RA Action:

News from the NEA Annual Meeting

New Business Items

July 7, 2008

This page is updated during the Representative Assembly to reflect daily New Business Items (NBIs) exactly as they are printed in RA Today, our official convention newspaper.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM A

Replaced by NBI 75

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 1

Adopted

NEA shall create a comprehensive plan with the goal of at least doubling the number of NEA and NEA-sponsored cyber lobbyists over the next five years. Using existing NEA communications resources, the plan will provide support to NEA leaders and members at the national, state and local levels in order to promote the importance and effectiveness of cyberlobbying.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 2

Withdrawn

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 3

Referred to the Executive Committee

That NEA Government Relations (GR) commit sufficient resources to the federal advocacy team program, continuing support for aspects of the program proven successful in the past and expanding the program, as GR deems appropriate.  This is to be accomplished within the existing GR budget.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 4

Adopted

Using existing communication vehicles (NEA Today and the NEA Web site), NEA will inform its members about exemplary school-based mental health programs that promote prevention and classroom intervention strategies for children and adolescents including, but not limited to, those students with mental illness.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 5

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 6

Withdrawn

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 7

Adopted as Substituted

The NEA, through its various communications channels, will review and disseminate research and best practices for dropout prevention including, but not limited to, student retention, instructional strategies, appropriate individual academic interventions, and culturally relevant community and family involvement strategies.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 8

Adopted

Move that NEA affirms its long-standing commitment to Resolution B-20, the Education of Refugee and Undocumented Children and Children of Undocumented Immigrants, and will engage in a campaign to highlight and improve the plight of students who have graduated from U.S. high schools but have no paths to citizenship because their parents are undocumented.  NEA will: (1) engage in member education on the plight of these students, including the publication of an article in NEA Today and other appropriate venues of communication, discussing their situation; (2) continue to promote legislative solutions that will, among other things, put high school graduates on paths to legalization, with a focus on coalition work and grass roots mobilization when appropriate; and (3) take steps to educate the public on the importance of ensuring that all high school graduates, regardless of immigration status, should have access to post-secondary educational opportunities, obtain in-state tuition where they reside, and become full citizens of our society.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 9

Adopted

The NEA include, as part of its regularly budgeted media campaign for 2008-09, a component that advertises the plight of our members and potential members regarding the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) of Social Security.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 10

Adopted

In an effort to strengthen the movement for repeal of the Social Security Offsets (Windfall Elimination Provision/Government  Pension Offset), NEA will continue and supplement ongoing grassroots strategies by increasing member, policymaker, and public awareness of the issue, and enhancing data to support arguments for repeal.

    Specifically, NEA shall:

• Secure outside expert assistance to analyze data and develop data-driven policy arguments for use in working with lawmakers.

• Implement a media campaign utilizing proven avenues of effective communication to educate the public about the offsets and increase pressure on lawmakers to act.

• Host at least one national lobby day at the appropriate legislative time.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 11

Adopted

NEA will compare the historical rates of return of selected small public sector defined benefit pension plans to those of selected larger public defined benefit pension plans. NEA will also compare the administrative costs of the smaller and larger plans. Based on the quality of the data available, NEA will draw upon existing data series from multiple sources (particularly those that furnish risk-adjusted results) as well as utilizing direct analysis of specific plans’ investment returns and administrative cost. NEA will then analyze the results to see if conclusions can be drawn about the relationship between the size of the investment pool and rates of return and administrative costs.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 12

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 13

Adopted as Modified

Using existing communication vehicles, the NEA will publish information regarding the student privacy option on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). This information will be directed to students, parents, high school teachers, administrators, counselors and Career Advisors so that prior to the administration of the exam, they will be informed regarding the privacy option (Option 8).

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 14

Referred to Resolutions Committee as Modified

NEA support high priority allocations of disaster assistance from state and federal sources to preserve governmental structures and services when such disasters occur.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 15

Adopted

School Trust Lands are an important part of our history and the development and funding of our educational system. As an Association, we believe that any funding derived from these school land trusts should always be used to supplement already existing state revenue sources, never supplanting the funds. NEA will utilize existing media resources to educate our members of the history and value of these land trusts. We as an Association need to support those states with existing school land trusts and help them to maintain their funds.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 16

Adopted as Modified

NEA and its affiliates will disseminate existing data and analysis demonstrating the relationship of socioeconomic status and per pupil funding to standardized test scores. Further, NEA, using existing publications, will strive to counter the myth that teachers and the educational establishment alone can overcome social, economic, health and other barriers to equal educational opportunity in our society.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 17

Adopted as Modified

I move that NEA, through its publications, lobbying, and affiliates, inform the public of the facts behind “CHIP” (the Children’s Health Insurance Program). NEA will inform the President and the Congress that no child should ever be denied access.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 18

