The WEA believes
that the Wyoming Constitution provides a strong commitment to quality public
education and the needs of students regardless of where they reside within the
state. We, therefore, support the
maintenance of the longstanding constitutional commitment to
quality public education, including its recognition of an equal education as a
fundamental right, and oppose any efforts to weaken the constitution and,
therefore, the state’s commitment to providing a complete and uniform education
for all students in
The WEA further believes
that the Supreme Court of Wyoming has made a very clear and concise ruling
concerning K-12 public education in the State of
Education is the
paramount duty of the state government.
Providing a
quality education is not optional.
The financing of
public education must be a function of the state and not based on local wealth.
Lack of financial
resources will not be an acceptable reason for failure to provide the best
education system.
Students will be
given uniform opportunity to become equipped for their future, both
economically and educationally.
Safe and
efficient physical facilities are a necessary element of the total educational
process.
Having no loser
in the system requires there be no shrinking pie, but a pie of the size
needed. Once education need is
determined, the pie must be large enough to fund that need.
The constitution
requires that a proper education be the best that we can do.
The Wyoming
Education Association will strive for full implementation of the above. Further, we urge all local associations and
each member to work for full implementation of the Supreme Court ruling and
commit time and financial resources to attaining the above.
1. School Finance
The WEA believes
that appropriate funding is crucial to public education. Until the Wyoming Legislature fully
implements the November 8, 1995 and February 23, 2001 Supreme Court Decisions (Campbell vs. State of Wyoming), we will
strive for equitable funding for public education including appropriations from
the general fund to finance
A. increase the ADM value to provide appropriate funding for implementation of
accreditation standards;
B. provide appropriate funding for the extended
school year defined as any additional pupil contact/non-pupil contact days and
compensated at the regular daily rate;
C. provide appropriate funding for costs
incurred for instruction and programs serving gifted and talented students,
behavior disordered students, and those who have compensatory education needs;
D. provide funding for developmentally
appropriate, everyday kindergarten;
E. provide funding for certificated counselors
in each school;
F. provide resources necessary to fulfill all of
the court mandates on school capital construction to encompass the complete
basket of goods and services, inclusive of co-curricular experiences;
G. provide resources necessary to support the
recruitment and retention of high quality staff at all levels; and
H. provide appropriate funding to support
district benefit packages which include health, life and disability insurance for
all staff.
2. Recalibration
The WEA believes
that the school funding system should be reviewed on a regular basis to assess
the validity and educational adequacy of
the components in the model to provide a proper education for the times and
ensure that each component is fully funded.
3. Class Size (K-12 Classrooms)
The WEA believes
that small class sizes are critical to the success of all students. Therefore, the WEA supports legislation that
would establish for grades kindergarten through six, an average class size of
15 but no more than 20 in any class; for grades seven through twelve, an
average class size of 18 but no more than 23 in any class.
Prior to the
commencement of each school year, the above target class size for all core
courses shall be set by each school district and shall govern regardless of any
increase or decrease in enrollment for the balance of the school year.
Further, the WEA
recognizes that due to sparse population and the necessity of providing an
equitable educational opportunity for all students, class sizes that are
smaller than those identified above will be necessary.
4. Appropriate
Use of
The WEA believes
that funding, specifically for capital construction, should be available to
school districts. We, therefore, support
legislation that would prevent the expenditure of general operating funds for
capital construction. We also support
legislation that would provide for separate and appropriate funding for capital
maintenance.
5. Mandatory
Reporting of Standardized Test Results
The
WEA believes that the reporting of disaggregated information concerning group
standardized test scores, and/or PAWS
and other assessment results to the public are inappropriate. Further, the Association recognizes that
offering such information as legitimate accountability is deceitful and has a
high probability of being harmful to students. We, therefore, oppose any legislation
mandating this practice.
6. High-Stakes
Testing
The WEA
believes the misuse of assessments and assessment data is harmful to students
and schools and compromises the quality of education. The WEA supports legislation that prohibits
any system of rewards and/or sanctions that are dependent on assessment results
as well as punitive forms of resource allocation based on assessment
performance.
7. Elementary Counselors
The WEA believes
that a comprehensive developmental counseling program would benefit all
students. We therefore support legislation to provide counseling
services for every elementary school with at least one Wyoming Professional
Teaching Standards Board certificated counselor in all elementary schools.
8. Reinstatement of Behavior Disordered as a Category of Disability
The WEA supports
reinstatement of behavior disordered as a category of disability. We further
support allocation of appropriate funding and the implementation of appropriate
rules and regulations so that services can be provided for all students.
