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The KNEA News Archives 2006

Nominate Friends of Kansas Education

January 27, 2007 is the deadline for nominations for the Friends of Education Awards. Here is nomination information.

Student Achievement Increases in Kansas - More schools make Standard of Excellence

Student achievement continues to increase across Kansas. Assessment results show 1,172 schools are receiving a building-wide Standard of Excellence award recognizing their ability to raise student performance.

'Tis the Season for Legal Questions

Can we sing Christmas carols in our school program? Can I have a Christmas tree in my room? What about a menorah? May I teach my students about Kwanzaa? Here are answers to these questions and more.

Working together for better wages and affordable education

Members of Kansas ACORN and the KNEA are supporting a campaign that focuses on passing through Congress the economic elements of the 100-Hour legislative agenda, which includes raising the federal minimum wage and cutting the interest rates on students loans in half.

Avoid Classroom Burnout

Educators who don't deal positively with stressful situations become ill. Here are tips for coping with stress and staying healthy.

85% of Kansas schools make Annual Yearly Progress

State assessment results indicate that Kansas schools made significant gains in student achievement in 2006.

Education Commissioner Bob Corkins Resigns

State Board members vote 7-3 to accept resignation; KNEA President Blake West comments

Surviving the Holiday Hump

It's been a busy year. Now it's time to take care of you. Here is advice from KNEA mentors for surviving the Holiday Hump.

Exclusive KNEA benefit saves members $$

KNEA members save thousands of dollars over the Holidays by using the KNEA Membership Access card.

Cyberbullying - Moving from the schoolyard to the Internet

Bullying has moved from the schoolyard to the Internet and teachers are among the targets.

US Education Dept. disallows Kansas rules for special needs students taking assessments

These changes could result in an increase of schools identified as not meeting adequate yearly progress (AYP).

Kansas to host Leadership Conference

NEA leaders from across the nine-state western region are coming to Kansas for the annual Leadership Conference January 12-14, 2007.

VOTE TODAY! KNEA recommends pro-public school candidates

Here are KNEA's recommended candidates. In recommending political candidates, Kansas NEA has just one goal: to continue improving public education in the State of Kansas.

American Education Week is November 12-18

This year's celebration delivers an important message: "Great Public Schools: A Basic Right and Our Responsibility."

Halloween Safety Reminders

Here is advice from KNEA members to keep our kids safe on Halloween plus great resources.

Congress Prepares To Raise Teacher Taxes; Elected Officials Need To Hear From Us NOW

Teachers and paraprofessionals will be socked with a $250 tax increase if Congress continues to fail to renew a tax deduction for educators' out-of-pocket classroom supply expenses.

Middle School Students Seek Homework Help from Parents

Survey reveals "tweens" look to parents, technology for homework help

KNEA teacher nominated for national teaching excellence

Wamego kindergarten teacher Roxie Peterson is Kansas' nominee for the NEA Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

Register for Oct. 21 Fall Bargaining Conference

Negotiating health insurance, legal issues, communications and new forms of salary schedules. These topics and more at the KNEA Fall Bargaining Conference.

NEA launches Minority Community Outreach Web Site

The new site highlights NEA's work in supporting public education and involving minority communities around critical issues such as school funding, achievement gaps and vouchers.

Update: Responsibilities & Reporting Child Abuse

The 2006 Kansas Legislature changed the requirement for mandatory reporters.

Training dates for Professional Development Councils (PDC)

KNEA and the Southeast Kansas Education Service Center (Greenbush) offer two levels of training for PDC members. Here are dates and registration information.

Free online tutoring for Kansas students

HomeworkKansas is an interactive online tutoring service for Kansas children grades four through 12, and new college students.

After Four Years, the Public Judges the No Child Left Behind Act

Nearly six in 10 Americans who are familiar with the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act believe it has had no effect on our schools or has actually harmed them, according to a nationwide poll.

