S P RI NG 2021 | better sch o o ls
7
Words from the Director
It’s a Crazy Legislative Year and It’s Not Over Yet! Dr. Pam Deering, CCOSA/OASA Executive Director deering@ccosa.org At the beginning of this legislative session, we knew that education had endured enough with the pandemic. We were hoping that it would be a quiet legislative year for education and had some affirmation that it should be a quiet year. We all know that there are always many bills introduced that impact education in some way, but through the process we are able to work against bad policy. What we have learned this session is that there is a new game in town and a new definition for a “quiet” legislative year for education. Some legislators had warned us to be prepared for some education reform. Normally, when we think of education reform, we immediately go to quality classroom teachers, smaller class sizes, fewer mandates, and innovative practices. CCOSA provided a list of these reforms, as requested, because they stand the test of time for student achievement. However, we quickly learned that our reform list, did not match the list or as I call it, the “script”, for what key legislative leaders were after this year. So far, this is what education reform and a “quiet” education year looks like: ■■ SB
783 Open Transfers
■■ HB
2078 State Aid Formula—loss of 2nd High Year
voucher and tax credit expansion bills filed and heard in committee
What have we learned? ■■ Legislative
strategies to push through legislation coupled with the pandemic and limited time face to face at the Capitol with legislators have created a new sense of autonomy away from listening to you on key education legislation.
■■ Parents
unhappy about not having in-person learning in some districts have complained the loudest and they have been heard.
■■ Advocacy
work has changed--fewer face to face meetings, little time to alert or know language of bills have created a sense of us not being together as an education community in support of public education.
What do we do going forward to finish this year and beyond? ■■ Know
the legislative issues and meet with your legislators to let them know where you stand; ask them where they stand.
■■ Involve
the parents in your district, build their knowledge, ask them to engage with legislators.
■■ Did
I say meet with your legislators?
■■ Start
early before the session starts to build these relationships.
■■ Multiple ■■ The
State Board of Education approved a Resolution to re-write school funding laws and the Constitution for charter schools and now bills have been filed to fix or deal with this issue.
■■ The
Governor replaced and appointed State education board members before terms were finished.
■■ New
legislative language dropped into bills, changed during the late afternoon or evening, committee meeting times changed, agenda items fluctuated
■■ A
scathing report from the State Auditor on Epic’s business practices, also highlighted by the State Board of Education and the Statewide Virtual Board, generated no legislative action to date to address their issues.
With the end of the session coming in May, we can’t breathe a sigh of relief just yet. We still have the state budget, impacts from the State Board of Education Decision for Charter schools, and much more. Let’s take advantage of the state opening back up to meet, strategize, and plan for the year and ultimately for the future of public education.
With love and support from all of us at CCOSA, Dr. Pam Deering and the CCOSA Team ■