9. Career and Technical (Vocational) Education
The WEA believes that quality career and technical
education programs are needed to help prepare students for the high-technology
future. We, therefore, support legislation
to provide appropriate funding to maintain and enhance quality career and
technical education programs including
up-to-date equipment and appropriate staff training.
10.
Parent-Teacher Conferences
The WEA believes
the involvement of parents is crucial to the effectiveness of
their child’s educational program.
Therefore, the WEA supports the inclusion of time spent in
parent/teacher conferences as part of the student contact hours required by the
state.
11.
Non-traditional School Options Including
Charter Schools
The WEA supports
innovation in public education including school options that provide for direct
involvement by all school employees in the design, implementation and
governance of the programs.
The Association
further believes that plans, such as
charter schools should not negatively impact the regular public school program
and must include adequate safeguards covering contract and employment
provisions for all employees, voluntary participation, health and safety
standards for all students and employees, nondiscrimination and equal
educational opportunity, staffing by licensed professional staff, and financial
responsibility. Programs must fully
comply with all statutory requirements and rules and regulations required of
other K-12 public schools, must be adequately funded, must include start-up
monies, must not divert current funds from the regular public school programs,
and must contain appropriate procedures for regular periodic assessment and
evaluation.
The Association further
believes charter schools should not be funded on any more favorable terms than
other schools of similar size and circumstance.
12. Administration
of Medication
The WEA believes
that highly qualified registered nurses should be administering medication
to students in public schools. We,
therefore, support legislation to mandate the hiring and/or training of an
adequate number of appropriate medical/school personnel to perform this very
important job in the school setting.
13. Coordination
of Social Services
The WEA believes
that coordination of social services for children and their families is
needed. We, therefore, support
legislation that would provide incentives for community boards to coordinate
and provide services.
14.
The WEA believes
that students and
educational personnel have the right to a safe environment and that parents
have the right to expect students to
be safe at school. We, therefore, support legislation to continue to make schools weapon free and to impose
severe and appropriate penalties for violations thereof and for violent acts
perpetrated against students or school personnel.
The Association
further believes that in situations wherein an employee in the public education
systems is the victim of circumstances where the employer has failed to provide
essential protection of its staff, the employee should have the right to
recover damages through litigation that has no limits or caps. We, therefore,
oppose legislation that would limit the right of victims to recover such
damages.
15. Safe
School Buildings
The WEA believes that school buildings
should be maintained as safe physical environments for students and educational personnel. We further believe that school district
boilers should be maintained by qualified personnel.
We, therefore,
support development of school district policies that require training, testing,
and certifying of school district boiler operators.
16.
Mandatory Accreditation of Private Schools
The WEA believes
it is in the best interest of all students to attend accredited schools. We, therefore, support requisite
accreditation of private schools and full disclosure of information about those
schools.
17.
Post-Secondary Accreditation
The WEA supports enactment of legislation as well as strict
supportive regulation to ban the operation of higher education “diploma mills”
as a threat to the integrity of
18. Reorganization/Consolidation of
The WEA believes
in some instances that reorganization/consolidation of school districts may be
in the best interest of an equitable education opportunity for students, but not when instituted solely
for financial considerations. We,
therefore, support legislation that will enable the reorganization of school
districts when it positively and equitably benefits students in all districts
involved.
We also believe
that consolidation/ reorganization plans should originate with the districts or
counties involved, rather than being dictated by the legislature. Further, we support legislation that protects
previously negotiated agreements and policies of employees in the districts to
be consolidated while promoting compromise agreements and policies as part of
the consolidation procedure.
19. Compulsory
Attendance Requirements
The WEA believes
that it is in the best interest of the citizens of
Further, we
support legislation to include lack of school attendance as part of the
definition of educational neglect.
20. Corporal
Punishment
The WEA believes
that school personnel have a special opportunity and responsibility to promote
the welfare of children. We, therefore,
oppose corporal punishment of children and support repeal of legislation
that permits such punishment in public schools.
21. Child
Abuse and Neglect
The WEA
recognizes that child abuse and neglect is a serious problem in our society and
that prevention of child abuse and neglect is the ultimate goal in solving the
problem. We, therefore, support legislation
mandating the completion of a program in counseling and rehabilitation for
persons guilty of abuse and neglect.
The WEA further
recognizes that school personnel are vulnerable to false accusations in this
area and we, therefore, support legislation providing for due process for
school personnel accused of child abuse and neglect while performing their
duties.