KPA deadline is Sept. 1 - New teachers apply for professional license

Each person who submitted a KPA during the no-fault period MUST apply for the Professional License prior to September 1, 2006 or they will have to meet the passing score, even if they submitted during the no-fault period.

Studies show public school students have higher marks in reading and math

Even when students' race, income and learning disabilities were taken into account, students in traditional public schools fared better than those in charter schools.

Back to School

It's time for Kansas students to return to school for a new year of learning and fun. Here is some helpful information for parents from KNEA members.

Surprise: Supreme Court dismisses school finance lawsuit

The dismissal of the school finance lawsuit makes the upcoming elections even more important.

Contact KNEA first for quality professional development training & services

Plan now to request quality KNEA professional resources and assistance that are teacher-tested and approved.

Tips for rainy summer days

What to do with your energetic kids during a rainy day in the summer? Here are tips from KNEA teachers.

KNEA fighting for rights of recently retired

The 2006 State Legislature passed a bill that had a major impact on teachers who retire and then choose to return to teaching. Here is a Q & A about SB 270, its impact on KPERS and what KNEA is doing about it.

NEA teachers want Congress to be accountable, too

NEA President Reg Weaver said that teachers welcome the accountability measures imposed by the No Child Left Behind Act ... and they demand the same from Congress when the law comes up for renewal in 2007.

Safe Kids booster seat inspections help parents keep kids safe

Safe Kids events are being held to provide parents with the information that they need to comply with the new law and to keep their kids safe.

Kansas educators voice opinions on national education issues

Some 175 Kansans are among the 9,000 delegates meeting to shape the National Education Association's policies.

NEA's focus is on quality public schools, not same-sex marriage

NEA's annual meeting is focused on great public schools for every child. NEA has no position on same-sex marriages and leadership is not seeking to establish such a position.

Join KNEA-Retired now and save!

Join NEA-Retired before September 1, 2006, and you'll save $100. NEA lifetime dues are changing soon.

NEA calls on Bush Administration to give states flexibility in measuring student progress

Two states, North Carolina and Tennessee, get to use a pilot program called a "growth model" to measure student progress under the No Child Left Behind law. It is considered to be a more effective measure of student achievement than the Adequate Yearly Progress.

Ending the school year right

How teachers and students end the school year is just as important as how it begins. Here's advice on making the most of the the last weeks of school.

How to combat senioritis

Lethargy, lack of focus, difficulty making decisions. These symptoms of the dreaded disease senioritis often appear in the fall. High schools and colleges have begun experimenting with ways to keep students more engaged during the period between homecoming weekend and the senior prom.

NEA Grant deadline is June 1

The NEA Foundation funds hundreds of Innovation Grants and Learning & Leadership Grants to support great ideas. Apply today!

Roxie Peterson earns KNEA Excellence in Education Award

2006 KNEA Excellence in Education Award recipient Roxie Peterson will now be nominated for the national honor.

The Kansas Teacher Working Conditions initial results are in

Used wisely, the data can positively impact on student learning and school improvement. Buildings with 40% participation can check local results.

Honor Your Teacher on National Teacher Day

National Teacher Day is May 9 and this year's theme is "Great Teachers Make Great Public Schools."

House passes cheaper school finance bill

The House passed a cheaper version of a school finance bill loaded with bad policy ideas.

Cartoons by Richard Crowson

Cartoons by Richard Crowson

KNEA members take "Affordable Home Tour"

KNEA members have an opportunity to tour homes and learn about home ownership.

Jim Armendariz honored: 2006 KNEA Human and Civil Rights Award winner

The 2006 KNEA Human and Civil Rights Award winner is Ogden Elementary School Principal Jim Armendariz.

State Rep Assembly takes on school finance, teacher working conditions

School finance, teacher working conditions and student achievement were hot topics at the Kansas NEA Representative Assembly. NEA President vows to protect public schools.

Eagle's Richard Crowson is 2006 KNEA Friend of Education Award

KNEA's Friend of Education is Wichita Eagle Editorial Cartoonist Richard Crowson

State Teacher Working Conditions data is now online

Schools and districts with at least 40% completion on the recent statewide Teacher Working Conditions survey can obtain the data online.

