bonds. Other key higher education funding includes continued support for the Middle Class Scholarship and an expansion of financial aid programs to provide debt free college to foster youth,.
More detailed information here
HEALTH BENEFITS OPEN ENROLLMENT: ACT NOW
At the beginning of every school year there is a period of time called open enrollment where employees have the opportunity to make benefit arrangements and adjustments as circumstances change throughout an employee's career. Make sure that you take advantage of this time period to understand your health benefits and any changes that have been negotiated in the previous year.
Here are just a few examples of how employees used this open enrollment window to maximize their benefits. Having the opportunity to discuss changes in person allows individuals the time for personal questions on how to adjust or maximize their benefit packages. For example, last year there was a significant improvement in the ABCUSD vision package and many employees have taken advantage of this benefit enhancement. If you are expecting a child in the next year this is an opportunity ask questions about changes in your benefits. Perhaps you have questions about disability insurance or you need to update your disability insurance rates, this is an opportunity for direct contact with your providers.
Make your Open Enrollment selections by Wednesday, August 23rd. All the information and documents you need to successfully enroll in your benefits for the 2023-2024 plan year are available on our ABC website under 2023-2024 Open Enrollment for ABC Employees or using the following link: Employee Benefits 2023-24
If you have any further questions, please contact the Fringe Benefits department.
Jasmin Aguilar, Fringe Benefits Specialist
562-926-5566 Extension 21245
Below is the link to schedule a one-on-one appointment with an American Fidelity benefit counselor:
What they offer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-UG7yJHF0sOJrxZz3dgg7Hysk4bHsick/view?usp=sharing
https://enroll.americanfidelity.com/E3A26B4D
The direct contact for American Fidelity is:
Leslie-Ann Patam (#0E40175)
Senior Account Executive
Phone: (951)397-4803
ABCFT PRESIDENT’S REPORT - Ray Gaer
Consistent and regular communication is a union’s most important tool for advocating for its members at the bargaining table. Every conversation with members is focused on the end result of negotiating for the future prosperity and well-being of ALL ABCFT members. This weekly report informs members about issues impacting their working/learning conditions and mental well-being. Our work as a Union is a larger conversation, and working together, we all make the YOUnion.
“We are not interested in hiring people who are not relationship driven.” overheard from a key ABC District administrator
WELCOME BACK ABCFT TEACHERS AND NURSES!
I hope that all of you returning to ABC and those of you who are newly hired to ABC had a great Summer pause. This year's Summer break for many was more relaxed but as many have pointed out it felt just a little short (ABCUSD is returning with students a week earlier than we have in the past). As Ruben mentioned in his article this week ABCFT and ABCUSD will return to the negotiating table for compensation, benefits, and the school calendar. For those of you wondering, ABCFT does not anticipate any drastic changes in our calendar in the coming years. If you are already planning for next year’s Summer getaway, I want to inform you that we believe that we will be starting with students similar to this school year (starting with students on August 12, 2024).
Thanks to all of you who participated in the professional development earlier this week. The buzz from members who attended was that most found the two days highly informative and that it sparked new interests and innovations that could positively impact our classrooms and the students we serve. With your support last year, the ABCFT Negotiating Team worked at the bargaining table to help provide these valuable days of instruction. As we return to the bargaining table ABCFT anticipates additional conversations about how we can continue to advocate meaningful professional development days to provide you with the tools for success. If you missed the two days of instruction and networking or you need to revisit the resources presented, visit the Session Resources folder to access resources from all the sessions.
Over the Summer there were a number of staffing and position changes across the district. With so many changes it can sometimes be difficult to know who to contact when you have questions or need support. In addition, there have been a large number of administrative changes that we will all be adjusting to over the course of the school year. Academic Services at the district level has a number of changes of personnel and focus so to help everyone find what they need they put together a helpful “Who is who” guide that is not only a useful resource but also a definitive statement about the professionalism we are seeing at the district office. This guide highlights both classified and certificated employees and their function within the Academic Services Department. It’s great to see this elevation of all employees and their collective work to support you at your school sites and programs. You can find this Academic Services document here.
