A primary focus for AEA has always been its legislative program, since so many issues that affect the education profession require action by the state and federal governments. Planning time, health insurance, salaries and benefits, class size, retirement issues – all of these and more depend on laws passed by our legislators.

"Every meaningful decision in education is a political decision, either at the local level, the state level, or the federal level," said Richard Hutchinson, AEA's director of Government Relations and Instructional Issues.

The Fiscal Session of the 87th General Assembly convenes in February. Fiscal sessions occur in even-numbered years and deal primarily with budget, revenue and appropriations business. AEA's lobby team and legislative committee regularly review and update the  legislative program they will follow during each legislative session. The program is divided into three tiers, based upon the level of involvement and action AEA must maintain with legislators in order to accomplish its goals. NEA has a similar list of priorities for national goals with the 111th Congress. If you would like a copy of either program, please contact AEA at 501-375-6411, or toll free at 800-632-0624.

Hutchinson said that the public school fund appropriation will be of particular interest to AEA during this session. "Everything that was funded by the 2009 Regular Session is technically just for one year," he explained. "It will have to be reauthorized."

Education adequacy – determining what is needed to make sure the state's public school system continues to meet children's needs – will also be an important topic during the upcoming session. Although this is not strictly a fiscal issue, state law requires that the legislature's education committees meet to discuss programs and funding, and then conduct a full adequacy study before the next regular session in 2011. Some issues that fall under the adequacy umbrella include school facilities, technology, salaries, student services, and health services.

The importance of communication – with our legislators and among our members – cannot be emphasized enough if we are to successfully influence our state and national leaders on education issues.

"The bottom line on all these issues is, you guys are the experts," said Lee Hedgepeth, NEA Organizational Specialist. "We have to get our message out to those who can make a difference – those decision makers, whether they are school board members, members of Congress, or members in the legislature. Because whether you like it or not, you have to get involved in politics."

Hutchinson said that the Internet, including social networking sites such as YouTube, FaceBook and Twitter, are going to be essential means of communication. This technology can be used by just about everyone, whether to connect with others who are interested in building coalitions, or communicate directly with policymakers.

"Online you can communicate and find out what's going on about legislation," Hutchinson said.
"For example, go to NEA's Web site and click on the Legislative Action Center. From there you can communicate with your member of Congress, or you can find out what's going on about an issue in Congress. You can also get a copy of NEA's legislative update, and you can get a synopsis of any issues that NEA feels will be important."  

AEA's Web sites also provide various links and resources to help you keep abreast of current political issues, including daily legislative alerts and a bill tracker that provides the most current information about where individual bills are in the legislative process.

"Right now we have an administration in Washington, D.C. that we can work with," Hutchinson said. In order to take advantage of this, he urged everyone present to communicate: discuss issues among yourselves, be responsive to AEA's requests for legislative action, and maintain regular contact with your state officials and United States congressmen. With open lines of communication and a united front, AEA will better be able to achieve its goals for great public schools.