Adopted

I move that NEA, through its affiliates, programs, and publications, report on the extent to which children who are eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch fail to take advantage of this program; provide information and support through the public schools to low-income families to underscore the importance of good nutrition and provide information associated with this program to encourage participation.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 19

Adopted as Modified

I move that the NEA make passage of the Social Security Fairness Act in the 111th Congress a top priority.  Additionally, that the NEA work to convince Senator Obama (a current co-sponsor) and Senator McCain to make this a part of their presidential platforms.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 20

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 21

Referred to the Annual Meeting Review Committee

SmartCards will be given to all NEA members attending the NEA annual meeting regardless of delegate status.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 22

Adopted

Move that the NEA encourage all state organizations to support or initiate state legislation which would enable military personnel and their dependents to obtain in-state tuition where they reside.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 23

Referred to the Executive Committee

NEA help NYSUT submit legislation to eliminate residency requirement during military service in order to receive 3 years credit in state retirement systems of New York.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 24

Declaration of Independence video was played during RA break on July 4th.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 25

Adopted

NEA will inform its members of the provisions and passage of California Senate Bill 1655 (Scott) and the role played by The New Teacher Project (TNTP) in this effort. Furthermore, NEA will work with state affiliates in combating similar efforts wherever they arise.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 26

Withdrawn with Consent of Representative Assembly

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 27

Adopted

The NEA will send a letter urging Congress to block attempts by the Bush administration to commit the U.S. to a permanent military presence in Iraq.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 28

Referred to the ESEA Committee as Modified

NEA will encourage its local affiliates to collaborate with their local governing boards to pass a proclamation denouncing the provision of ESEA so called “No Child Left Behind.” This proclamation would be developed collaborately between the local union and governing board. This proclamation along with a joint letter of support should be sent to the President of NEA to be used in our lobbying efforts for 2008-2009.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 29

Adopted as Amended

NEA will develop a proactive, cross-unit plan during the NEA’s Fiscal Year 2009 targeted at alleviating budget pressures on local school systems caused by unfunded mandates. In particular, the plan will focus on developing grassroots activities to be conducted in conjunction with the upcoming reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA).

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 30

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 31

Referred to the Executive Committee

Utilizing existing communication vehicles, the NEA will encourage schools to create the category of “Middle Eastern” as part of their regular data collection for students.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 32

Adopted as Modified

Domino’s Pizza chain CEO David Brandon has recently taken public positions that are contrary to the best interests of public school students and employees, as well as organized labor, both in Michigan and around the country. The RA requests the NEA President communicate with Mr. Brandon about the National Education Association’s outrage at his misguided support of merit pay for teachers, outsourcing of public school jobs and advocacy for a Right to Work law in Michigan.  The RA further requests that NEA members be informed via existingNEA communications mediums about the anti-education, anti-union positions of Domino’s CEO and other anti-union organizations, and their potential impact across the country.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 33

Adopted as Modified

NEA will adopt the concept and advocate that one focus of the Education International sponsored World Teacher’s Day (October 5) will be to address high-stakes testing here in the U.S. and internationally.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 34

Adopted

NEA will study the feasibility of providing mobile computer technology for use in technology training sessions at regional conferences and other venues where technology training for members is available.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 35

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 36

Object to Consideration

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 37

Adopted

NEA will investigate how and where substitute teachers are organized and report to the 2009 NEA RA the current status of this vital segment of the education profession.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 38

Adopted as Modified

The NEA through its media outlets will inform its members on the nursing shortage going on in this country and its possible effects for all our schools. It will inform members on school nurse issues and how those issues are currently being addressed utilizing the National Association of School Nurses and the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses as the experts in the field. It will also inform members about how the shortage affects higher-ed nursing programs.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 39

Adopted as Modified

That the following be referred to the appropriate committee: That NEA support making Financial Literacy a recommended course for all K-16 school students. For example, the Working In Support of Education (WISE) program—already in use in 7 states—could be used as an effective instrument for implementing this program in all schools, since it provides schools with orientation for their teachers, workshops, and a way of awarding students once they complete the program.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 40

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 41

Adopted

Using existing communication vehicles including, but not limited to, NEA Today, NEA shall publish an article celebrating the sixtieth (60th) anniversary of the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The focus will be on Article 26 (Education).