On Monday of this week, your ABCFT site reps took a few hours out of their Summer to do some union preparation work for the coming school year. Every year ABCFT has a rep council prior to the school year to talk about contract changes, get negotiating/budget updates, and to discuss anticipated issues that ABCFT members may experience at the beginning of the school year. For those of you interested to know what is discussed at the monthly site representative meetings, you can find those notes at the top of the ABCFT YOUnionews each week. Those notes will be a month old because they are approved and adopted at the following rep council meeting. One of the things the leadership shares with the new and returning site representatives is an organizational map of the union starting with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) at the national level, the California Federation of Teachers (CFT) at the state level, and finally the leadership of the ABC Federation of Teachers. You can find this document here.
If you have contractual questions or site-specific questions I encourage you to reach out to your site representatives. In most cases, they will have the answers to your questions and if they don’t they are skilled in finding solutions or who will have the answers you need.
Have a wonderful school year, Tanya Golden and I look forward to working with you and visiting your sites throughout the school year.
In YOUnity,
Ray Gaer
President, ABCFT
Here is your ABCFT Executive Board for 2023-2025.
CALIFORNIA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
Communications
With a fully staffed communications department, we have successfully sent out electronic versions of our newsletters: The Part-timer and the Classified Insider. Thank you Mathew and Nason. I am delighted to share that CFT is now on Threads, an electronic platform that enables CFT to reach our members more effectively and share our message with the broader constituency and the general public.
The latest CFT articles and news stories can be found here on the PreK12 news feed on the CFT.org website.
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TEACHERS
First, thanks to all who attended last week’s TEACH conference! Below are links to Randi’s July 21 conference speech, which launched our new campaign in support of strategies that we hope are both common ground and common sense (not to mention backed by research). The first link is a write-up that also contains the video of the speech. The second link is the text of the speech.
Speech description and video: https://www.aft.org/news/weingarten-launches-new-campaign-real-solutions-kids-and-communities
Speech text: https://www.aft.org/press/speeches/real-solutions-kids-and-communities
Also below, per Pat Keefer in AFT’s International Affairs department, is information for accessing the final report on the 2023 International Summit on the Teaching Profession (ISTP). Whether you attended April’s summit or not, we hope you find the report informative.
Follow AFT President Randi Weingarten: http://twitter.com/rweingarten
LOS ANGELES COUNTY LABOR FEDERATION
Dear Brothers, Sisters, and Siblings:
I am so proud of the courage that our siblings across Los Angeles County have displayed this past month in their fight for the middle class and livable wages for all workers.
These workers are hitting the streets and standing together in solidarity to tell the world that despite their greedy employer’s best efforts, numerous reports and statistics that say the middle class is in a downward spiral trend; the fight for good-paying jobs is a fight worth fighting for. We will not conform to these attempts of extinction.
Dear Brothers, Sisters, and Siblings:
I am so proud of the courage that our siblings across Los Angeles County have displayed this past month in their fight for the middle class and livable wages for all workers.
These workers are hitting the streets and standing together in solidarity to tell the world that despite their greedy employer’s best efforts, numerous reports and statistics that say the middle class is in a downward spiral trend; the fight for good-paying jobs is a fight worth fighting for. We will not conform to these attempts of extinction.
Owning a home and a car, having healthcare (for you and your family), going on a vacation, or being able to retire should not be a thing of the past. One paycheck should be enough.
According to the Pew Research Center, only 52% of the U.S. population is middle class. Even that slim majority reflects a longer-term trend compared to previous years.
To achieve or even maintain middle-class status, many unionized workers have been forced to work two or more jobs, commute long distances and some forced to live out of their cars. All while inflation and corporate price gouging has skyrocketed.
We, the Los Angeles County Labor Movement, are in the fight of our lives, and the world is watching. As we join our striking siblings and stand up to fight against corporate greed and demand innovative solutions, we must address this trend that is hindering the ability of our brothers and sisters to have a decent livelihood.
Our continued and steadfast solidarity must continue and will be pivotal in the coming days to ensure workers come out victorious in the fight against poverty and corporate greed in Los Angeles County.
Join us in the coming weeks- adopt a picket line, or uplift a strike fund. When we fight together, we win together.
--Yvonne Wheeler, President of the LA County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
----- NEWS STORY HIGHLIGHT-----
Chino Valley Unified teachers file employment complaints against district policies
The union representing teachers in the Chino Valley Unified School District has filed labor complaints with the state over recently enacted policies that require to the identification of transgender students to their parents and ban gay pride flags in classrooms, The (Riverside) Press-Enterprise reported.
