From The Covenant with North Carolina's Children:
Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) will be speaking with North Carolina child advocates, Covenant with North Carolina ’s Children members and the public as a representative from the Obama/Biden campaign. This is a great opportunity to educate a Presidential Candidate’s policy committee on important child and family issues that need to be addressed at the Federal level.
The forum is open to the public and The Covenant encourages individuals, families, advocates, community organizations, professionals, and anyone concerned with children and families to attend.
Date: Monday, October 20th Time: 11 a.m.
Where: North Carolina Association of Educators
Spread the word and plan to attend! Please come with QUESTIONS!
For directions to 700 South Salisbury Street , Raleigh , NC visit www.ncae.org or go to http://www.ncae.org/cms/Directions+to+NCAE/1
Friday, October 17, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Focus on Graduation
From Thursday, September 9th NC Justice News
GRADUATION RATE: Smart Policies Can Keep Kids in School
State Superintendent June Atkinson kicked off "Graduation Awareness Week" yesterday with a proclamation from Governor Mike Easley and a Call to Action to raise the state's graduation rate. Only about 70% of North Carolina high school students graduate in four years.
Superintendent Atkinson says this campaign will "underscore the activities that schools, families and community groups must take to help all students stay in school to graduate." But there are numerous steps state policymakers can take to help students graduate. One would be to revise North Carolina's retention policy, which results in tens of thousands of students not being promoted to the next grade each year, increasing the chances they will drop out. Revising suspension policies to keep more students in class would also be a big step toward getting more children to graduation day.
Superintendent Atkinson says this campaign will "underscore the activities that schools, families and community groups must take to help all students stay in school to graduate." But there are numerous steps state policymakers can take to help students graduate. One would be to revise North Carolina's retention policy, which results in tens of thousands of students not being promoted to the next grade each year, increasing the chances they will drop out. Revising suspension policies to keep more students in class would also be a big step toward getting more children to graduation day.
Interested in working to improve public education in North Carolina? NC Community Advocates for Revitalizing Education (NCCARE) is a statewide coalition of parents, teachers and community leaders dedicated to ensuring that every student in North Carolina receives a sound basic education.
For more information, contact Beth Jacobs at mailto:beth@ncjustice.org
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Traditional School Year Begins!
Those of you on year-round schedules may not be feeling the tingles at this point, but many of us who work on the traditional calendar are gearing up for another exciting school year. As the school supplies are getting organized and packed up, and this school year's trendy outfits are filling closets at home, and as families prepare to send their children to schools across the state-- school psychologists have other things on their minds in addition to supplies and fashion. We're thinking about how to better manage our time this year, how to find some way to do some mental health work amidst all the special education referrals, thinking about ways to help our schools implement RTI, and, once again, looking forward to the exciting changes occurring in our profession.
As you take some time before the students return-- or if you are on a year-round schedule, take some time when you have it--- think about ways that you can advocate for our roles in the schools. Think about any changes you would like to see happen in your schools. Would you like a greater role in developing interventions? Would you like to make yourself available for workshops and in-services to help educate your school staff on behavior management, RTI, various presentations of mood disorders....? How would you go about trying to change how things have been done in the past? Would it be appropriate to sit down with your principal and propose changes? Maybe a meeting with specific teachers? Do you need to compile some data and reading to distribute, to get staff excited about a topic? Would a needs survey help give you an idea of what your school may require your help in? How about district-level change? All school districts are different. Do you know who to talk to if you see an area that needs attention? Is change possible in that area? Who holds the power and control to make change happen? Have you developed a relationship with that person? Remember to check the Legislative/Public Policy link on the NCSPA website to get resources to help you advocate for yourself, your profession, and the children you work for.
Speaking of relationships- remember, it is always good practice to keep in touch with your legislators so that they know you are available for questions regarding psychology in the schools. Let them know what that means. Remind them of what you do. A link to the NC General Assembly web page is in the left column of this blog.
We are still working on the 5% and 10% raises. The more our legislators know about us, and the more they understand the vital role we play in the schools, the more likely it is that they will advocate for our professions. They would be happy to hear from you. Email, written letters and phone calls are all appropriate ways to contact your legislator.
We look forward to seeing you all at the Fall Conference in Charlotte. The Legislative and Public Policy Committee will be featuring Teresa Smith of DPI as a speaker. Teresa will be giving an informative report on the latest news impacting the work of Student Support Services personnel on Monday, October 6th, 1:45- 3:15 PM. She is a very good speaker, and you are sure to enjoy spending time with her!
