Press Release from AFT's Randi Weingarten on Union-District Partnership in St. Louis

So great to see this step forward in St. Louis that involves a reaccreditation of St. Louis Public Schools, involving the AFT's collaboration with the school district.  This is not only a victory for public education, but potentially a model for other places throughout the country.

Sí se puede!  Yes we can!

-Angela

Teachers Union Instrumental in St. Louis Schools Reaccreditation

Posted January 10th, 2017 by American Federa...

For Release: 

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Contact:

Andrew Crook

WASHINGTON— AFT St. Louis and its national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, have cheered the full reaccreditation of Saint Louis Public Schools, highlighting the collaborative work between the union and the district that set the stage for the decision.

At its meeting earlier today, the Missouri State Board of Education approved the district’s reaccreditation, 16 years after it was partially removed.

Collaborative work between the local union and the district drove the turnaround after the board stripped power from the elected school board, replacing it with a three-member appointed Special Administrative Board in 2007.

The St. Louis Plan, jointly administered by the union and the district, focused on building shared responsibility for teacher-led support for instructional change by strengthening professional learning, as well as many other collaborative steps to drive improvement in the classroom. Richard Gaines, of the SAB, was crAFT St. Louis and its national affiliate, the American Federation of Teachers, have cheered the full reaccreditation of Saint Louis Public Schools, highlighting the collaborative work between the union and the district that set the stage for the decision.

At its meeting earlier today, the Missouri State Board of Education approved the district’s reaccreditation, 16 years after it was partially removed.

Collaborative work between the local union and the district drove the turnaround after the board stripped power from the elected school board, replacing it with a three-member appointed Special Administrative Board in 2007.

The St. Louis Plan, jointly administered by the union and the district, focused on building shared responsibility for teacher-led support for instructional change by strengthening professional learning, as well as many other collaborative steps to drive improvement in the classroom. Richard Gaines, of the SAB, was critical in encouraging cooperation between the district and the union.

AFT St. Louis President Mary Armstrong, who is also an AFT vice president, said: “Today’s reaccreditation was the culmination of a joint effort between the union and the district that drove the improvements necessary to return the district to health. We worked closely for nine years with Superintendent Adams to get to this point, and while there’s still a ways to go, our kids will be the real beneficiaries.” 

AFT President Randi Weingarten said: “In St. Louis, our pioneering long-term union-district partnership showed what can be achieved for student learning when we work together, and respect and invest in the capacity of our teachers. While there is still progress to be made, the St. Louis Plan serves as a national model to strengthen public education throughout the country. I am so proud of our members and our allies who stepped up again and again—despite the obstacles—to ensure our kids have the conditions and opportunities they need to thrive.”

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The AFT represents 1.6 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; nurses and healthcare workers; and early childhood educators.