In the complaint filed Tuesday with the California Public Employment Relations Board, the Associated Chino Teachers alleges the district failed to negotiate with the union before enacting the new rules, one of which limits protected union speech, the complaint charged.
“Unfortunately, our Board is creating headlines by focusing on things that don’t benefit students and that divide our community,” said ACT President Brenda Walker in a news release about the union’s action, The Press-Enterprise reported.
A district spokesperson said officials learned of the complaint Wednesday and were gathering more information about them, the newspaper reported.
The district, in San Bernardino County, is being investigated by the state Department of Justice for potential civil rights violations after passing the transgender identification policy, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced earlier this month. The school board president has called the investigation an “intimidation tactic.”
States need to do more to diversify the teacher workforce, study says
Education leaders and policymakers aren’t doing enough to increase teacher diversity, according to a report released today by the National Council on Teacher Quality.
The report, “State of the States 2023: Policies to Increase Teacher Diversity” found that seven states have set public goals for increasing diversity in their teacher workforce; 14 have passed initiatives to retain teachers of color, and only a few states offer either financial incentives or career pathways explicitly to attract teachers of color.
Research has shown having teachers of color in the classroom increases academic outcomes for all students.
“We know the importance of teachers of color for all students, and we need to put state policies in place to attract, support and retain them,” said Heather Peske, NCTQ president. “The good news is that state policymakers don’t have to start from scratch. There are many examples of states leading the way. We need more bold action to scale these efforts.”
The report credits California for spending $350 million on its teacher residency program, a pathway teachers of color rated highly in a Rand Corp. survey. California schools primarily teach students of color — 79% — but just 39% of educators are teachers of color.
The report recommends increased pay, better benefits, loan forgiveness and scholarships for teacher candidates, expanded teacher preparation programs at minority-serving institutions, teacher licensing reciprocity agreements, leadership pathways for teachers, teacher residencies and more supportive school administrators, to diversify the workforce.
https://edsource.org/states-need-to-do-more-to-diversify-the-teacher-workforce-study-says
----- NATIONAL NEWS -----
Students missing school at alarming rates
Nationwide, students have been absent at record rates since schools reopened after COVID-forced closures. More than a quarter of students missed at least 10% of the 2021-22 school year, making them chronically absent. An estimated 6.5m additional students became chronically absent, with absences more prevalent among Latino, Black, and low-income students. Chronic absenteeism has devastating long-term consequences, hindering learning and increasing the risk of dropping out. Some feel that parents and students have been conditioned to stay home even for minor illnesses. The pandemic has worsened the situation, with students facing various challenges like finances, housing instability, illness, transportation issues, and feeling unwelcome at school. The effects of online learning and the fear of sickness have also contributed to chronic absences. Rates have doubled in some states. Alaska leads in absenteeism, particularly among Alaska Native students.
Hawaii wildfires thrust educators into disaster response roles
Schools across Maui have been forced to close just days after the start of a new school year after a wildfire ravaged a historic region of the Hawaiian island. At least 53 people died after violent winds from Hurricane Dora fueled a massively destructive wildfire on the island, which began Tuesday, forcing the evacuation of thousands of residents and tourists. "Beyond the immediate physical destruction, the tragedy will have emotional effects for students around the state," laments Ronn Nozoe, CEO of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, who is based in Hawaii.
Conservative groups sue to block Biden's $39bn student loan forgiveness plan
Two conservative groups are attempting to block the Biden administration's plan to cancel $39bn in student loans for over 800,000 borrowers. A lawsuit filed Friday in Michigan by the New Civil Liberties Alliance on behalf of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and the Cato Institute argues that the administration overstepped its power and ask a judge to rule the cancellation illegal. The lawsuit claims that Biden's action was illegal because it wasn't authorized by Congress and didn't go through a federal rulemaking process. The conservative groups argue that Biden's plan undermines Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The Education Department called the suit "a desperate attempt from right-wing special interests," adding: “We are not going to back down or give an inch when it comes to defending working families."
