NEA Today Extra - January 2005

Closing the Achievement Gap

Nationally known expert Linda Christensen was online in January to answer your questions about teaching kids who speak and write nonstandard English. Read the chat transcript.

Readers shared the innovative work their schools are doing to bridge the achievement gap in on our online discussion.

Table of Contents

Read how NEA members in Florida, California, and Michigan are closing the achievement gap through mentoring projects, using testing data in the classroom, and extending the school day.

Efforts to help all students succeed work best when parents become partners in their children's education. Get tips on how to get parents more involved.

Increasing the number of minority teachers can have a positive effect on student achievement, says a new report from the National Collaborative on Diversity in the Teaching Force, of which NEA is a member.

NEA's Priority Schools topic area includes a wealth of resources and research on what it takes to turn around low-performing schools.

IDEA Reauthorization

How will changes in the recently reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act affect you? Check out these resources:

• The law's new definition of "highly qualified" teacher.
• Key improvements in the reauthorized law — won with the help of NEA members!
• The challenges that remain: Urge Congress to fully fund IDEA and refine the rules that will certify special education teachers as "highly qualified."

Protecting Your Pension

Protecting the Retirement Security of NEA Members: A Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to help you in the battle to preserve defined pension benefit plans. Is your retirement at risk? How can you join the fight? Find out by downloading the kit.

Repetitive Stress Injury - Are You at Risk?

Learn how to prevent repetitive stress injuries before they happen — download NEA's Repetitive Stress Injuries Handbook.

• November's NEA Today Extra
• October's NEA Today Extra
• September's NEA Today Extra