CTA representatives hosted special briefings for lawmakers and legislative staff to explain CTA's education-related budget priorities Feb. 13.
More than 100 legislators and staff attended the two 90-minute presentations.
"The briefing was an important opportunity for CTA to explain to legislators and their staff members what our more than 335,000 members see as the top educational funding items," says CTA President Wayne Johnson. "Our budget principles, adopted by State Council in February, are our fiscal program for action during our lobbying efforts in support of school funding. We will strive in the months ahead to secure their implementation by the governor and lawmakers."
Among CTA's highest fiscal priorities are:
- Improving student performance in low-performing (priority) schools, defined as those with the greatest percentage of students in the lowest deciles on the Academic Performance Index (API).
- Reducing class size for targeted grades and subject areas, especially in low-performing (priority) schools.
- Ensuring that low-performing (priority) schools have well-trained and fully credentialed teachers.
- Targeting funding to improve the overall physical condition of low-performing (priority) schools.
- Addressing the critical teacher shortage by boosting salaries for beginning teachers and increasing compensation for experienced teachers. These financial incentives will help attract and retain fully trained and credentialed teachers.
- Providing enhanced discretionary funding for all education programs including reducing or eliminating the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) deduction.
- Providing relief from rapidly increasing energy costs as part of any Special Session energy package.
- Providing full funding of the statutory formula for deferred maintenance.
- Providing additional instructional materials and staff training to support student learning.
- Providing block grants directly to school sites and addressing funding shortfalls for regional occupational centers and adult education programs.
- Introducing or improving science labs and introducing or increasing the use of education technology.
Legislators have until June 15 to send a final budget bill to the governor. He in turn has until June 30 to make cuts and sign the measure into law.