Florida's controversial, new race-based student achievement goals continue to spark debate across the nation. The heated debate raises the question – how should student achievement goals be broken down?   Continue Reading...

AAE is pleased to announce the launch of our charter-focused website: www.AAECharters.org just in time for National Charter Schools Week. The new site is geared toward charter school administrators, leaders, teachers, and associations searching for timely updates and research on issues affecting the public charter school community.   Continue Reading...

Yesterday, the nonpartisan, Chicago-based Heartland Institute released a comprehensive report about non-union associations and teachers and their quest for equal treatment in a union-dominated landscape. The exposé, authored by Education Policy Research Fellow Joy Pullman, highlights the Association of American Educators and AAE state chapter teachers and staff who have experienced harassment, discrimination, and bullying from union representatives keen on maintaining their monopoly in local schools.   Continue Reading...

There isn't a school district in the country that hasn't been affected by the recession and difficult budget decisions. For years, national media coverage has highlighted teacher lay-offs and program cuts in almost every part of the country. While states and districts come to terms with a new financial climate, a new Department of Education survey reports arts education is suffering the most under today's budgets, particularly in high-need communities.   Continue Reading...

While you may think of YouTube as a storehouse for time-wasting videos and tutorials, the internet clip website is going through a definite rebranding for K-12 educators. Since December, Google, YouTube's parent company, has been developing a portal that lets schools filter content for teachers and students. YouTube EDU offers schools the ability to pluck only the videos they want, free from controversial comments–all while blocking the general site content.   Continue Reading...

Teachers in the classroom today all remember being issued their textbooks in grade school year after year. Decades old charts and graphs accompanied by the occasional pencil drawing have been standard issue for generations. Currently the textbook business is a $4 billion-a-year industry; however, with dawn of new technologies and new insight into their true effectiveness, paper textbooks are on the fast track to possible extinction.   Continue Reading...

For years, the path to the classroom was exclusively paved through a program of study in a university-based teacher preparation program and ultimately a teaching license. However, in recent years, various "alternative certification" programs have been developed in order to allow degreed professionals practical avenues to become teachers. With participation in these programs skyrocketing in the last five years, many have speculated that these teachers will leave a lasting impact not only on students, but on the teaching preparation process nationwide.   Continue Reading...

In the wake of the crippling recession and its decimating impact on state and local budgets, school districts across the country are searching for innovative ways of raising funds. In a bizarre turn, districts in states like Colorado, Utah, and New Jersey are selling advertisement space on everything from school buses to report cards. While the ideas will certainly be revenue generating, members of the public are beginning to call the moves inappropriate for the public school setting.   Continue Reading...

With back-to-school season in full swing, this school year's increase in virtual education programs is noticeable almost nationwide. Currently, 40 states offer or sanction some type of online education for their students, with other states considering proposals ever legislation session. As we look forward to closing achievement gaps in the years ahead, virtual education advocates are calling online learning a solution for students and teachers alike.   Continue Reading...

As the 2011 legislative session draws to an end, state legislatures across the country are proceeding with bills that seeks to curb union power and implement sweeping education reform. While Wisconsin and Ohio have received the bulk of the media attention, nearly the entire country will see historic changes in the coming year.   Continue Reading...

StudentsFirst, the new national organization behind education reform efforts across the country, announced this week that they are expanding to include fellowships for teachers. The Michelle Rhee fronted advocacy organization is offering opportunities for current teachers and education reformers to become leaders in the education reform movement via her new senior-level fellowship program.   Continue Reading...

As the 2011 legislative session continues, states across the country are proceeding with legislation that seeks to curb union power and implement sweeping education reform. While the developments in Wisconsin and Ohio have seen the most media attention, there are a total of 729 bills currently pending in 48 states dealing with unions and union power, according to a database compiled by the non-partisan National Conference of State Legislatures. While not every state is making national headlines, the enormous amount of legislation is a sign of what will undoubtedly be the largest shift in union power in generations.   Continue Reading...

As the legislative session moves full steam ahead, states across the country are proceeding with legislation that seeks to curb union power and implement broad education reform. While the developments in Wisconsin and Ohio have seen the most heated debate, there are a total of 729 bills currently pending in 48 states dealing with unions and collective bargaining, according to a database compiled by the non-partisan National Conference of State Legislatures. While not every state is making national headlines, the sheer volume proves that we are witnessing a monumental shift in union power that we haven't seen in generations.   Continue Reading...

Since the news in Wisconsin broke, more than 12 states have adopted similar legislation aimed at curbing union power, advancing education reform policy, and ending forced unionism. The national unions and their state counterparts have proven that regardless of outcomes in the legislature, they will fight on in court- spending countless dollars on organizing ballot initiatives and recalls. Make sure to follow the news in your state by reading AAE's daily blog posts.   Continue Reading...

Listen Live to AAEApril 4- April 8, 2011

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Listen Live to AAEMarch 28- April 1, 2011

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It has been a busy few months for AAE and our state affiliates. More than 12 states are in various stages of advancing laws that deal with curbing union power, advancing education reform, and ending forced unionism. The unions have proved that regardless of whether or not they win battles in the legislature, they will take the fight to the courts and potential ballot initiatives in the next election cycle.   Continue Reading...

Performance pay continues to be one of the most hot-button education reform policies being proposed by reformers and lawmakers across the country. Last week, Senate Bill 736 passed in Florida and it is now awaiting Governor Scott's signature. Among other broad reforms, the Florida bill is one of the most progressive in terms of performance pay, also known as merit pay. It requires 50 percent of a teacher's evaluation to be based on state standardized tests or other national, local, or industry measures for those subjects not gauged at the state level and evaluations are based on four distinct levels of teacher performance.   Continue Reading...

The fight in Wisconsin is far from over. Last week, Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi issued a temporary restraining order barring the new law until she can rule whether Republicans violated Wisconsin's open meetings law. While this is a setback for the Wisconsin legislation, other states are following Governor Walker's lead and are in various stages of pushing labor reform legislation.   Continue Reading...

Have you ever tried lesson planning with a teacher who is teaching the same or similar classes with you? For some teachers it works, for others it is torture. Yet certainly it's worth a try in order to identify your best practices as a teacher, whether or not partner planning becomes an often-used instrument on your educator toolbelt.

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