Teacher Contract Negotiations in Tacoma: Why It Matters for Our Students

Why Focus on the Collective Bargaining Agreement?
Great teaching is the key to student success in Tacoma Public Schools. It’s time to support educators and raise student achievement by constructively bringing community voices into the collective bargaining agreement for teachers in Tacoma Public Schools.

The teachers’ contract shapes the operation of Tacoma Public Schools in a huge way. It will be enforced for the next three years guiding services to students and it accounts for the largest expense of taxpayer money in the district.  Now is the time to weigh in on this critical document because contract negotiations are scheduled to conclude by August 31, 2011.

Our goal with this effort is to focus on those areas of the contract that can lead to increasing student achievement and closing the achievement gap: professional development, evaluations and career opportunities.  (To see our full platform, please visit the resource section.)

Top 3 Reasons to Support Vibrant Schools Tacoma’s Platform

 

1. What is clear: Teachers make the biggest difference in a child’s education.
2. These reforms are common sense: Our proposed reforms are common sense ideas being successfully implemented across the country and supported by the Obama Administration.  (point arrow to map
3. Status quo isn’t working: Only 44% of TPS graduates meet high school graduation requirements for admission to a four-year university, and only 38% go on to enter a 2 or 4 year college with even fewer graduating (Source: 2009 BERC Report).  We have a stagnant achievement gap in some areas, and a widening achievement gap in math (2009 TPS Achievement Gap Report to the Community).

National Movement: The momentum, both locally and nationally, is powerful. In states and urban districts across the country, management and labor have come together to implement contract changes that improve student achievement and recognize teachers as professionals. Today Tacoma has this same opportunity.

Life Beyond the Contract
Vibrant Schools wants every child in Tacoma to get the best possible education so each student can reach his/her potential. We want youth to graduate from high school prepared for college or a career. It is our belief that creating vibrant schools in Tacoma requires the active participation of our whole community: parents, teachers, administrators, students, policymakers and community leaders. We are committed to impacting student learning and the overall effectiveness of the Tacoma Public Schools by providing an excellent education for every student.