Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/610158
WINTER 2015/16 | ADVOCATE 13 Goals 1. Advance sound education policy supporting high standards for teaching and learning and ensuring access to a high quality education for all Arizona students. 2. Promote the necessary and appropriate funding for public education investing in Arizona's children and its future. 3. Promote fairness and respect for public education and all public education employees. 4. Maintain a fair and secure retirement system for current, retired and future school employees. Quality Teaching and Learning AEA advocates for policies that: Promote a systemic approach to quality teaching and learning including teacher preparation and certification, professional development, mentoring and induction, career development pathways, evaluation, and compensation structures. Provide the necessary flexibility in the Structured English Immersion (SEI) models for English Language Learners (ELL), including the necessary funding to meet the needs of all ELL students and content providers. Allow for educator input into the development, review and implementation of the Arizona College and Career Ready Standards and accompanying assessments. Delay high stakes consequences tied to mandated assessment data, including LEA, school, and individual ratings of effectiveness; compensation structures and personnel decisions, until the data demonstrates validity and reliability. Public Education Funding AEA advocates for policies that: Provide the necessary and appropriate funding to support quality teaching and learning to high standards, including sustainable, research-informed and economically sound state tax policies. Invest in public education to provide salaries necessary to recruit and retain highly-effective education professionals. Supply resources to support the effective local implementation of adopted state education policies, mandates and/or reforms. Restore inflation funding, per relevant court rulings, through a reset base level, per-pupil amount; leaving spending decisions to local governing boards. Establish a dedicated funding system to address the technology, capital and building repair needs of LEAs. Invest in school readiness via early childhood and K-3 educational programs. Provide career and technical education funding to assist students in preparing to enter the workforce Fair Employment Rights AEA advocates for policies that: Restore teacher employment rights relating to contract dates, RIF process, salaries, nonrenewal notices and association work. Establish due-process rights for education support professionals (classified employees). Provide for fair and meaningful teacher evaluation systems which support teacher professional development and quality teaching. Retirement System AEA advocates for policies that sustain a Defined-Benefit plan for public employees. at the capitol 2016 AEA Legislative & Policy Agenda Successful School District Bond/Override Elections Bond Agua Fria Union High School District Buckeye Elementary School District Catalina Foothills Unified District Chandler Unified School District Gadsden Elementary School District Gilbert Unified School District Glendale Union High School District Laveen Elementary School District Littleton Elementary School District Madison Elementary School District Mingus Unified School District Paradise Valley Unified School District Phoenix Elementary School District Prescott Unified School District Union Elementary School District Yuma Union High School District Maintenance and Operations Override Clarkdale-Jerome Elementary School District Continental Elementary School District Deer Valley Unified School District Dysart Unified School District Flowing Wells Unified School District Fowler Elementary School District Gilbert Unified School District Higley Unified School District Palo Verde Elementary District Parker Unified School District Pendergast Elementary School District Peoria Unified School District Prescott Unified School District Queen Creek Unified School District Riverside Elementary School District Saddle Mountain Unified School District Stanfield Elementary School District Wilson Elementary District Capital Override/District Additional Assistance Catalina Foothills Unified District Phoenix Union High School District Queen Creek Unified School District Riverside Elementary School District Tempe Union High School District The 2016 AEA Legislative and Policy Agenda is developed by the AEA Government Relations and Legislative Action Task Force and approved by the AEA Board of Directors. It is based on the public policy statements included in the AEA Legislative Platform adopted by the 2015 AEA Delegate Assembly.