Legislative Issues
SLATE
SLATE (Support for the Learning and Teaching of English) seeks to influence public attitudes and policy decisions affecting the teaching of English language arts at local, state, and national levels; to implement and publicize the policies adopted by NCTE; and serves as NCTE’s intellectual freedom network. All NCTE members are members of SLATE, which represents the commitment of caring English language arts teachers to our intellectual leadership and professional knowledge to make a difference in decisions affecting our classrooms and our students.
SLATE Starter Sheets are short explanations of NCTE positions on a number of educational issues. They are meant to be copied and passed out.
March 2007 Issue of SLATE Newsletter
December 2006 SLATE Report
Letter From the Editor
Fred Barton
Michigan State University
For those of you not familiar with SLATE (Support for the Learning and Teaching of English) it is an NCTE standing committee whose goal is to influence public attitudes and policy decisions affecting the teaching of English language arts at all levels. Read the letter
http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate/126186.htm
NCTE Recommends Changes for NCLB
During a meeting in Nashville last week, the NCTE Executive Committee approved recommendations that changes be made in NCLB through the 2007 reauthorization process. http://www.ncte.org/about/gov/cgrams/126092.htm
Legislative Platform Guides NCTE’s Advocacy Efforts
Each February, the NCTE Executive Committee adopts a legislative platform outlining key priorities for congressional action, along with a basic rationale for the positions adopted. This document guides strategy for development of policy research briefs, for reaching out to selected policymakers, and for hosting conferences or seminars so that non-educators may better understand literacy education policy and its implications. http://www.ncte.org/about/policy/guidelines/124259.htm
New NCTE Statements on Literature in the Curriculum, Increasing High School Graduation Rates, and the Role of Teachers in Selecting Reading Programs (The Council Chronicle Online, November 20, 2006)
Members attending the Annual Business Meeting during the NCTE Annual Convention in Nashville passed three resolutions on issues important to teachers of English language arts.
http://www.ncte.org/pubs/chron/highlights/126091.htm
2007 NCTE Advocacy Day
Sign up to attend NCTE's Advocacy Day on April 26, 2007 in Washington, D.C. See
http://www.ncte.org/announce/115893.htm
How to Submit a Resolution
One of the most important ways you can make a difference is to submit a resolution on an issue of importance to English language arts education. NCTE resolutions, along with NCTE guidelines and position statements, tell the world what we feel is best practice (and sometimes what we feel is not) in English language arts education. These resolutions are voted on at the Annual Business Meeting for the Board of Directors and Other Members of the Council, and they do make a difference. Submissions for resolutions are due on October 15 of each year. To see current resolutions, which are good models for resolution format, and the rules and procedures governing the submission of resolutions, visit http://www.ncte.org/about/over/positions/107214.htm
NCTE Praises Reading First Audit: Calls for Further Investigation
The Inspector General should be praised for doing a conscientious job of identifying blatant non-compliance with the No Child Left Behind Act and for publishing the findings. The investigation should continue…
http://www.ncte.org/about/press/key/125668.htm
NCTE Reasserts Its Position on Grammar Instruction
The Council's position on the teaching of grammar remains the same. See
http://www.ncte.org/about/press/key/125935.htm
Censorship Challenges Down during First Quarter
The good news this quarter is that the number of challenges is down a bit from the same time last fiscal year. However, there are some disturbing trends to note. Read the entire report at
http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/slate/126179.htm
Contribute to SLATE
Your donation to SLATE will help us to implement and publicize the policies adopted by NCTE, to support NCTE’s anti-censorship work, and to influence public attitudes and policy decisions affecting the teaching of English language arts at local, state, and national levels.
Donate through the NCTE online store at http://www.ncte.org/store/givingopps or use the donation form available at http://www.ncte.org/library/files/About_NCTE/Gifts/SLATE_Donation_Form.pdf to fax your donation to SLATE (217-278-0977) mail NCTE your donation to SLATE (National Council of Teachers of English, 1111 W. Kenyon Rd. Urbana, IL 61801-1096).
NCTE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible. Donations received by December 31 may be deducted from your income taxes for that year.
Important Policy Connections
NCTE's Action Center and the Latest Action Alerts http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/action/alerts
NCTE's Anti-Censorship Center http://www.ncte.org/about/issues/censorship
NCTE Position Statements http://www.ncte.org/about/over/positions
NCTE Policy Collections http://www.ncte.org/edpolicy
NCTE Executive Committee Strategic Governance Policy (scroll to Strategic Governance near the bottom of the page) http://www.ncte.org/about/gov
Dropping Social Foundations of Education
There is a proposal in the Gen Assembly to drop the required Social Foundations of Education in favor of a course in Behavior Management or Data Analysis for teachers. Social Foundations provides our teachers with information about the history, philosophy and sociology of our field as well as presents information on current issues that face teachers.
There is time for action. If you have thoughts either way, please take the time to voice your opinion on the following website: townhall.virginia.gov.
This must be done this November since they will be reviewing these sites as well as having four contact meetings to discuss this state change in teacher ed. program requirements.
This, is a time, where our voices can be heard. So, take a few moments to address this issue.
Best,
Hood Frazier
President of VATE
Public Hearings on the Proposed Revisions to Board of Education Regulations: Regulations Governing the Review and Approval of Education Programs in Virginia and the Proposed Regulations Governing the Licensure of School Personnel
The Virginia Board of Education will hold public hearings to solicit comments on the proposed revisions to the two regulations referenced above. Below are the dates and locations of the public hearings:
November 29, 2006:
22nd Floor Jefferson Meeting Room
James Monroe Building
101 N. 14th Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Time: 11:00 AM
December 5, 2006:
Blacksburg Middle School Auditorium
3109 Price's Fork Rd.
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 951-5800
http://www.mcps.org/bms
Time: 7:00 PM
December 5, 2006:
Robinson Secondary School Recital Hall
5035 Sideburn Rd
Fairfax, VA 22032
(703) 426-2100
http://www.fcps.edu/RobinsonSS
Time: 7:00 PM
December 7, 2006:
Hampton High School Auditorium
1491 West Queen Street
Hampton, VA 23669
(757) 825-4430
http://www.otaylor@sbo.hampton.k12.va.us
Time: 7:00 PM
Registration of speakers will begin 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the hearing. Each speaker will have three minutes to speak and should bring copies of their comments for the Board.
Additionally, comments may be sent via mail, fax, or e-mail until December 15, 2006, to Dr. JoAnne Y. Carver, director of teacher education, or e-mail to: JoAnne.Carver@doe.virginia.gov; or Mrs. Patty S. Pitts, director of licensure, or e-mail to: Patty.Pitts@doe.virginia.gov. Mailing address: Virginia Department of Education, P.O. Box 2120, Richmond, VA 23218; Fax: 804/ 225-2524.
To view the proposed revisions to the approved program regulations, please see: http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/VA_Board/Meetings/2006/ItemE-jun.pdf
To view the proposed revisions to the licensure regulations, please see:
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/VA_Board/Meetings/2006/ItemF-jun.pdf
If you have any questions, please contact the Division of Teacher Education and Licensure at (804) 371-2522, or contact Dr. Carver at (804) 371-2475, or e-mail to: JoAnne.Carver@doe.virginia.gov, or Mrs. S. Pitts at (804) 371-2471, or e-mail to: Patty.Pitts@doe.virginia.gov.
VSRA's Legislative Report for 2006