State takeovers of ‘failing’ schools increasing
Steven Yoder examines whether there's any merit in the increasing number of state takeovers of local school districts. Supporters of takeovers say they help jolt failing school systems into better performances, while opponents feel that they undermine the political power of cities, particularly those governed by Black and Hispanic leaders. While still significant, nationally, takeovers are relatively rare. Between 1988 and 2016, states took control of 114 school districts, about four per year. At least three studies have found that takeovers don’t increase academic achievement. The latest, a May 2021 working paper by researchers from Brown University and the University of Virginia looked at all 35 state takeovers between 2011 and 2016. “On average, we find no evidence that takeover generates academic benefits,” the researchers concluded. The paper also found that majority-Black districts were more likely to be taken over even when their academic performance was similar to that in White districts not taken over. The same was true for majority-Hispanic districts.
Florida schools grapple with standoff over AP Psychology course
The DeSantis administration's clash with the College Board over the AP Psychology course has left Florida schools in a state of confusion. State education officials want lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity excluded, but the nonprofit group refuses to comply. Florida's Education Commissioner believes the course can still be taught, but many school districts have already dropped it. Some districts are considering alternative options, such as offering other college-level psychology courses or emphasizing real-world topics. The dispute has sparked a debate over liberal "indoctrination" in classrooms and has drawn national attention. As schools scramble to find solutions, the Florida Department of Education blames the College Board for cutting off access to the course, while the College Board insists that any course that censors required content cannot be labeled as "AP." The controversy follows recent criticism of Florida's education system over new Black history teaching standards.
Louisiana schools required to display "In God We Trust"
A new law in Louisiana has gone into effect, requiring public schools in the state to display the nation's official motto "In God We Trust" in each classroom. The law mandates that the motto be displayed on a poster or framed document in each classroom, with a large, easily readable font. The law goes beyond the previous version, which only required the motto to be displayed in school buildings. Public schools are not required to use funds for these displays and can accept donated funds or displays. Similar mandates have been proposed in other Southern states, including Florida, South Carolina, and Arkansas.
----- STATE NEWS -----
California launches statewide teacher hiring initiative
Amid declining test scores and widespread teacher shortages, California Superintendent Tony Thurmond has announced a statewide teacher hiring initiative, including continuing the $20,000 Golden State Teacher Grant. According to an analysis by the Learning Policy Institute, California will need to hire an additional 11,900 to 15,600 teachers to meet requirements for transitional kindergarten. With public enrollment down from pre-pandemic levels, universalizing preschool programming at public school districts could temporarily reduce the reduction in preschool enrollment. California expects to hire 22,143 teachers for new or vacated positions this year. The state has taken significant steps to increase the number of available teachers, including allowing recently retired teachers to come back into service and proposing increasing subsidies for teacher candidates in residency training programs.
California A.G. investigates district's transgender policy
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is investigating whether the Chino Valley Unified School District infringed on students' civil rights by adopting a policy that requires teachers to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender or wants to use a name or pronoun different from what's on their birth certificate. Bonta said the policy could force schools to “out” their students, increasing a student's risk of being bullied or committing self-harm or suicide. The policy also requires parents to be notified within three days if their child asked for access to gender-based sports or wants to use a different bathroom or changing rooms that do not match their assigned gender at birth.
California districts struggle to fill teacher positions
Many school districts in California are still scrambling to fill teacher positions, just days or weeks before the new school year begins. Oakland USD was still searching for almost 100 teachers, especially bilingual and special education teachers, as of July 25th. Elsewhere, both Alum Rock Union School District and Franklin-McKinley School District in San Jose are still searching for teachers as well. NBC reports that there were more than 10,000 teacher vacancies across the state at the end of the 2022 school year, according to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
----- DISTRICTS -----
Murrieta Valley school board OKs gender identity policy
The Murrieta Valley USD school board has approved a policy that requires staff to inform parents if a student is transgender or gender-nonconforming, becoming the second school district in the Inland Empire to do so, after Chino Valley. The policy passed Thursday night in a 3-2 vote, despite feedback from the district’s retained attorney during the meeting warning members the new policy could put them on shaky legal ground. In a statement, the state Department of Education stressed students’ “legally protected privacy interest under the California Constitution with respect to information about their gender identity.” The department’s director of communications, Maria Clayton, said, “It is critical that schools protect the well-being of students, including some of our most vulnerable students, transgender students.”
