2009 UEA Legislative Priorities

“Public schools are a shelter in an economic storm. Every dollar invested in public education goes directly to jobs, to communities and to strengthening our future workforce.”

Kim Campbell, president, Utah Education Association

The UEA believes public schools provide the foundation for a civil and just society and the opportunity for every student to maximize his/her potential and talents for future success and positive participation in the community. From our viewpoint as education professionals, the UEA Legislative Platform and Priorities outline the policies and the investment necessary to provide this foundation to democracy.

The UEA believes ANY legislation must meet the following criteria:

• Protect the rights of employees;
• Provide for local autonomy in the distribution of resources and in the development of policy;
• Recognize the importance of the professional judgment and voice of educators in creating education policy and programs; and
• Provide sustainable and adequate revenue streams necessary to provide a great public school for EVERY child in Utah.

School Funding

• Maintain funding levels for WPU, educator salary adjustments and other on-going programs.
• Fund student enrollment growth.
• Provide educators with classroom supply money.
• Fund Block Grant programs.

Quality Teaching and Learning

• Support new educator induction and mentoring programs.
• Support the nationally recognized National Board Certification for educators.
• Support ongoing, adequately funded, research-based teacher compensation programs focused on providing a quality teacher in every Utah public school classroom.

Preserve School Employees Rights and Benefits

• Maintain an adequately funded “defined benefits” retirement system.
• Support amendments to Creation of New School District legislation to address unintended consequences.

Tax Policy

• Support proposals that provide adequate, stable, long-term public education funding.
• Protect revenue sources dedicated to K-12 education funding.

Legislative Ethics

• Support efforts to ensure a more open, accountable and transparent government.
• Support campaign finance reform.

Class Size Reduction

• Seek ways to reduce the student-to-teacher ratios in Utah classrooms.
• Fund student enrollment growth within the class-size reduction program.