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 42

Referred to Appropriate Committee

I move that NEA develop a position on “Online Schools” and whether they are appropriate for young children.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 43

Adopted as Amended

Sustainability of the Planet: The NEA shall utilize existing communication and organizational resources to increase support for Sustainability (meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs) and the infusion of Sustainability principles into all applicable areas of the K-12 curriculum.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 44

Adopted as Amended

I move that NEA publish and present the findings of Educational Testing Service (ETS), studies which show that low test scores are often a function of socioeconomic conditions beyond school control, and have little or nothing to do with school effectiveness.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 45

Referred as Modified to Annual Meeting Review Committee

I move that NEA in their meeting guidebook and RA Today publication provide information about the facilities offered to pregnant and nursing women who need to nurse, pump, or rest while still participating in the business of the RA.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 46

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 47

Adopted

That the following be referred to the Health Information Network: That NEA enlighten Congress, its affiliates, and the public to the ever-widening gaps in wealth and health in America, affecting an ever-expanding portion of our population.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 48

Referred to the Appropriate Committee

Move that the NEA will survey and compile the make-up of all fine arts teachers in the United States by state and district. The survey shall include the number of fine arts teachers by discipline and by grade level – elementary, middle school, high school. Information will be published through all NEA media. The NEA will also prepare a general press release for the Associated Press, U.S.A. Today, etc.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 49

Adopted as Amended

To urge NEA to research, compile and publish data through existing communication venues on successful U.S.-based teacher and future educator recruitment programs currently being used that place emphasis on the recruitment and retention of minorities, males, and other underrepresented groups in education careers.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 50

Adopted

The NEA will bring attention to the facts in the 2004 Institute of Medicine scientific study of childhood obesity, in NEA Today and its online sources. The NEA will push for the study’s agenda with the new administration in appropriate forums.

The study recommended a number of crucial steps to be taken by the federal government, as well as states and industry groups.

The government recommendations are:

• Establish an interdepartmental task force to coordinate federal actions.
• Develop nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold in schools.
• Fund state-based nutrition and physical-activity grants with strong evaluation components.
• Develop guidelines on advertising and marketing to children.
• Expand funding for prevention research, surveillance and evaluation.

These recommendations have been ignored by our government.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 51

Adopted as Modified

The NEA, along with the National Association of School Psychologists, develop a position paper that supports school psychologists’ long-standing right to use the term “psychologist” in their title and encourage the American Psychological Association to maintain the exemption language in its model act that includes minimum specialist or specialist-equivalent and doctoral-level psychologists.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 52

Withdrawn

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 53

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 54

Referred to the Appropriate Conference Planning Committees

The NEA will provide training at regional conferences to locals on how to develop interactive websites.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 55

Withdrawn

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 56

Referred to the Executive Committee

Prior to the 2009 NEA Representative Assembly, the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education will provide the delegates a clear and understandable explanation of the fund-raising activity that will occur in San Diego and future Assemblies.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 57

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 58

Referred to the Executive Committee as Amended

The NEA shall advocate for the development of a consistent and congruent criteria for teachers who teach English Language Learners.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 59

Referred to the Appropriate Committee

That the NEA encourage its affiliates to work with agencies that seek to end the child sex slave trade. That the association encourage its affiliates to work with agencies, local school districts, and institution of higher learning to implement comprehensive school wide programs for all stakeholders that address the child sex slave trade and the dangers it presents to the youngest members of our society.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 60

Referred to the Human Civil Rights Committee as Amended

The NEA RA will create the Reg Weaver Human and Civil Rights Award around closing the poverty gaps for children in America and around the world.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 61

Adopted as Modified

Using existing communication vehicles (including NEA Today and the NEA website) the NEA will publish information to educate members about their rights and responsibilities under workers compensation, Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, as well as any and all relevant federal acts.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 62

Object to Consideration

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 63

Referred to Annual Meeting Review Committee

NEA will edit the ethnic checklist on the annual Representative Assembly delegate registration card to include African-American along with “Black” to promote consistency within the ethnic choices.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 64

Adopted as Modified

The NEA will make available through its existing communication vehicles such as the NEA Website, NEA Today, and other media, information which focuses on the latest data and trends in public education impacting women and children and presented by NEA Programs and/or NEA Departments at the annual Joint Conference on Concerns of Women and Minorities.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 65

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 66

Referred to Executive Committee as Modified

N.E.A. will promote through existing communication vehicles, the coordination of a nationwide rally and early voting event with absentee/early ballots at Supervisor of Elections offices and/or in county courthouses on a yet to be determined date right before the November 2008 election. Members and nonmembers of NEA and other coalition partners such as AFT, AFL-CIO, National, State and local PTA’s, School Board and Superintendent Associations and others will be strongly encouraged to participate.