22. After
Care Treatment
The WEA believes
that after care treatment is a critical component in treating "at
risk" youth. This treatment should
encompass a broad range of centers, like residential treatment and harm
reduction, to best fit the needs of the students who are classified "at
risk." We, therefore, support
legislation that would provide for parenting and family counseling in conjunction
with after care treatment.
23. Negotiations
The WEA believes
that in a democratic society based on free enterprise, provisions should be
made for the intent and practice of collective negotiations. The WEA further believes that the best
interest of public education will be served by the adoption of such
legislation.
We, therefore,
will pursue the introduction of legislation that will establish guidelines for
negotiations between school boards, community college boards and local
educational organizations.
24. Higher
Education Compensation
The WEA
recognizes that higher education personnel should be provided with salaries,
benefits, and working conditions commensurate with those available in other
professions or occupations requiring comparable preparation. We, therefore, support legislation to provide
equitable compensation and benefit programs for higher education employees.
25. Health
Benefits for College Employees
The WEA is
committed to the provision of health benefits for its higher education
membership enrolled in the state health insurance system. The WEA supports legislation that increases
and improves the scope and quality of services available in the state health
insurance system, as well as any other legislative measures supplementing that
system.
26. Community
College Finance
The WEA believes
that appropriate funding is crucial to community college education. We, therefore, will strive for legislation
that will provide for adequate and equitable
state funding for the Community College System, based on the wealth of the entire state.
27.
The WEA supports the modification of the
28. Executive Director Position of the
The WEA supports legislation to institute periodic
review of the position of Executive Director of the Wyoming Community College
Commission, as well as a statutory requirement that all appointments or
reappointments to that position shall go through the Senate confirmation
process.
29. Employee Role in the
The WEA supports legislation to recognize an official role for
democratically-elected representatives of college employees in the consultative
processes of the Wyoming Community College Commission, including membership on
key governance councils, committees, working groups, task forces, and other
bodies.
30. Continuing Education/Adult Programs
The WEA believes
that education is a life long process. We, therefore, support legislative
initiatives to provide for additional funding to support, improve, and expand
workforce development programs
in partnership with business, industry, and labor.
31. Funding
Limitations
The WEA believes
that appropriate funding is crucial to public education. We, therefore, oppose any attempts to place arbitrary caps on revenues that would be
detrimental to the adequate funding of education, both short and long
term.
We also oppose
any attempts to restrict the Legislature's ability to access revenues or taxes,
to rebate or sunset existing taxes, or to require voter approval for any source
of revenue.
32. Property
Tax Assessment
The WEA believes
that property taxes, which provide a basis of funding for public education,
should be assessed fairly. We,
therefore, support legislation which will ensure that each class of property
within the tiers be assessed uniformly.
33. Property
Tax Exemptions
The WEA believes that no class of
property currently on the tax rolls should be exempted from any form of taxes
that benefit public schools. We,
therefore, oppose any legislation that would permit such exemptions.
34.
The WEA believes
that all entities subject to taxation should pay their fair share of
taxes. We, therefore, support effective auditing
systems to investigate and determine all areas of noncompliance with existing
state tax laws, including mineral valuation.
We support the timely collection of taxes owed.
35. Lease/Rental
of State School Trust Lands
The WEA believes
that appropriate funding is critical to the quality of education. We therefore, support legislation
that would guarantee the following in order to ensure the highest possible
return on:
Further, we believe there should be a
complete assessment of all state school trust lands to determine which should
be sold or traded at no less than fair market value, or preserved for the best
interest of the beneficiaries now and in the foreseeable future.
36. Investment
of
The WEA
recognizes that the prudent investment of
37. Proper
Use of Public Funds
The WEA believes
that monies legislated or collected yearly for public education is intended to
be utilized for education expenditures.
We, therefore, urge legislation that will discourage school districts
from establishing cash carry-over in excess of those necessary for normal
operations.
38. Diversion of Public Funds (Tuition Tax Credits, Vouchers, Etc.)
The WEA
recognizes that tax monies are the primary support for public education. We, therefore, oppose tuition tax credits,
vouchers and other proposals that divert or reduce funds from public
education to private, parochial, experimental schools or any non-accredited, non-public entity at any
level K-G.
39. Statewide
Early Retirement Incentives Program
The
WEA believes early retirement incentives are beneficial. Therefore, the WEA supports legislation to
establish an early retirement incentive program at the State level.