Fresno USD aims to keep schools open should teachers strike
Fresno USD is offering substitute teachers $500 a day in preparation for a possible strike by the Fresno Teachers Association. The district and the union have been in negotiations since November, with no signs of reaching a deal. The union has proposed multimillion-dollar initiatives related to student well-being, which the district argues should not be part of contract negotiations. The parties are approaching the September 29th deadline set by the union for reaching an agreement. If no deal is reached, the union plans to conduct a strike authorization vote. The district's concerns include the union's proposal for lifetime health benefits for teachers and a four-day work week. The union is concerned about the district's unwillingness to allocate more state funding towards teacher salaries and reducing class sizes.
New superintendent appointed at Palos Verdes Peninsula USD
The Palos Verdes Peninsula USD's board of education has appointed Devin Serrano as its new superintendent. Ms. Serrano replaces Alex Cherniss, who had been the PVPUSD super for five years but recently left to take the helm at Placentia-Yorba Linda USD. Over the past four years, she was superintendent of UCLA’s PreK-12 on-campus programs; prior to that, she was a teacher, literacy coach, principal, director, chief academic officer, deputy superintendent and interim superintendent.
Temecula Valley board sued over 'critical race theory' ban
The Temecula Valley USD school board is being sued over a critical race theory ban approved in December. The ban has sparked controversy and protests from students and educators. The legal action, led by the teachers union, seeks to challenge the ban as unconstitutional and discriminatory. The lawsuit alleges that the ban hinders educators' ability to teach state-mandated content standards and stifles student inquiry. Mark Rosenbaum, director of Public Counsel’s Opportunity Under Law project, called the filing “the first ever civil rights action in California challenging the imposition of curriculum censorship of what students can learn about American history, about racial and gender subject matters, and about their racial and gender identities.” The court filing names all five board members as defendants as well as the district. Joseph Komrosky, who proposed the ban and was chosen as board president at that first meeting after the November election, said in a Wednesday statement that he and the board will respond to the suit “in due course” and through the legal system. “I will simply note for now that, in my view, this suit effectively represents an effort by those behind it to secure the ability to use CRT and its precepts of division and hate as an instructional framework in our schools, ” wrote Mr. Komrosky, a philosophy professor at Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut.
----- WORKFORCE ----
Federal data underlines principal attrition challenges
More than one in three principals are losing enthusiasm for their jobs, according to federal data. The National Teacher and Principal Survey found that over 11% of principals left their positions between 2020-21 and 2021-22, with burnout being a major factor. The most common reasons for principals quitting include poor professional development, low salaries, poor working conditions, and high-stakes accountability. Low salaries can be particularly difficult for rural principals. One rural leader told Bethel University researchers: “You still have all the work of a principal in any other district, plus more, because of all the different hats you're wearing, but you're not compensated for it.” Notably, a majority of public school principals told NCES they were not included in district collective bargaining or meet-and-confer agreements, but those who were, were significantly more likely to stay in their schools rather than switch schools and less likely to leave the profession altogether. The data suggests that boosting principal salaries and decision-making authority, improving school conditions, and building more networks of professional support can help improve retention rates.
Troops-to-Teachers program in the spotlight
A report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office found that it is unclear if the Troops-to-Teachers program is meeting its goals because the Department of Defense lost access to participant data when it canceled the program in 2020, has not used the data from annual performance reports and has not worked with the Department of Education on the program as required. The program, which started in 1992, makes grants to states to help military personnel become teachers. The program also provided a stipend of up to $5,000, a bonus of up to $5,000 if they agree to teach in an eligible school for not less than three school years, and a bonus of up to $10,000 if they agree to teach in a high-need school. However, most participants didn't get those bonuses after 2017 and participation in the Troops-to-Teachers program has dropped significantly over the years.
Federal guidance issued for registered teacher apprenticeships
The U.S. Departments of Education and Labor have announced the National Guidelines for Apprenticeship Standards, new federal guidance for states and districts planning to create registered teacher apprenticeship programs amid efforts by both agencies to expand apprenticeships and invest more in teacher preparation programs. The moves come as the registered apprenticeship model, which is a paid model similar to grow-your-own programs, gains momentum in education. As an extension of the initiative, a significant pool of money has opened up from both agencies. The Education Department is investing $27m to bolster educator preparation programs, while the Labor Department is providing more than $65m to build and scale registered apprenticeships in critical sectors, including education-focused initiatives in 35 states. The number of statewide registered teacher apprenticeship programs jumped from two to 21 in the past year alone.
----- FINANCE -----
Majority of parents spend at least 20% of income on child care, report finds
The cost of child care has been rising steadily, a new report shows, and many families now spend more than the government considers affordable, as CNBC reported. Coupled with the sharply rising costs of housing and food, experts say, many families are being squeezed hard.
