Catalysts for change

AFT state federations have emerged as catalysts for constructive change in low-performing schools and in accountability-based education reform across the nation.

The New York State United Teachers has long held a leadership role in this area. In 1998, for example, the state fed helped bring a delegation of school leaders from Albany, N.Y., to the AFT's Redesigning Low-performing Schools conference in Miami. The Albany teachers, union leaders and administrators who took part in the conference ultimately returned home and helped spearhead a school redesign plan at Giffen Elementary school, where student achievement scores are now showing solid gains. Like Giffen, many low-performing schools in the state have adopted the schoolwide literacy program Success for All (SFA), and NYSUT has responded by supporting an SFA statewide teachers' network. The state fed, working in cooperation with the AFT and the United Federation of Teachers in New York City, is supporting institutes on facilitating school redesign.

The Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals is laying the groundwork to help locals provide constructive support to schools and districts as they fashion and evaluate school improvement plans, now required of all schools under state law. There currently is "very little training and support for local union leaders and for school improvement teams in terms of looking at data and communicating across groups," explains Colleen Callahan, director of educational issues for the state fed. The Rhode Island federation is developing plans, in cooperation with the AFT and UFT, that would help give locals the resources and training they need to facilitate school redesign and assist in the development of school improvement plans.

American Federation of Teachers, AFL•CIO - 555 New Jersey Avenue, NW - Washington, DC 20001