NEA Still Pimping ESSA Even Though It Increases TFA & Bogus Teacher Prep Perks

The National Education Association is sending emails to all their members tonight for a “last chance” effort to contact the US Senate and to vote yes for the Every Student Succeeds Act.  Meanwhile, the always excellent Valerie Strauss with the Washington Post wrote an article today about the unmitigated gall of this bill to compare teacher prep programs to masters degrees!

Yes, NEA wants YOU to support this bill that will slowly drown out members in their organization for more Teach For America, Relay, and whatever new programs come down the pike.  And the Feds will make this comparable to a masters degree!

And what are these reduced standardized tests you speak of NEA?  Does this bill get rid of the Smarter Balanced Assessment or the PARCC or any of the cheap knock-offs the same companies are having in other states without the “brand” name?  Oh yeah, it leaves it up to the states who already have multi-year commitments to these bills.  But it looks like teachers won’t be tied to the test as much, so who cares that the same tests are still here.  Thanks for your support for parents NEA!  Who bought you guys?

Untitled Document The Senate is expected to vote on the reauthorization of the main education law that governs our schools, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) by this Tuesday. This would mean the end of No Child Left Behind and more opportunity for students to learn. This is in no small part due to the voices over 200,000 NEA members and allies like you. This is your last chance to weigh in. If passed, the bill will go to the President’s desk to be signed into law. Will you email your senators now and ask them to get ESEA done? OR if you’ve already sent an email, call your senators at 866-331-7233 and then enter your ZIP code. Already done that too? Click here to share to let your friends and colleagues know that this is their last chance to weigh in. This new version of the law, the Every Student Succeeds Act or S. 1177, is a big step forward. It will make great strides on what really matters – whether students in all ZIP codes have equitable access to textbooks, AP classes and state of the art equipment. Ask your senators to support S. 1177 now. It will also help ensure educators’ voices are part of the decisions and reduce the number of standardized tests and decouple the high stakes attached to them. In short – this will be a historic moment. Thank you for emailing your senators here and making a phone call at 866-331-7233. National Education Association P.S. You can spread the word by telling friends and colleagues about the vote this week. Share on Facebook, Twitter or by email here.