Study: Teacher associations in Georgia among nation's weakest
A few posters routinely cite the role of teacher "unions" in Georgia in influencing education policy. So, I thought thefindings of a new study on the state-by-state power of teacher unionswere worth sharing.
The Fordham Institute and Education Reform Now examined 37 different variables -- resources and membership, involvement in politics, scope of bargaining, state policies and perceived Influence -- to determine the power and influence of state-level unions. The Georgia teacher groups are not called unions, but associations --they don't qualify as unions as they lack collective bargaining power.
Georgia’s teacher associations rank near the bottom in power and influence, 45th.
The study says:
“Georgia’s teacher associations are weak across the board, not surprising in a state in which collective bargaining is prohibited — and whose politics are fairly conservative. They have few resources and a weak reputation. While teacher employment policies are somewhat union-favorable, charter laws are not, and the associations stayed out of the way when lawmakers enacted reforms en route to receiving Race to the Top award.Georgia’s two state-level teacher associations (one affiliated with the NEA, the other with the AFT) have limited financial and membership resources. Collective bargaining is prohibited in the state, and just 54.8 percent of its teachers belong to teacherStudy: Teacher associations in Georgia among nation's weakest | Get Schooled | www.ajc.com: