We Need Your Help to Fight Back

From ISTA's Executive Director, Brenda Pike:

September 26, 2012 Corporate special interest groups and Wall Street millionaires are funding Tony Bennett's campaign.[1]  These ultra-wealthy hedge fund managers and powerful corporate insiders are pouring money into Indiana to fund Bennett's public school takeover and privatization agenda. We need to ask ourselves "why"? Why would Alice Walton, the Arkansas Wal-Mart heiress, give $200,000 to Tony Bennett? Why would a series of hedge fund managers from Chicago and New York City donate upwards of $100,000? What about the "Hoosiers" for Economic Growth's $25,000 contribution to Bennett?  Look deeper.  Much of that group's money comes from Michigander Betsy (of the Amway fortune) DeVos' school voucher group. Follow the money.  It's coming from long-time voucher supporters and public school takeover advocates.  It's coming from anti-union interests and unbridled charter school expansionists.  And way too much is coming from out-of-state. We need your help to fight back quickly.   Let's get Glenda Ritz on the air! To take Glenda's message directly to Indiana's voters, an additional $200,000 must be raised by Friday, October 5th.   It won't be difficult for Hoosiers to see what's going on here, but it takes funds to ensure that they know.  Time is of the essence! Please donate $100, $50, $25 or whatever amount you can manage right now to help purchase TV air time for Glenda Ritz. Use this link to rush your donation so we can fight the powerful out-of-state interests that have gone overboard to influence this office. Your help is needed now more than ever. Thank you. Sincerely, Sincerely,  Dr. Brenda Pike, ISTA Executive Director [1] The "top 10" out-state-contributors to Tony Bennett, all of which have connections to promoting vouchers, takeovers, public school restructure, and/or anti-union political agendas -Alice L. Walton, Bentonville, Arkansas, $200,000, 7/19/12; Michael Bloomberg, NYC, $40,000, 6/29/12; Elizabeth White, Chicago, $25,000, 8/31/12; Anne Griffin, Chicago, $25,000, 7/12/12; Daniel Loeb, NYC, $25,000, 2/14/12; Eli Broad, Los Angeles, $25,000, 9/12/12; Roger Hertog, NYC, $25,000, 5/21/12; Paul Singer, NYC, $10,000, 4/10/12; Bruce White, Chicago, $10,000, 8/17/12; William Oberndorf, Mills Valley, CA  $10,000, 5/21/12.   For the complete list of Bennett's "large contribution" funders, go to http://campaignfinance.in.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/CommitteeDetail.aspx?OrgId=5608

The Cost of Testing in Indiana

The Cost of Testing information below is from the Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education (NEIFPE). Their Mission Statement reads...

We are citizens, teachers, administrators, and parents united by our support for public education and by concerns for its future. Recent federal and state reform measures have created an over-emphasis on testing and have turned over public education to private interests. We believe that these reforms threaten the well-being of our children and jeopardize their futures. Our goal is to inform ourselves and to start community discussion about the impact of these measures on our public schools and, more importantly, on our children.

Cost of Testing

The Costs of

High Stakes Testing

What Informed Citizens 

Need to Know about

Standardized Testing in

Our Public Schools

Tests in Indiana

I-READ 3 – mandatory test for all third graders
I-READ K-2 – reading test not mandatory at present
I-STEP+ - language arts math, social studies and/or science tests mandatory for grades 3-8
English 10 ECA – mandatory test for all high school students to graduate
Algebra 1 ECA – mandatory test for all high school students to graduate
Biology 1 ECA – mandatory test for all high school students to graduate
ISTAR and IMAST - tests that replace ISTEP for special needs students
LAS – Links – test for English Language Learners
mCLASS – K-2 assessments in literacy and math
NWEA and Acuity – tests that measure reading, math, and language on the computer several times a year
SRI or AR – reading tests that check comprehension
DRA – developmental reading assessment for K-5
DIBELS – one-on-one assessment to monitor early reading progress
PALS – proficiency aligned learning skills matching state standards
NAEP - test given to a random sample in grades 4, 8 and 12

Check with your child’s school to learn which assessments are given and how much time is dedicated to them.


Cost of Testing

The Indiana Department of Education estimates the cost of testing to be $46,229,751 for the 2012-2013 school year.
This $46,229,751 could be used to:

• repair buildings and infrastructure of schools
• pay the salaries and benefits of at least a thousand teachers
• purchase laptop computers and iPads for most students

Time for Testing

Elementary educators estimate they spend about six weeks of the 36 week school year on test preparation and administration. Tests focus on reading and math, leaving little time for the following:

• Social Studies and Civics
• Art and Music
• Science and Physical Education

What will be the cost of testing in time and money when the 2014-2015 implementation of the Common Core Standards adds additional tests?
For more information about the Common Core, visit Indiana's Common Core Standards: Indiana Department of Education

As parents, educators, and concerned citizens, we think there are a number of questions that should be considered about high stakes testing.

• What do we want children to learn? What do they really need to know?
• Is standardized testing the most effective way to measure student learning?
• What teaching methods are developmentally appropriate to promote learning?
• Should we teach children how to learn, how to think, and how to question?
• Do current policies encourage the education of every child?
• What are the Common Core Standards and how much testing will be involved?
• What are the implications of these standards for your child?
• Should standardized test results be used to evaluate teachers?
• How much money is being spent on standardized tests?

What can you do?

• Attend PTA/PTO meetings
• Enlist PTA/PTO members in a discussion on proposed school reform issues
• Attend local school board meetings
• Write to local and state school board members and to state legislators to express your concerns about school reform legislation
• Follow candidates for public office and let them know your concerns
• “Like” NEIFPE on facebook and follow our blog
• Join Indiana Coalition for Public Education and Hoosiers for Public Education
• VOTE! Register at https://indianavoters.in.gov/

~~~

Click HERE to download a copy of this pamphlet.

~~~

September 13 Meeting

The ISTA-Retired chapter of Allen County will meet on Thursday, Sept. 13, 2012 at noon at Chop's Steak and Seafood at 6421 W. Jefferson Blvd., Ft. Wayne, IN. Craig Blume, ISTA Staff member, will be our speaker. There will also be an introduction of some of the political candidates.

We hope to see everyone on Thurs., Sept. 13th. Please come and bring your spouse and/or a friend.

Please RSVP by Sept. 10th to Dorthy Epple or call her at 436-2326 and leave a message.

A Message from President Schnellenberger

IMPORTANT VIDEO MESSAGE ABOUT

GLENDA RITZ

From ISTA President Nate Schnellenberger
Thursday, August 30, 2012

ISTA President Nate Schnellenberger shares an important video message about Glenda's campaign for State School Superintendent.

Watch and then share the video with friends and family. Glenda needs the help and support of every Hoosier who supports and believes in our public schools. There are 4 immediate actions that you can take to help Glenda's campaign . . .

1. Within the next seven days, tell five (5) friends, family members or neighbors about Glenda's campaign. Remember, many people do not understand the significance of this race. Approximately 11 percent of Hoosier households have a K-12 student living in them -- however, public education affects us all. DIRECT PEOPLE TO GLENDA'S WEBSITE: www.ritz4ed.com.
2. If you're in the Indianapolis metro area, volunteer at Glenda's headquarters (1449 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis). Or get a group of friends and colleagues together and carpool to help. At the moment, Glenda's campaign could really use help assembling campaign materials. If you have time to volunteer, you can do so through Glenda's website.
3. Stay tuned to Glenda's upcoming appearances. A calendar of events is posted on her website (www.ritz4ed.com). You can also find the calendar on Glenda's Facebook page. Attend as many events as you can to show your support for Glenda and public schools!
4. DONATE TO THE CAMPAIGN! Like it or not, money makes a difference in political campaigns. The amount of cash on hand by the day after tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 1, will determine the type of advertising Glenda's campaign will (or will not) be able to purchase in the upcoming weeks.

With our help, Glenda can compete with Dr. Bennett and his deep-pocketed supporters. But she needs our help to keep this race competitive by giving her the resources she needs to get her message out!

DONATE TODAY! GLENDA NEEDS OUR SUPPORT!

