As we’ve heard from AFT President Randi Weingarten, the implementation of the Common Core Standards and the use of high-stakes tests to make high-stakes decisions about students and teachers isn’t only a problem in New York but across the country. Kelly Wickham, a school administrator and parent from Springfield, Ill., offers her perspective. If you’re [...]

“600,000 voices. One union. Our union.” The theme of NYSUT’s 41st annual Representative Assembly is “Voice.” This is the kickoff video from tonight’s opening session of the convention.

NYSUT members stood up and cheered to sing the praises of Joan Greenbaum, a health and safety activist from the Professional Staff Congress, who was given the Unsung Heroes Award Friday night at NYSUT’s Health and Safety Leadership Conference. The retired CUNY computer science professor helped create a health and safety committee on each campus to make safer, [...]

NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento weighs in on NYSUT’s legal challenge to the state’s property tax cap. The property tax cap has done nothing but tie the hands of school districts at the exact wrong time. NYSUT’s decision to challenge the imposition of our state’s undemocratic and arbitrary cap should be welcome news to students, [...]

The Long Island Latino Teachers Association recently voiced support for the nomination of Jenny Rivera for the New York State Court of Appeals. Rivera was recently nominated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo for a seat on the state’s highest court. Here’s LILTA’s letter of support in full. February 9, 2013 Re: Nominee New York State Court [...]

How does the Chicago teachers’ struggle for a fair contract help students? Just ask Chicago’s “Teacher X,” who recently took issue with schools chief Jean-Claude Brizard’s assertion that “a strike would only hurt kids.” When you make me cram 30-50 kids in my classroom with no air conditioning so that temperatures hit 96 degrees, that [...]

This video, which kicked off the AFT convention in Detroit this morning, highlights the past two years of AFT championing democracy, economic opportunity and high quality public services for students, families and communities.

From “Reclaim the Dream” to NYSUT award winners to the recent school budget television ad, they’re all here. More videos to come.

In case you’ve been wondering how your representatives in Albany voted on Tier VI last Wednesday night in the wee hours of last Thursday morning, here are the lists, via Capitol Confidential. Voting Record: Senate | Assembly

UPDATE: In addition to the tweets, we have photos from El-Wise Noisette and reports from Betsy Sandberg, Liza Frenette and Dana Fournier. NYSUT members and supporters rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday to demand adequate state resources for public education and health care. We’ve collected tweets from activists and reporters on the scene, so you [...]