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NEA Long-Term Care Insurance Program

Caregiver’s story draws wave of sympathizers

Hot Deals and Discounts for NEA Members

NEA Click & Save, the online discount buying service for NEA members

Retirees Would Pay an Extra $20,000 if Supreme Court Overturns Health Reform

Mitt Romney, the likely Republican nominee for president in November’s election, has said he would repeal the entire law “as quickly as possible

Kentucky To Begin Using New State Tests.

Replaces the old Commonwealth Accountability Testing System

Rep. Ryan Says Budget Plan “Saves the American Dream”

Ryan's Plan would cut health care for senior citizens in order to pay for more tax breaks for big corporations and for the wealthiest Americans

Affordable Care Act Has Saved Seniors $3.4 Billion on Prescriptions

The 2010 Affordable Care Act has helped seniors and people with disabilities

THE LATEST BATTLE ON FUNDING

The House Appropriations Committee this week took another step in the wrong direction

NEA-Retired Leadership Conference Report

NEA-Retired Conference Report of Fred and Patti Hester

Report: Media Coverage Skews Social Security Debate

For nearly three years much of the press has reported only one side of the Social Security issue

Seniors Rally for Fairness

Alliance for Retired Americans President Barbara Easterling is warning seniors about Mitt Romney’s campaign using a recently released trustees report as a way to explain the necessity for radical change

Wisconsin Governor Moves To Reduce Teachers' Inflation-Based Raises.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker "has reshaped a rule to lower inflation-based raises that public unions can negotiate for teachers in public schools and technical colleges."

Tennessee's Proposed Education Legislation Touted.

Proposed laws that would require parents to be more involved with their children's education

NEA launched a campaign to highlight gaping corporate tax loopholes and their impact on public education funding.

Tax loopholes and their impact on public education funding.

Van Roekel Laments Corporate Tax Policies' Negative Impact On Education.

"Some major corporations won't pay a dime despite reaping record profits." Citing an analysis from Citizens for Tax Justice

Positive Reactions at 'Bully' Film Screening

The film 'Bully' opened on March 30 and was received well at a pre-screening for educators and community leaders.

NEA: Ryan Budget Would Cut Head Start For Over 2 Million Children.

More than two million children would lose opportunities to attend Head Start centers as a result of the cuts.

Seniors, Others Await Fate of Health Reform as Supreme Court Hears Arguments

Should health care reform be struck down, seniors risk losing many of the new benefits provided through the law.

UK Study: Parents, Not Teachers, Key to Education

A new study finds that pupil attainment and ability is affected five times more by parental influence than by teachers.

The Good Old Double Reverse

Rep. Ryan Clearly Targets Seniors as He Seeks Taxes Cuts for the Wealthy

Kentucky DOE Nominates Three Green Ribbon Schools.

ED's Green Ribbon winners are "scheduled to be announced April 23

Teacher incentive pay -- not charter schools -- is worth trying, House Education chairman says

"What we really need to do is find a way to get the better teachers to the students"

Ignorance Is Strength

By Bill Krugman, New York Times

Van Roekel Expresses Dismay At Results Of Teacher Survey.

NEA President, Dennis Van Roekel expressed dismay at the results, which showed "teacher job satisfaction at its lowest point in decades."

Survey: Teacher Morale At 20-Year Low

Roughly one in three said they were likely to leave the profession in the next five years.

IRS Warns of Scam Tempting Elderly to Claim Tax Refunds

The IRS urges everyone to be careful.

Legislative Report Card

From KEA-Retired President, Jon Henrikson, a member of the KEA Lobbying Team

Kentucky: Building a Bumpy Road From K-12 Through College

Kentucky is widely seen as a model of how K-12 and higher education can work together to make sure teenagers are prepared to succeed in college.

GOP Senators Want Seniors to Move to Private Insurance Faster

The proposed legislation will also increase the age of Medicare eligibility for seniors to 67 years old, and increase premiums for retirees in the upper- and middle-class.

New IRS Rules Would Bar Charter Teachers From State Pensions.

The proposed rule change could affect the ability of states' pension systems to meet the definition of a 'governmental plan.

Kentucky Historian To Receive NEA Honor

The National Education Association will be awarding Maysville historian Jerry Gore the Carter G. Woodson Memorial Award "for his educational efforts."

NYTimes: Weak Charters Should Face Closure.

An editorial in the New York Times (2/21, Subscription Publication, 1.23M) charges that the charter school movement over the last 20 years has failed to deliver on its promises

States Try to Fix Quirks in Teacher Evaluations

Officials in states like Tennessee who are testing new teacher evaluation systems required by the Obama administration are struggling with problems philosophical and logistical.

Deciding to Refinance

Refinancing can be a sound financial choice that allows you to meet a variety of needs:

What Teachers Make

When the Media Asks “Are Teachers Overpaid?” Educators Ask “Are They Crazy?”