Please feel free to contact Chris Tufts ctufts@wcpss.net, or Carol Vatz bcvatz@gmail.com, if you have any questions or input regarding Legislative and Public Policy work for NCSPA.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Lobbyist's Update on Raises
I hate to have to report that our attempt to increase salaries for school psychologists and others with the "six year" masters degree or doctorate failed this session. We had hopes for the Senate, but without success.
We know some Senators -- notably Vernon Malone and Tony Rand -- were very interested in our issue. But budget talks are a mystery cloaked in a puzzle, wrapped in an enigma, and when the Senate budget came out of its cocoon, what little new money was available for education went for More at Four and the UNC system. Across-the-board teacher salary increases were way below what the Governor wanted.
We have had encouragement for the coming session, which starts in February. Sen. Rand urges us to try again. Rep. Rick Glazier, who received NCSPA's public service award for 2005, has promised to work hard on this issue in 2009.
Conventional wisdom, or maybe it's folklore, says a new bill usually takes 4 years to go through the General Assembly. Let the conventional wisdom be true.
Thanks to Carol Vatz, Chris Tufts and Sarah Greene, who worked hard on this. Thanks also to those of you who sent in stories of your work with children. They were very effective. Finally, thanks to NCAE and its lobbyist on this issue, Marge Foreman, who worked hard.
Steve Shaber
We know some Senators -- notably Vernon Malone and Tony Rand -- were very interested in our issue. But budget talks are a mystery cloaked in a puzzle, wrapped in an enigma, and when the Senate budget came out of its cocoon, what little new money was available for education went for More at Four and the UNC system. Across-the-board teacher salary increases were way below what the Governor wanted.
We have had encouragement for the coming session, which starts in February. Sen. Rand urges us to try again. Rep. Rick Glazier, who received NCSPA's public service award for 2005, has promised to work hard on this issue in 2009.
Conventional wisdom, or maybe it's folklore, says a new bill usually takes 4 years to go through the General Assembly. Let the conventional wisdom be true.
Thanks to Carol Vatz, Chris Tufts and Sarah Greene, who worked hard on this. Thanks also to those of you who sent in stories of your work with children. They were very effective. Finally, thanks to NCAE and its lobbyist on this issue, Marge Foreman, who worked hard.
Steve Shaber
Thursday, June 12, 2008
House Budget
Excerpt: June 2008 From the Ground Up Newsletter
http://www.ncjustice.org/
2008 Legislative Session Moving Full Speed Ahead!
Last week, the NC House approved its budget proposal. The $21.3 billion budget included $11 billion for total education spending, $7.7 billion of which would go for K-12 public education. The House included a 3% salary increase for teachers and administrators and a salary increase of 2.75% or $1100, whichever is greater, for all other state employees. Other items worth noting in the House budget include:
K-12 Public Education
· $15 million in one-time money for dropout prevention grants
· $70 million in ABC bonus funds
· $6.2 million more for children with disabilities
· $3.2 million more for academically gifted students
· $3.4 million to expand Learn and Earn high school programs
· $45 million for diesel fuel costs for school buses
· $23 million to expand More at Four by 4,200 slots
· $6 million more for the Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund (DSSF)
· $2.9 million more for the Low-Wealth Supplemental Fund
· $500,000 for Communities in Schools' at-risk youth programs
· $1 million expansion for Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC)
· $10 million for gang prevention and intervention.
The budget will now go to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees, which will make adjustments to the House budget. Then the full Senate Appropriations Committee will vote on the Senate version. If there are items up for debate, a Conference Committee made up of House and Senate members will create a final version, which the two bodies will adopt and send to the governor to be signed or vetoed. Senate members have already expressed their intentions of increasing the pay raise for teachers and funding for the Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund (DSSF).
The General Assembly has a proposed deadline of early July to finalize the budget and wrap up the entire 2008 session.
http://www.ncjustice.org/
2008 Legislative Session Moving Full Speed Ahead!
Last week, the NC House approved its budget proposal. The $21.3 billion budget included $11 billion for total education spending, $7.7 billion of which would go for K-12 public education. The House included a 3% salary increase for teachers and administrators and a salary increase of 2.75% or $1100, whichever is greater, for all other state employees. Other items worth noting in the House budget include:
K-12 Public Education
· $15 million in one-time money for dropout prevention grants
· $70 million in ABC bonus funds
· $6.2 million more for children with disabilities
· $3.2 million more for academically gifted students
· $3.4 million to expand Learn and Earn high school programs
· $45 million for diesel fuel costs for school buses
· $23 million to expand More at Four by 4,200 slots
· $6 million more for the Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund (DSSF)
· $2.9 million more for the Low-Wealth Supplemental Fund
· $500,000 for Communities in Schools' at-risk youth programs
· $1 million expansion for Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC)
· $10 million for gang prevention and intervention.
