MTEA Leaders Approve Legislative Agenda

MTEA Building Representatives approved our union's Legislative Agenda  at their meeting on April 9, 2008. Nearly 100 of your colleagues discussed our priorities with Milwaukee-area law-makers at the Legislative Breakfast on Saturday, April 26, 2008.

In brief, MTEA priorities for the 2009-2010 legislative session are: 
 

1. Comprehensive school finance reform will address the following topics, focusing on the extra 

cost to provide services to children living in poverty and those needing bilingual and special education services:

• Repeal of revenue caps
• SAGE funding
• Special education aid
• Bilingual/Bicultural aid
• Certified specialists in every school

2. Prohibition of residency requirements for education employees

3. Mandatory K5

4. Collective bargaining rights, with an emphasis on: 

• Repeal of the QEO 
• Preparation time as a mandatory subject of bargaining

5. Voucher accountability

6. Recognition and support for the professionalism of teachers and education employees: 

• Categorical aid funding for implementation of PI 34, the new system for teacher preparation and licensure. Funding for mentoring programs should be devoted to effective mentoring models.
• Strengthen the charter license law to require that teachers are licensed in the subject they teach. 
• Create a loan forgiveness program for teaching certain subjects in high-poverty districts.

For more information or clarification, please contact Kris Collett of the MTEA staff.