Advocates for charter schools get their first say in Ky. House but no vote

Charter school advocates made arguments for allowing such alternative schools in Kentucky

Analysis: New congressional map only slightly moves the political needle in the 6 districts

The political effects of Kentucky’s new congressional district map are slight with the voter performance changing by less than 1.5 points in any one district

Ky. Republican state lawmakers sign brief in support of challenge to Affordable Care Act

Most of Kentucky’s Republican state legislators signed onto a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday that supports the 27 states challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act that Congress passed in 2010.

New IRS Rule Could Eliminate Charter Teachers' Pensions

A "... proposed change in Internal Revenue Service regulations" could render charter school teachers ineligible for state pension plans

KEA Board Meeting, January 20-21, 2012

Board Report by Fred Hester, KEA-R

Health Care Reform Law Saves 3.6 Million Americans $2.1 Billion

It decreases prescription drug costs, provides free preventive care, and slows the growth of Medicare premiums for physicians’ services.

Alabama State Senator Deems Low Teacher Pay "A Biblical Principle."

"Because it might attract people who otherwise wouldn't do the job."

Kentucky Legislator Introduces Bill Strengthening Anti-Bullying Law.

Rep. Mary Lou Marzian filed legislation last week to "strengthen Kentucky's current anti-bullying statute..."

Obama: "Stop Bashing Teachers"

This year's State of the Union speech didn't offer as much air time to education as his speech a year ago, but it did include a key passage on teachers

Parent Trigger Bills Advance In Florida Legislature Amid Controversy.

The effort is part of a continuing campaign to privatize education.

National Council On Teacher Quality: States Eroding Teacher Tenure.

"America's public school teachers are seeing their generations-old tenure protections weakened

Chairman Sanders Introduce Older Americans Act Reauthorization

The act supports programs for seniors such as Meals on Wheels and other services that help seniors retain an independent lifestyle.

NEA Officials Defend Teacher Tenure

"Contentious" plans to eliminate public teacher tenure

Are you getting the KEA Advocate E-Letter?

KEA Advocate is the weekly legislative e-newsletter of the Kentucky Education Association.

A request for letters to the editor for This Active Life magazine

What activities will you choose to be involved in this election year, large or small, to promote the interests of public education?

Don't Take the Vote Away From Seniors

Over the past year, GOP-controlled state houses have been passing what are known as Voter ID laws.

Kentucky Sees Dramatic Increase.

Kentucky moved from 34th place to 14th

Higher School Start Age Advances In Kentucky Legislature

A measure to "move back the age threshold for starting school from Oct.1 to Aug. 1, requiring students to be five years old by that date to begin kindergarten and six years old to start the first grade."

Teacher Evaluation Overhaul Advances In Kentucky Legislature

Lexington (KY) Herald-Leader (1/11, Warren)

New Site Helps Advocates Defend Public Education, Middle Class

NEA’s Education Votes (EdVotes) website proudly introduces our Election 2012 site

Senate GPO/WEP Repeal Bill Introduced

Senators John Kerry (D-MA) and Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the Senate version of the Social Security Fairness Act (S. 2010)

Former Senator Santorum Endorses Raising the Retirement Age to 70 – or Higher

His finish in Iowa was exciting for political observers, but also terrifying for seniors.

GOP Hopefuls Favor Scaled-Back K-12 Federal Role in Education

All Republican Presidential candidates agree there should be a smaller federal footprint in education

NEA Member Benefits Offers New Approach to Long-Term Care Insurance with Prudential

Effective January 1, 2012, NEA Member Benefits will be offering members a new Long-Term Care Insurance program through Prudential.

Kentucky State Park Resorts Open During Winter Months

All Kentucky State Park resorts will remain open through the winter months in 2012, the Department of Parks announced today.

NEA Cash Rewards Credit Card is Enhanced with New Cash Back Features

NEA Member Benefits is pleased to announce the all new enhanced NEA® Cash Rewards Card, which is available to members immediately!

Nearly 1 in 2 Americans have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earnings that classify them as low income.

The latest census data depicts a record number of Americans - nearly 1 in 2 - have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earnings that classify them as low income

Plan to raise Medicare premiums for upper-income retirees would affect middle class as well

A year-end economic package approved by the House prescribes a Medicare premium increase for "high-income" beneficiaries

Letter from MEDCO sent by MEDCO in ERROR

The MEHP will be administered by Humana and Express Scripts as of January 1, 2012

Duncan Praises Promise Neighborhood Program, Winners Announced.

President Obama's announcement on Monday Berea College in Madison County, Kentucky, "is one of five Promise Neighborhood implementation grant recipients"

Victories In The 112th Congress: Your Values and Activism in Action!

From Capitol Hill to the classroom, your voice AND your membership matter!

Curriculum Matters

Most Teachers See the Curriculum Narrowing, Survey Finds

Report: Increased Classroom Time No Guarantee Of Academic Success.

A new study released by the National School Boards Association

In Turnaround, NEA Releases Performance-Based Teacher Evaluation Plan.