The budget will now go to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittees, which will make adjustments to the House budget. Then the full Senate Appropriations Committee will vote on the Senate version. If there are items up for debate, a Conference Committee made up of House and Senate members will create a final version, which the two bodies will adopt and send to the governor to be signed or vetoed. Senate members have already expressed their intentions of increasing the pay raise for teachers and funding for the Disadvantaged Student Supplemental Fund (DSSF).
The General Assembly has a proposed deadline of early July to finalize the budget and wrap up the entire 2008 session.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Update on the 5% and 10% raises
Our lobbyist, Steve Shaber, reports that the money for our raises is not in the House budget. Ordinarily, the fact that the House has omitted it would not mean anything with regard to the Senate, because the Senate typically has no role in the House version of the budget. But the subcommittees are meeting jointly (i.e., the House and Senate members are meeting together in a single meeting) to a greater degree than in the past, and the Senate seems to have had some input into the House budget this year -- which is unique. The House version of the budget goes to the floor today for what's known as "second reading." It will be debated all day and probably into the evening. Eventually it will pass. Tomorrow (Thursday) it will have its "third reading," which is the final vote in the House. There will probably be some debate, but certainly less.
After the budget passes third reading in the House, it will go to the Senate, which may rewrite it as much as it likes. Given the extent to which the Senate seems to have been included in the House budget process so far, the Senate may stick more closely to the House budget than it usually does. It is unclear, however, the extent to which the house and senate agree at this point.
Nevertheless, it appears that we may still be alive in the mind of the Senate. Regardless, Senator Rand may still be able to put our money in the Senate version of the budget. If it is in the Senate budget, but not in the House, then it will go to conference committee to be worked out.
Note:
Governor Easley wanted a 7% raise for teachers. The House gives 3%.
Governor Easley wanted 1.5% plus bonus for state employees. The House gives 2.75% or $1,100, whichever is greater.
After the budget passes third reading in the House, it will go to the Senate, which may rewrite it as much as it likes. Given the extent to which the Senate seems to have been included in the House budget process so far, the Senate may stick more closely to the House budget than it usually does. It is unclear, however, the extent to which the house and senate agree at this point.
Nevertheless, it appears that we may still be alive in the mind of the Senate. Regardless, Senator Rand may still be able to put our money in the Senate version of the budget. If it is in the Senate budget, but not in the House, then it will go to conference committee to be worked out.
Note:
Governor Easley wanted a 7% raise for teachers. The House gives 3%.
Governor Easley wanted 1.5% plus bonus for state employees. The House gives 2.75% or $1,100, whichever is greater.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Dropout Prevention Forum
From:
http://campaign-archive.com/?u=5a8d71688e2ed0ea815d2aebc&id=yLyXM7R5Jw&e=%5bUNIQID%5d
Staying in School, Preparing for Life: Prevention in North Carolina 's Rural Communities is a Rural Roundtable discussion with state leaders on dropout prevention. On Friday, June 6, 2008 8:45 a.m. to Noon, find out what North Carolinians can do at the community and state levels to confront this crisis and help our children stay in school and succeed. For every 100 students entering ninth grade in North Carolina , only 70 graduate four years later. That means 30 lack what state Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee calls "the bare minimum for economic survival." Rural communities, whose resources are already stretched thin, need creative, practical strategies to help students reach their potential and survive in the global economy.
Go to the above link to learn more.
http://campaign-archive.com/?u=5a8d71688e2ed0ea815d2aebc&id=yLyXM7R5Jw&e=%5bUNIQID%5d
Staying in School, Preparing for Life: Prevention in North Carolina 's Rural Communities is a Rural Roundtable discussion with state leaders on dropout prevention. On Friday, June 6, 2008 8:45 a.m. to Noon, find out what North Carolinians can do at the community and state levels to confront this crisis and help our children stay in school and succeed. For every 100 students entering ninth grade in North Carolina , only 70 graduate four years later. That means 30 lack what state Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee calls "the bare minimum for economic survival." Rural communities, whose resources are already stretched thin, need creative, practical strategies to help students reach their potential and survive in the global economy.
Go to the above link to learn more.
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