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by Joanne McCaughan

AFT members have been meeting with members of Congress and their aides to share our experiences and perspectives about educational priorities.  Over the last several weeks, Richard Burton, AFT Political Organizer, invited WEEL members and staff to participate in a series of meetings he arranged for AFT members with congressional representatives and/or their staff members. This has been an excellent opportunity for us to provide information to national policy makers and explain how the actions they take impact our work. In addition, it has been most helpful to work with the other AFT members and leaders and link our issues and common interests.  Issues around Head Start reauthorization, No Child Left Behind (NCLB), and Higher Education funding were laid out in the meetings. Participants shared their personal stories of how these programs and policies work on the ground.

On August 9, 2007 Peg Loe and I were part of the group that met with Congressman Norm Dicks' aide, Joshua Johnston, in Tacoma. Peg was able to explain in great detail the reality of running an Early Head Start program at the alternative Henderson Bay High School in Gig Harbor. She eloquently expressed her support for the idea that teachers should be encouraged to obtain their BA degree, but explained the reality that it is an impossible dream for most due to low wages and time constraints. Head Start will require 50% of teachers in the program to have BA degrees by 2013 and to accomplish this, funding must be provided.  Currently the legislation does not provide such funding.  The group suggested access to additional grants and loan forgiveness which is available in certain other professions.  Peg also emphasized that if the salaries and benefits provided to early education professionals are not on par with those in the school system, turnover will continue to be a problem.  We were also able to provide information about WEEL and our efforts to improve conditions for all child care center workers in Washington. 

On August 16, I met with another group in a visit to Senator Patty Murray's office in Seattle.  Her staff were very interested to hear about the work we are doing, and we recognized that the Senator has a long history of supporting early childhood education. 

On August 20, WEEL member and Center Director Colleen Hill and others met with Congressman Rick Larsen in Bellingham to discuss similar issues and concerns. While listening to the stories of the AFT Higher Education members and leaders, it became very clear to me how important it is that we work together. As they discussed their experiences with NCLB and the impact on teachers and students and proposed solutions and potential changes to the program requirements, I gained a greater understanding of their struggle. Clearly, if kids come to school ready to learn with a strong base of early education, teachers and students will benefit in later years.

I encourage all of you to take advantage of these opportunities to connect and share your own experiences with policy makers. Additional meetings are scheduled with Congressman Adam Smith and staff, Congressman Brain Baird, and Senator Maria Cantwell. Currently, at the state level, WEEL members will be hosting center visits, inviting legislators from their districts to witness first-hand the reality of working at a child care center.  This opportunity is still open, so if you are willing to host a visit please give WEEL Administrative Assistant Elizabeth Ferrell-Gray a call (206-242-4777, ext. 8070) and she will coordinate with other staff.