A plan released last week by the NEA, "performance, not seniority, would play the primary role in whether teachers keep their jobs."

Health Care Law Has Saved the Average Senior $569 on Prescriptions in 10 Months

More than 2.65 million Medicare beneficiaries have saved more than $1.5 billion on their prescriptions this year, a $569-per-person average, while premiums have remained stable

Study Explores Social Impact Of Dropouts.

High school dropouts "have a greater likelihood of ending up in jail, being unemployed, relying on food stamps and becoming a fiscal drain on society than those who graduate.

The number of students attending charter schools has soared to more than 2 million

The number of students attending charter schools has soared to more than 2 million as states pass laws lifting caps and encouraging their expansion, according to figures released Wednesday.

House Democrat and Senate Republican say "crushing" KY pension system must be reformed"

Mounting pressure on the state budget cited

Operation Preparation

Operation Preparation is a key strategy for our college and career readiness plan.

Cheers and Jeers

THE ATTACKS CONTINUE: HOUSE TAKES ANOTHER ANTI-WORKER VOTE

This week, the House of Representatives passed another anti-worker bill

"Draconian" Cuts To Hit Federal Education Programs.

"Education advocates and local school Officials are nervously eyeing a series of draconian cuts set to hit just about every federal program in 2013-including Title I, special education, and other key K-12 priorities.

Census Data Shows 65 – 69 Age Group is Growing the Fastest

On Wednesday, the U.S. Bureau of the Census released data from the 2010 census on the American population over 65.

Generation’s Largest Strike Closes UK Schools

If you haven't bothered keeping an eye on what's happening in the United Kingdom right now, it's time to start paying attention.

NEA Economist Warns Of Lean Education Funding

"Do not expect any significant increase in education funding until at least 2017"

A Special Invitation for NEA Members

Did you know that NEA Member Benefits offers educational webinars designed just for you?

Supercommittee Fails To Reach Agreement

"Education advocates and local school Officials are nervously eyeing a series of draconian cuts set to hit Title I, special education, and money for teacher quality."

Education Lobby Grows, Moves From Right To Center.

The changing and growing impact of the sprawling single-issue education lobbying in the US

NEA President: GOP Anti-Labor Push Set To Backfire.

"Republican efforts to restrain the power of unions has produced a middle-class backlash across the country..."

Super Committee Negotiations Go Down to the Wire

Just five days before the deadline for a deficit reduction deal, the Super Committee dealing with the nation’s budget deficit in Congress still did not seem close to reaching an agreement on tax reforms and spending cuts.

A November to Remember

From Michigan to North Carolina, voters turn out in support of public education

Member Benefits

Check these out, you may find something you can use

Perry's Plan For Closing ED Would Not Be Simple

Dismantling any government agency, let alone the Education Department, is far more complicated than Perry makes it sound.

Teachers, facing low salaries, opt to hold second jobs

Now, with the severe cuts many school districts have made, teachers who hadn't considered juggling a second job before, are searching the want ads.

Ravitch Addresses Charters, Teacher Evaluations.

Ravotch takes issue with the NEA's decision to "go along with evaluating teachers by test scores," and suggests that the union should reconsider.

NEA's Leadership In Overturning Ohio Labor Law Noted.

"Gov. John Kasich (R) took office in January vowing to curb unions' power" but has seemingly "overstepped his hand."

Duncan Blasts Think Tanks' Teacher Pay Study

Education Secretary Arne Duncan refutes the recent study from "two conservative Washington think tanks," the American Enterprise Institute and the Heritage Foundation, which "defies common-sense"

Conservative Think Tanks Release Report Saying Teachers Are Not Underpaid.

Putting down a marker on the topic

New NAEP, Same Results: Math Up, Reading Mixed

Despite some gains in math and 8th grade reading, only about one-third of students have reached the "proficient" level on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

Medicare 2012 Part B Premium and Deductible Announced

On Thursday, HHS and CMS officials announced the 2012 Medicare Part B premium and deductible. Both went down from the 2011 levels.

When Governors Talk Education, It's About the Economy, Stupid

Ideas for Cutting Teacher Pension Costs for States, Charters

Millions of Dollars Made From Teacher Evaluation Programs

Companies and nonprofits are making millions out of teacher effectiveness evaluations, sparking worries about quality of service.

Cheers And Jeers

Senators who offered important amendments and made pro-public education statements in the Senate HELP Committee’s ESEA mark-up.

Long Term Care "CLASS Act" Screeches to a Halt

Work on the long term care "CLASS Act" is to be suspended.

New Resources for Defending Pensions: Recent Studies on Retirement Plan Choices and Cost

The reports show that defined benefit (DB) plans are both highly attractive to employees AND also are more cost effective for employers and taxpayers.

Social Security recipients will get a 3.6% increase in benefits next year, their first raise since 2009, federal government officials announced on Wednesday.

"Let Us Make Sure this 3.6% Raise is not the Last Social Security COLA Ever" responded Alliance Executive Director Edward F. Coyle.