oct-nov

ASSESSING

4 CEA ADVISOR OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2018

CEA Helps You Make Informed Decisions in the Voting Booth

Report cards for legislators show who gets high marks for public education, who fails to make the grade

With election season in full swing, it’s important to know which incumbents voted with teachers, who went against us, and which new candidates are staunch supporters of public education. “We have heard from our members that they want the facts so that they can make their own decisions at the ballot box,” says CEA President Jeff Leake. CEA’s first-ever report card and honor roll system looks at the facts and evaluates legislative candidates’ voting records on issues that matter to teachers. • In the last legislative session, who decided to plug the state’s budget deficit with a payroll tax on teachers? Who voted to roll back that teacher tax? • Who demanded greater protection for teachers and greater supports for students whose behavior endangers others? Who didn’t? • Who upheld the standards for teacher certification that you worked so hard to achieve? Who is willing to fast-track certification for less-qualified candidates? Not only did CEA examine voting records, but the association also distributed questionnaires to every candidate running for office and invited candidates to participate in interviews about education issues. Many took CEA up on these offers; others ignored the association’s requests and questionnaires. Just in time for Election Day, November 6, see who’s a true ally in the fight for quality public education and whose campaign promises fall short. How it works

priorities • Their advocacy for students, teachers, and public schools in public hearings, on the chamber floor, in the press, and among their peers in the legislative environment • Their responsiveness to requests to meet with CEA members and staff • Their efforts to advance CEA’s priorities over the past two-year legislative cycle, including § § Funding public education § § Preserving collective bargaining § § Enhancing the teaching profession § § Protecting the pension system § § Keeping schools safe § § Upholding teacher certification standards § § Supporting sound education policy Why it matters “This report card takes into consideration how lawmakers voted on key bills— ranging from classroom safety to teacher pensions—as well as how strongly they advocated on behalf of public education and collective bargaining,” says Leake. “This system is transparent and holds candidates accountable, which matters at a time when the rights of both public- and private-sector employees, including their right to bargain collectively, are under constant attack.” CEA Executive Director Donald Williams adds, “Following a wave of teacher demonstrations across the country, there has been a renewed interest in the political process and its direct effect on public education,

those with no voting records. Did anyone locally know anything about them? How supportive were they, and how willing to work with teachers? For all candidates, including those without a state legislative history, answers to candidate questionnaires and interview results were included in the report card.” Additionally, says Brown, significant emphasis was placed on a candidate’s actions involving the rights of teachers to have a voice in the education of their students, the working and learning conditions at their schools, and the ability to bargain for fair wages and benefits. “We are sharing those results with our members to help in their voting decisions. We have also noted where candidates failed to respond to our questionnaires.” In addition, CEA has identified key races in 30 districts where teachers’ votes are necessary to elect education-friendly candidates who will fight for issues important to teachers—ranging from protecting our students to protecting our jobs and our pensions. These close races could help decide whether Connecticut teachers, students, and public schools get the support they deserve or whether they lose out to corporate interests. See where the candidates stand on the issues in the spotlight districts on pages 6-7. *Prior to its decision to replace the endorsement process with a report card and honor roll system, CEA’s Board of Directors had already endorsed candidates for five congressional offices. Those candidates are featured on pages 10-11.

Check out CEA’s Legislator Report Card at cea.org/reportcard . To see the education champions who made CEA’s Honor Roll, turn to page 5 of this issue. students, and teachers. Our members are becoming more active, using their voice and their vote to make sure the concerns of teachers and students are heard.” All Constitutional offices and all 187 Connecticut General Assembly seats are up for grabs, as are five Congressional House seats and one Congressional Senate seat. “Let’s take a look at the records of those who are running, and let’s fill those seats with representatives and officials who will look out for teachers,” says Leake. Newcomers and spotlight districts With many newcomers seeking office, not everyone has had an opportunity to vote on key bills. So, how has CEA evaluated candidates without a legislative record? CEA Political Action Committee (CEA PAC) Chair Bob Brown, a retired teacher and former president of the Southington Education Association, explains. “The CEA PAC has conducted understand candidates’ positions on issues that matter to educators,” says Brown. “We also sought additional information about candidate questionnaires and interviews to help us better

While CEA is no longer endorsing legislative candidates,* the association is putting out the facts about their voting records and priorities so that you can see where they stand on the issues that matter to you. CEA’s report card recognizes legislators who are committed to giving students more opportunities for success and are working hard to improve public education and the teaching profession in Connecticut. It evaluates legislators on • Their voting

records and co- sponsorship of bills that either advance or stymie CEA education