You may contribute on-line or mail a check to Ritz4Education,
4783 West 1000 North, Fountaintown, IN 46130

http://www.ritz4ed.com/donate---volunteer.html

www.ritz4ed.com

~~~

Meeting Information and Updates - Letter from ISTA-R Allen County President

Greetings. I hope everyone has had a good summer.

As you know, our calendar went out with Patty Martone, being our speaker for the November 8th meeting. Then Patty passed away unexpectedly at that same time. So changes have been made.

The speaker for that meeting will be Nate Williams, Attorney with Shambaugh, Kast, Beck and Williams.

He will be speaking to us and including a question and answer time regarding things we need to know or need to be doing at our age or for some of the newly retired, maybe what your parents need.

Shambaugh, Kast, Beck and Williams is the law firm that provides us with the benefit of two free half hour sessions per year.

The November 8th meeting will be held at Wu's Restaurant, 4411 Coldwater Road at 12:00 noon.

Our first meeting of this year will be held Thurs. Sept. 13th at 12:00 noon at Chop's Steak and Seafood, 6421 W. Jefferson. Craig Blume from ISTA will be our speaker, bringing us up to date on what is happening.

Looking forward to getting back together.
Fran McIntosh, President
ISTA-Retired, Allen County Chapter

Get to Know Glenda Ritz and Vote the Promise

GET TO KNOW

GLENDA

RITZ

I-PACE Recommended Candidate for

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Glenda has produced a Youtube video introducing herself to educators across the state. Please take a moment to watch the video and then share it with your colleagues and family so they can see why we need to elect Glenda as Superintendent of Public Instruction!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGI2yrh9BVc&feature=youtu.be

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

By last count, State Superintendent Tony Bennett accepted somewhere in the vicinity of $325,000 in campaign money from out-of-state interests.

• Tens of thousands of dollars coming from Chicago and New York City hedge fund managers.
• Two hundred thousand dollars from Wal-Mart heiress and Arkansas voter Alice Walton.

Glenda Ritz needs and deserves our help. Winning this election rests on our putting our time, talents, and some of our “treasures” on the table.

Hoosiers helping Hoosiers.

A suggested contribution to Glenda is $100 but a minimum of $25 will ensure that a Ritz4Education “Campaign-In-A-Box” will be delivered to your home. The Campaign-In-A-Box will include suggestions for engaging other voters, 1 yard sign, 6 window stickers and 20 campaign cards.

You may contribute on-line or you may mail a check to

Ritz4Education, 4783 West 1000 North, Fountaintown, IN 46130

http://www.ritz4ed.com/donate---volunteer.html

KEEP THE PROMISE INDIANA

http://keepthepromiseindiana.org

News from the RA

The NEA-RA is in full swing this week. The following was posted on the NEA Web Site...

NEA-Retired Delegates’ Commitment to Education Continues
By Emma Chadband and Cindy Long

It’s estimated that almost 90 percent of NEA members leave the association when they retire, but delegates to this year’s NEA-Retired Annual Meeting are determined to bring that number down by bringing their numbers up.

“Retire from your position, not your profession,” said NEA-Retired President Tom Curran in his address to the 2012 NEA-Retired Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.

Curran said the NEA weathered a political storm last year – budget cuts, threats to bargaining rights, and layoffs – and that the upcoming year won’t be any easier, which is why NEA retired members need to organize, advocate, and recruit. The message was well-received -- the crowd at the NEA Retired conference Wednesday seemed fired up and ready to fight for education and educators’ rights.

“Work hard in the upcoming elections. Our future depends on you,” Curran said. “We can’t outspend [other groups], but we can out work them.”

Curran thanked a few states for their hard work in protecting unions, including Ohio, for restoring collective bargaining rights, and Michigan, because the state is collecting signatures for a referendum to put collective bargaining in the state constitution.

Curran also talked about the recent controversies in Wisconsin. The governor’s race was such a spectacle, and Walker had to outspend the other side to such a degree, that politicians will probably think twice about attacking union rights again, he said. John Lehman, a former teacher and retired NEA member, was also elected to the state Senate and helped give Democrats the Senate majority.

The NEA-Retired President’s message to NEA Retired members was clear: get involved, because this is going to be a busy year for the NEA. He thanked everyone who had already written letters to the editors of their local newspapers or made phone calls for pro-union legislators, and encouraged people to stay involved in political races.

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, who addressed the NEA-Retired delegates on Thursday, emphasized the importance of the upcoming presidential election.

“We want the world to know that our members understand the importance of this election to educators, to labor, and to social justice,” he said. “And I believe the choice for us and for America is very clear.”

It took just two years, Van Roekel said, for conservative legislators and their corporate backers to attack or dismantle payroll deduction, agency fees and collective bargaining. It would take even less time for a conservative-controlled federal government to enact a national right-to-work law.

“We’ve got to accept that we have a new reality, and choose a path forward,” he said. “We can’t just defend ourselves, we have to go on the offense, and be clear about our goal – which is great public schools. With a defense and an offense, we’ll be stronger than ever before.”