KNEA Representative Assembly is April 21 - 23 in Topeka

Over 600 educators will set the course for the KNEA by considering new business items, which involve actions on the part of KNEA, and resolutions, which are statements of belief. NEA President Reg Weaver is the featured speaker.

Drop Everything And Read!

Millions of students, parents, teachers, librarians and other education support professionals, celebrities and athletes will Drop Everything and Read (D.E.A.R.), reminding families to find 30 minutes daily for reading together.

May 15 is deadline to participate in math, science benchmark panel

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) is inviting Kansas teachers to participate in one of the secondary mathematics and biology teacher panels that will make recommendations leading to professional benchmarks.

KNEA 2006 Election Results

Blake West, Sherri Yourdon new president and vice president of KNEA

Praxis Lawsuit

Teaching candidates who took the Praxis PLT 7-12 test from January 2003 through April 2004 could get benefits from a class action settlement.

Legislature fails to pass funding for schools, again

Kansas Legislature spends 56 days in Topeka; fails to pass school finance bill.

Report: Schools Lack Funding to Comply with No Child Left Behind

"No Child Left Behind" has put a burden on schools, educators and education support professionals to comply with strict federal standards without supplying federal money to make necessary changes.

Learning amid the destruction

"Cat-A-Vans" of NEA leaders delivered books to Gulf Coast schools during Read Across America. Here is an account of how the joy of learning continues amidst the destruction left by hurricanes.

Apply for 2006 KNEA Bargaining Academy

May 1 is the deadline for those wanting to apply to be in the 2006 KNEA Bargaining Academy class.

Successful Parent Teacher Conferences

Working for a Common Goal: Academic Success. Communicating with parents is one of the most important things we do as teachers.

Students meet famous Kansans past and present in celebrating Dr. Seuss' birthday

Some 18,000 Kansas schoolchildren celebrated Dr. Seuss' birthday with three Kansas governors: current Governor Kathleen Sebelius, first state Governor of Kansas, Dr. Charles Robinson and the third Governor of Kansas, Samuel J. Crawford.

Translating Your Kid's Cyberlanguage

Do you know what PAW means? How about LUWAMH? It's hard to keep an eye on your kids online when you don't speak the same language. Here are some tips.

Afterschool funding available

The competition for the 2006-2007 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) is now open.

NEA Book Tour

NEA's Books Across America & Tour help restock Gulf Coast public school libraries.

Teacher Working Conditions Survey Deadline is Feb. 26

Make your voice heard! Take the Teacher Working Conditions Survey being promoted by Governor Sebelius. How do YOUR working conditions impact your students' learning conditions?

Hurricane Disaster...Over But Not Forgotten

The TV cameras are gone. Some of the area schools hit hardest by the hurricanes are finally reopening. The attention of the nation has moved on. But the needs of students, schools, and especially our teaching colleagues, continue.

NEA makes schools strong: Editorial by Christy Levings

Kansas NEA strives to make educators successful at work so that students are successful in learning. We are committed to quality public schools, a highly qualified teaching force, and the ability of our members to do the job of serving students.

KNEA sponsors Quest

Highlighting the outstanding academic performance by Kansas high school students.

Cool Kansas Links

To enhance your "Read Across Kansas" journeys, check out these links, courtesy of the Kansas Explorers Club. Kansas: It's as big as you think!

State Board to consider proposal to abandon licensure for teachers

Proposal by Corkins says anyone can teach - no training necessary! Write your State Board member now.

Congress cuts school funds

In a flurry of end-of-session votes, the U.S. House and Senate last month approved several education-related matters, including a 1 percent cut in funds for public education, and the creation of a private school voucher program under the guise of hurricane relief.

School Finance study challenges legislators!

The 2006 legislative session got under way with the release of the Legislative Post Audit study on school finance and Governor Sebelius' State of the State address.

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