Our nationwide rally will take place between 4:30-5:30 local time in the largest public education demonstration ever. A “Live” press conference will follow on the steps of participating state courthouses nationwide with all coalition representatives present. In advance, a press release will be distributed to the media discussing the wide diversity of thousands of members, nonmembers, parents, and citizens groups, young and old alike, coming together supporting public education. This nationwide rally and early vote will dominate the news cycle through the election.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 67

Adopted as Amended

The NEA recommends that schools develop regulations for the appropriate student use of cell phones and personal communications devices, as well as other electronic devices, during the school day. Such regulation will promote respect for privacy, intellectual integrity and a positive learning environment.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 68

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 69

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 70

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 71

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 72

Adopted as Modified

The NEA, through its various communications channels, will promote the importance of Fine Arts specialists in a comprehensive Fine Arts program in every school. The NEA will also promote across curricular collaboration with Fine Arts teachers. This would include a listing of the vast number of free resources available both online and in print. By promoting such peer to peer relationships, it will aid in the protection of keeping Fine Arts programs alive in the schools.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 73

Defeated

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 74

Object to Consideration

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 75

Adopted

NEA’s basic policies on both the importance of health care coverage and the urgent need for health reform are set forth in NEA Resolutions B-7, C-1, D-23, F-52, F-62, H-7, and I-21, and in the NEA Legislative Program. These policies express NEA’s belief that all residents of the United States, its territories, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico should have access to quality, affordable, comprehensive, and secure health care coverage throughout their lifetime. While NEA believes that such goals can best be achieved through a single-payer health care system, it remains strongly supportive of reforms that move us closer to quality, affordable, comprehensive and secure health benefits for all.

Recognizing the importance of universal, quality health care in allowing all children to be ready and able to learn and in recruiting and retaining a quality education workforce, the Representative Assembly reaffirms its commitment to the policies set forth in these resolutions and the NEA Legislative Program, and believes that health care reform should take place consistent with several guiding principles. Health care reform must:

• Guarantee that health benefits are universally available;

• Result in comprehensive health care coverage that includes, but is not limited to, medical, surgical, hospital, behavioral health, prescription drug, dental, vision, hearing, and long-term care services and allows choice of providers;

• Include preventive, wellness, rehabilitative, and disease management programs;

• Incorporate provisions and standards related to medical safety and quality;

• Make use of health information technology;

• Control costs;

• Ensure that benefits are available through a current or former employer, a government-sponsored program such as Medicare, Medicaid, or the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and/or a new initiative that would meet the goals outlined here.

• Maintain workers’ ability to negotiate enhancements to any basic benefits package;

• This is not meant to diminish or replace existing health benefits that may be better.

The Representative Assembly further believes that NEA must be actively involved in the health care reform debate. As such, it directs NEA to take the following actions to move the organization forward in this effort and closer to fulfilling the goal of universal health care coverage, consistent with the principles above: compare and contrast major health reform proposals and initiatives with an emphasis on the probable impact of the proposals on meeting the health care needs of children and those who educate them, not limited to employment status; actively supports proposals meeting NEA’s principles; develop legislative and political programs to enact supported programs; continue active participation in health care reform coalitions; assist state affiliates in educating members and communities on health care reform by distributing health care reform training materials to state affiliates and identifying opportunities for state affiliates to engage members in health care reform activities; and keep state affiliates and members informed about relevant health care reform developments through its regular communication vehicles, including, but not limited to, NEA Today and This Active Life.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 76

Referred as Modified to the Appropriate Committee

That the NEA conduct a study to determine the effects of reconstitution as a sanction under the ESEA Law. The results of this study to be reported to the membership. Such research should include not only the effects of this sanction, but also its impact on our members and students.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 77

Adopted as Modified

NEA will gather and disseminate information from states that have a “high stakes” examination as a criterion for High School graduation. This information should include disaggregated data on the number of students who meet all other of their states requirement except passing their state exam. The information should include any data which suggests or indicates a correlation between states with higher percentages of ethnic minority students and states which have imposed high-stakes graduation exams.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 78

Adopted as Modified

In May 2008 there was a massive earthquake in China’s Sichuan province. Among the over 60,000 fatalities were thousands of students and educators. Given this tragedy, NEA should offer support through Chinese teacher/educator organizations, in the most direct way evident to the NEA International Relations Office to improve professional and labor ties between our two countries.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 79

Adopted

The National Education Association will study the potential impact of opening active membership to private school educators. To better understand the complexities on all sides of the issue these findings will be reported to the 2009 Representative Assembly.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 80

Adopted as Substituted

The NEA will make information about cognitive brain development activities available to educators through appropriate methods of communication.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 81

Object to Consideration

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 82

Adopted as Modified

Similar to this RA’s adoption of New Business Item 4 (School Based Mental Health Information for Children and Adolescense) NEA will use appropriate existing communication vehicles, such as NEA Today, NEA Advocate and NEA Web site, to inform its members about exemplary higher education based mental health & counseling programs that promote academic success & classroom intervention strategies for our students.

NEW BUSINESS ITEM 83

Defeated