40.
The WEA supports the current defined benefit structure and the actuarial
protection of the Wyoming Retirement System.
The WEA opposes legislation that would cap any properly earned
compensation.
41. School
and College Employee Retirement
The WEA
recognizes that the state retirement plan for school employees must be
re-examined constantly in light of changing social and economic
conditions. We, therefore, support
periodic cost-of-living increases to retain the purchasing power for retirees,
including considerations to subsidize retiree health insurance premiums.
42. Privatization
of Services
The WEA believes
that public school services should remain in the public domain. We, therefore,
oppose any legislative attempts to privatize services that are currently being
provided by public schools. We also oppose use of public funds for providing
these services via private contractors.
43.
The WEA believes
that teachers should have some degree of job security. We, therefore, oppose action by the Wyoming
Legislature to weaken the Wyoming Teacher Employment Law.
44. Education
Employee Due Process
The WEA believes
that all education employees have a right to due process and to know why they
have been terminated or not rehired. We,
therefore, support legislation extending due process, including a hearing before
a fair and impartial, independent hearing officer and written reasons for
nonretention to all education employees.
The legislation should also require school districts and higher
education institutions to comply with their own policies and procedures and
statutory requirements in all cases involving nonretention, termination,
dismissal, suspension, or
45. Additional
Compensation Plans
The WEA believes
that professional expertise should be encouraged and recognized, but also
recognizes that the teaching/learning process is complex. We, therefore, oppose local or state mandated
instructional performance based pay schedules which diminish traditional
sources of funding for education.
The WEA further
believes that any additional compensation plan should not replace, but be in
addition to a competitive salary schedule.
Sufficient funding should be in place to allow every employee to
participate in the plan. Any plan that
provides additional compensation to education employees beyond that provided by
the single salary schedule should meet the criteria as defined in the
Negotiations Platform.
46.
Professional Development Funding
The
WEA believes in the importance of professional development and recognizes the
critical times ahead with the inevitable teacher shortage and continued
recruitment and retention problems in the state. The WEA supports legislation that counters
the future teacher shortages and recruitment and retention problems by
categorically funding professional development money.
47.
Promotion of National Board Certification
The
WEA believes in high standards and quality educators in every classroom and
therefore supports efforts that promote teacher excellence and National Board
Certification. The WEA supports
legislation retaining and extending the state statutes supporting funding of
teachers as an incentive to promote National Board Certification of teachers.
48. Certification of School Superintendents
The WEA believes that superintendents
need to have a strong working knowledge of education with personal expertise in
the field in order to be an effective manager of a school district. Therefore, the WEA supports legislation to
reinstate School Superintendent Certification through the Professional Teaching Standards Board (PTSB).
49. Ethical Conduct of Public Officials
The WEA believes
that all elected officials should be held accountable to standards of ethical
behavior. We, therefore, support
legislation that would hold elected officials accountable for those standards
of ethical behavior.
50. Financial
Support for the
The WEA believes
that the Wyoming Council for Women's Issues should be allowed to continue its
efforts to find solutions to the problems and needs of women and children in
51. Smoke-Free
Environment
The WEA believes
that second-hand smoke is harmful to individuals and supports legislation that
requires all public buildings to be smoke-free environments.
52. Safe
and Bias-Free Environment
The WEA believes
that all students deserve
to live in a safe environment, free of fear from hateful acts and crimes that
arise out of bias and prejudice. We,
therefore, support legislation that promotes a safe and bias-free environment
for all citizens.
53. Increased
Drunk Driving Penalties
The WEA believes that in order for drug
and alcohol education to be successful in our schools, state laws must be
powerful enough to give a clear message that drunk driving is a serious
crime. Therefore, the WEA supports
legislation to increase penalties for drunk driving and promote easier
enforcement of these laws.
54.
Drug Free Schools
The
WEA believes that all schools should be drug free. The WEA supports legislation that will create
drug free school zones.
55.
The WEA believes that strong curriculum
requirements should be established in order for a parent/guardian to “home
school” a child. A committee of at least
three professional educators from the local school district should approve the
curriculum. The WEA supports legislation
that aligns these requirements with the state standards and assessments.
56.
Indoor Air Quality in Schools
The WEA believes that a clean and healthy
environment is an essential component for student achievement. Therefore, WEA supports legislation to
improve indoor air quality in schools.
57.
The WEA believes that assessment of home
school students needs to be aligned
with assessment of students in
the public school system.
