UEA Legislative Priorities: Educator compensation, modern tools and resources, class size reduction

One week after voters rejected private school vouchers and sent a clear message that investing in public schools is their preferred choice, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. announced that increasing teacher compensation will be his top legislative priority in 2008.

Huntsman made the announcement during his “Education Summit,” saying he supports boosting teacher pay 6 percent to 8 percent over the next several years.

The governor’s proposal mirrors at least one of the Utah Education Association’s legislative goals, but fails to address other critical education issues such as class size reduction and the need for modern teaching tools.

The UEA Legislative Priorities for 2008 – approved last April by the UEA House of Delegates – include plans for a significant increase in public school funding to provide for “salaries and programs to attract and retain quality teachers.” In addition, the Association will be calling on the Utah Legislature to invest in modern tools, technology, and resources that will help educators and students, and to reduce class size to better meet the needs of every child.

The 2008 UEA Legislative Priorities are as follows:

UEA Legislative Priorities As Adopted by the UEA House of Delegates April 28, 2007

The UEA believes public schools provide the foundation for a civil and just society and the opportunity for every student to maximize his/her potential and talents for future success and positive participation in the community. From our viewpoint as education professionals, the UEA Legislative Platform and Priorities outline the policies and the investment necessary to provide this foundation to democracy.

The UEA Legislative Platform is a comprehensive program to enhance both services to students and the integrity of the education profession. However, it is impossible for the UEA to address every issue in any one legislative session. Inasmuch as Utah is facing a critical teacher shortage, and in light of developments from the 2007 legislative session, the UEA 2008 Legislative Priorities will be the following:

Legislation that significantly increases the investment in public schools to provide for:

1. Salaries and programs to attract and retain quality teachers.
2. Modern tools, technology, and resources to do our jobs.
3. Smaller class sizes to better meet the needs of every child.

In addition, the UEA believes that ANY legislation must meet the following criteria:

Protect the rights of employees.

Provide for local autonomy in the distribution of resources and in the development of policy.

Recognize the importance of the professional judgment and voice of educators in creating education policy and programs.

Provide the sustainable and adequate revenue streams necessary to provide a great public school for every child in Utah.

The nature of lobbying and legislative process is dynamic and situations change from one moment to the next. The UEA House of Delegates directs the Board of Directors to ensure that the UEA Lobby Team is flexible within the general platform and these legislative priorities to achieve the greatest benefit to UEA members and the students they serve. The lobby team is encouraged to consult with local leaders when possible.