― SEPTEMBER ―
EARLY VOTING IS HAPPENING NOW
Louisiana's early voting period runs from Saturday, September 25th through Saturday, October 5th (except September 29th), so you have the chance to vote now, in advance of election day on October 12th. This year's elections are incredibly important for Louisiana's future. Not only is the Governor up for re-election, but so is the entire Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), as well as a number of important house and senate races.
BESE members have the ability to impact our schools more than any other state-wide elected official. They hire the State Superintendent of Education; they adopt rules and regulations that generally govern the operation of public schools/school districts; and they propose the state-funding formula for public K-12 schools. To learn more about the importance of BESE, watch our video.
LFT'S ENDORSEMENTS
This year, LFT has endorsed 75 candidates from around the state who have each demonstrated their commitment to supporting the public education issues that impact our schools, our teachers, and our students.
“LFT’s only priority when endorsing candidates is whether or not they will support the work our members do every day in Louisiana Public Schools. We aren’t concerned about Democrat or Republican, only their commitment to public education. We have to ask: will this candidate uphold the values of public education and ensure every school is the best it can be?” said Larry Carter, President of Louisiana Federation of Teachers and School Employees.
CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO LFT HAS ENDORSED ON YOUR BALLOT.
BESE Candidate Forums
This fall, LFT has once again partnered with the Louisiana Association of Educators, the Louisiana Association of Principals, the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, the Louisiana School Boards Association, and the Louisiana Retired Teachers Association. Together, we are the Louisiana Public School Coalition and we have been hosting a series of candidate forums across the state to highlight the importance of the upcoming BESE elections. These forums have given voters across the state a chance to meet their candidates and ask them their hard questions. We still have a few forums left:
If you missed your district's candidate forum, watch it here.
THE POWER OF YOUR PENSION
This month, the Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana (TRSL) published a series about the importance of your pension. TRSL is the state's largest retirement system, and has served Louisiana educators for more than 80 years. Through your pension, you are guaranteed a lifetime income. That earned benefit is supposed to be secured in the Louisiana Constitution, but time and again lawmakers have tried to chip away at the money you and your colleagues have set away. Understanding your retirement is the first step towards protecting it.
In November, TRSL will host a webinar aimed at making sure mid-career educators have all the information they need to ensure they have a secure path to retirement.
HELP AFT MAKE AN ENDORSEMENT
As the presidential elections inch closer and the field of candidates gets more and more competitive, AFT members are engaging, parsing campaign platforms, asking questions of the candidates, and voicing their priorities as teachers and support staff. Thus far, the AFT has hosted eight AFT Votes town halls in eight different locations across the country, giving members the opportunity to meet candidates in person and hear about their stands on education, working families, healthcare and other top-line issues. More town halls are being scheduled.
The town halls are part of the AFT’s robust endorsement process—a process designed to get candidates in front of AFT members and to ensure the highest level of AFT member participation ever. The process gives members opportunities to learn about presidential candidates and assess whose policies and proposals best reflect our values.
To help engage members ever more, AFT wants YOU to complete this Presidential Survey. It will give your leadership in D.C. a better idea about the issues which matter most to you as a Louisiana educator.