The WEA, therefore, supports legislation
that requires home-school students to participate in the district, state, and
federal assessment systems in a specified testing environment that follows
standard assessment guidelines.
Home-school student scores will be reported to the Wyoming Department of
Education under a home-school
designation.
58. Participation
in State and Federal Assessments
The
WEA believes that, in the interest of assisting parents in making
informed choices, all private, parochial and experimental schools, and any
non-accredited, non-public entities claiming to educate K-12 students in
59. Right
to Payroll Deduction
The
WEA supports legislation that continues to protect the rights of college and
university employees under state jurisdiction to utilize payroll deduction for
payment of Association dues as well as other legitimate purposes, including
optional benefits and charitable causes.
60. Needs and Merit
Based Scholarships
The WEA believes
that all students should have an opportunity to pursue post secondary education. The WEA, therefore, supports a state funded
scholarship program that includes both need-based and merit-based assistance
for students graduating from
61. Support
for Non-Traditional College Students
The WEA believes
that there is a need for a state funded scholarship program that addresses the
specific needs of non-traditional college students. The WEA, therefore, supports legislation that
will provide scholarship assistance to assist non-traditional students
attending
The
WEA supports legislation that provides funding for health insurance costs for
retired Education Employees.
63. Trading Member Rights for Compensation
The WEA opposes
any legislation that would trade member rights for any form of compensation.
64. Retire-Rehire
Statute
The WEA supports
maintenance of the retire-rehire statute, which stipulates a 30 day break
before an employee can be rehired and that the employer must pay into the
Wyoming Retirement System an amount equal to both the members’ and employer’s
contributions required by law under the Wyoming retirement system based upon
the retiree’s salary.
FEDERAL ISSUES
1. Increased Federal Funding for Education
The WEA supports a full partnership role for the federal government in assisting local school districts and postsecondary institutions by redirecting national priorities in order to provide substantial increases in federal education funding. The WEA opposes provision of federal funding to schools and/or postsecondary institutions that practice discrimination.
The WEA supports federal funding for public elementary and secondary education through a program of general aid and categorical assistance.
The WEA supports full funding for all federal ESEA requirements at authorized levels in order to meet the achievement goals of the law.
NOTE:
General aid assists local and state agencies in meeting
their responsibility to maintain and operate the public schools.
Categorical assistance is made available to local education
agencies for targeted special needs populations.
2. Loss or Transfer of Federal Programs
The WEA believes that federal education
funding should allow for long range planning.
We, therefore, oppose any withdrawal of federal funds without an advance
warning of at least one year, or the transfer of any federal education program
to the state without concurrent transfer of funds and guarantees of civil
rights as defined by the U.S. Constitution, the Congress, and the courts.
3. Diversion of Public funds to Private Sector
The WEA recognizes that tax monies are
the primary support of public education.
We, therefore, oppose tuition tax credits, vouchers and other proposals
which divert monies from public education to private and parochial schools.
4. Local
Control
The WEA believes
that the federal government must participate in the funding of public
education, but that decision-making should be vested in local and state
authority. We, therefore, believe that
the role of the federal government in the control of schools should be
subordinate to that of state and local governments with local districts
exercising control of their curriculum.
5. Taxing Employee Benefits
The WEA believes that school employees
(both K-12 and higher education) should receive non-salary benefits. We, therefore, oppose the inclusion of
employee benefits in income subject to federal income tax.
6. Support
for Political Action Committees
The WEA believes
that Political Action Committees (PACs) promote greater participation of
citizens in the political action process.
We, therefore, oppose legislation that seeks to eliminate PACs.
7. Higher Education Act Reauthorization
The WEA favors
the reauthorization of the National Higher Education Act in a manner that
remains consistent with the traditions of autonomy in our colleges and
universities, and which avoid heavy-handed regulatory controls that stultify
the atmosphere of learning, creativity, and academic freedom expected in a
post-secondary education. The WEA also
rejects any reduction in federal commitments to excellence in higher education,
or to access by the broadest portion of the citizenry to the opportunities
connected with a college or university experience.
8. Social Security
The WEA believes
the Social Security system, is an essential program and we are strongly
concerned about the future security of the program. We, therefore, oppose any effort to undermine
the current system through changing the defined benefit structure,
privatization, and mandatory coverage.
WEA supports the repeal of GPO/WEP.
9. ESEA/NCLB
The WEA believes
all children have a basic right to a great public school. We, therefore, support the priorities for the
reauthorization of ESEA as defined by the NEA positive agenda.