What We've Done

Here are some of the wins Stand staff and members are most proud of. 

Statewide victories

We've helped develop and pass legislation that improves the public education system for students.  We also follow through on policy implementation to ensure that real change makes it all the way to the classroom.

• Illinois
  Senate Bill 7 (2011)
  In Illinois, we helped pass Senate Bill 7 in 2011.  This groundbreaking education legislation provides the opportunity to lengthen the school day in Chicago, factors performance, not just seniority, into layoff decisions, and ensures educator tenure corresponds to student learning.
• Oregon
  2011 Education Package
  In Oregon, our efforts helped pass a groundbreaking number of education bills in 2011 that expanded free community college options for low income high school students, developed core professional standards for teachers and principals, and retained funding for teacher mentor programs.
• Indiana
  Senate Bill 1 (2011)
  In 2011 in Indiana we helped pass Senate Bill 1, which ensures annual performance evaluations for teachers, a new performance-based compensation model, and an end to harmful "last in, first out" policies.
• Arizona
  Senate Bill 1040 and Proposition 100 (2010)
  In 2010 our Arizona members helped passed Senate Bill 1040, a statewide teacher and principal evaluation framework that ensures every educator evaluation include student academic progress.  That same year, Stand members helped pass Proposition 100, a temporary sales tax that is bringing billions in public dollars to education (and other public services).
• Texas
  Senate Bill 8 (2011)
  In 2011 our Texas team championed Senate Bill 8, which helped bring an end to "last in, first out" practices, enabling districts to consider a teacher's strengths, not just the number of years they've been on the job, when making reductions in force. We also helped pass legislation creating a meaningful statewide principal evaluation, which will help principals to become stronger school leaders.
• Colorado
  Senate Bill 191, the Great Teachers and Leaders Bill (2010)
  In Colorado, we played a critical role in the 2010 campaign to pass Senate Bill 191, the Great Teachers and Leaders Bill, which provides teachers and principals with meaningful annual evaluations to measure their effectiveness and determine whether teachers earn - or lose - non-probationary status (Colorado's form of tenure).

Case Study: Read more about the passing of Senate Bill 191 in Colorado

• Massachusetts
  Act Relative to the Achievement Gap (2010)
  In Massachusetts we championed Governor Patrick's 2010 Act Relative to the Achievement Gap, giving superintendents targeted intervention powers to quickly turn around failing schools and doubling access to high-performing charter schools in the state's lowest performing districts. We also championed the approval of new educator evaluations, which will give teachers the vital feedback and support they need.
• Tennessee
  Tennessee First to the Top Act (2010)
  In Tennessee we helped to develop and pass the Tennessee First to the Top Act in 2010, which lifted a prohibition on using student-achievement data in educator evaluations. We followed that victory up in 2011 by helping to pass Senate Bill 1528, which links tenure to educator performance and makes performance a primary consideration in district-layoff decisions.
• Washington
  Stand is playing a leading role in advocating for key policies which have been part of recent education reform efforts aimed at closing the achievement gap.  In the face of continuing revenue shortfalls, Stand is working to push the legislature to prioritize funding for the full implementation of these education reforms. This includes supporting funding to continue the phase-in of full-day kindergarten, the beginning education support team teacher mentoring program, college ready high school graduation requirements, and the state-wide implementation of strong evaluation systems for teachers and principals.
• In 2010 and 2011, Stand also helped elect 41 legislators, in:
  • Colorado
  • Oregon
  • Illinois

District Victories

• We improve educator support and hiring practices
  • In Seattle, Washington, we helped build a coalition to support a historic new teacher's contract that support educators as professionals and helps provide great teaching for all kids.
  • In Denver, Colorado, in 2010, Stand members worked with the school board to repeal "forced teacher placement" to ensure all schools could hire the best teachers for their students.
  • In Portland, Oregon, in 2009, we worked with the school board and superintendent to repeal forced teacher placement in the lowest income, "academic priority" schools.
• We help turn around schools
  • In Northeast Denver, Colorado, our members' testimony, action, and advocacy helped turnaround six of the state's lowest performing schools, and we are continuing to monitor the implementation of the turnaround plans there.
  • In Worcester, Massachusetts, we were selected as a member of the Redesign Team for both of Worcester's Level 4 underperforming schools and helped create recommendations for the Superintendent's turnaround plan in early 2010. We also hosted and facilitated Listening Sessions for parents at each of these schools.
• We ensure schools have adequate funding:
  • In Phoenix and Kyrene, Arizona, Stand members were key in passing budget overrides that saved teacher jobs and extracurricular programs.
  • Members in Worcester, Massachusetts, demanded the city of Worcester increase its contribution to the Worcester Public Schools and they successfully lobbied for an additional $450,000 in school funding.  The end result was $1.15 million more dollars for 2008-09 school year.
  • In North Clackamas, Oregon, in 2009, we raised grant money to fund a dental coordinator to serve low income students.
  • This fall in Illinois, we stopped a short-sighted property tax measure that would have handicapped school districts from raising local revenue. The end result?  Saving hundreds of millions of dollars in school funding.
• We've elected candidates who put kids first:
  • In 2010-2011, Stand has helped elect 19 school board members in …
    • Tennessee (Memphis and Nashville)
    • Colorado (Denver)
    • Oregon (Portland, Reynolds, Salem-Keizer, Lane County, Hillsboro, Central Coast)
    • Washington (Issaquah, Tacoma)
    • Texas (Houston)