Two-thirds of families, 67%, spend 20% or more of their household income on child care, according to a recent report by Care.com that surveyed 3,000 parents. That’s up from 51% in 2022.
While 79% of families expect to spend more than $9,600 per child this year, many are spending significantly more than that. On average, families spend 27% of their household income on child care. For 59% of parents surveyed, that means shelling out a whopping $18,000 a year per child, researchers found.
It should be noted that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers 7% of income to be affordable for child care.
“Child care is claiming a disproportionate amount of household incomes, and a decade of rising child care costs should be a wakeup call that the system as we know it completely fails the vast majority of families,” wrote Tim Allen, CEO of Care.com, in a statement
Voters disappointed with school improvements despite relief funding
A recent poll conducted by Democrats for Education Reform reveals that only 30% of respondents have seen improvements in their schools since before the pandemic. The poll also highlights increased access to after-school and summer programs, mental health supports, tutoring, and improved school facilities. However, voters feel that the impact of the $190bn federal relief funds on schools is limited. The poll also indicates that 86% of respondents believe that students have lost ground during the pandemic. Additionally, 68% of voters prefer public school choice options over a school voucher system. The poll suggests that Democrats have lost their traditional edge on education issues in the battleground states, with more voters trusting Republicans to ensure student success. The findings emphasize the need for better communication about the value and impact of relief funds on schools.
----- LEGAL -----
Federal appeals court upholds ruling on Indiana transgender students' bathroom access
A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling that transgender students in Indiana must have access to the bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identities. The ruling from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals supports a preliminary injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, which ordered the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville and the Vigo County Schools to provide transgender students with such access. While Indiana currently has no laws restricting bathroom access for transgender students, several other states have enacted such laws. The case is likely to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in the future.
-----CHARTER SCHOOLS -----
Charter school funding significantly lags traditional public schools
Charter schools received, on average, 30% less in funding than traditional public schools during the 2019-20 school year, according to a study of charter schools across 18 major cities and 16 states released Wednesday, which equates to $7,147 less per pupil. The funding disparity has remained relatively stable, with charters getting 33% less funding than traditional schools in 2017-18, for example, said the report from the University of Arkansas’ School Choice Demonstration Project. Researchers found the disparity to be driven primarily by "inequitable local funding" rather than state and federal funding. Local funding for the charters and traditional public schools in 18 cities showed an average disparity of $8,094 per charter school student. By contrast, states funded charters at almost $360 less on average per pupil, and the federal government provided $721 less on average per pupil. Differences in student need, such as more money allocated for students with disabilities, explain about 70% of the funding disparity.
----- SOCIAL & COMMUNITY -----
Berkeley resident arrested for threats against Chino Valley board president
A woman has been arrested for threatening violence against the president of the Chino Valley USD board. The threats were made after the board approved a policy to notify parents if a student identifies as transgender. The Chino Police Department, along with local authorities, investigated the threats and filed their findings with the San Bernardino County District Attorney's office. The board president, Sonja Shaw, had previously had state schools superintendent Tony Thurmond removed from a meeting. Ms. Shaw, who was president of Parent Advocates Chino Valley before her election, introduced a resolution in support of a bill that would have required schools to notify parents if their child identified with a gender different from their assigned sex at birth. The bill was later denied a hearing. The investigation into the threats is ongoing.
----- HIGHER EDUCATION -----
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block to step down
UCLA Chancellor Gene Block announced Thursday he is stepping down from the helm of the nation’s top-ranked public university after steering the Westwood campus through a financial crisis and global pandemic to reach new heights in expanding enrollment, diversity, philanthropy and research funding. “Since I became chancellor 16 years ago, UCLA has been my community and my home, a source of endless inspiration, and an indelible part of who I am,” Mr. Block said in a statement. “Serving as the leader of our university has been the greatest honor of my life.” Block increased student enrollment by 24%, while the university became the first and only UC school to guarantee housing for undergrad students and built 15 residential buildings, according to UCLA. However, his tenure was also hit by a major scandal involving a former UCLA gynecologist who was sentenced to prison for sexually abusing patients. The case ended up costing the UC system nearly $700 million in settlements. The UC Office of the President will begin a national search for UCLA’s next chancellor.
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