Members Only
Legislation
No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks. 
-- James Allen
Legislation
You can also download these priorities here:
Long version
Short version
2008 MSTA Legislative Priorities
State Issues
Funding the foundation formula
Resolution:
The MSTA calls upon the State Board of Education
to request and the members of the General Assembly to appropriate sufficient funding to fully fund the foundation formula.
The MSTA supports prioritizing the use of increased general revenue to go first toward the school foundation formula program and second to categorical programs.
Statewide minimum salary schedule
Resolution: The MSTA urges the members
of the Missouri General Assembly to recognize public education as its top priority
and provide financial support through the appropriations process in keeping with
that priority.
The MSTA recognizes that educators’ salaries are a major factor in the struggle to recruit and retain educators.
The MSTA demands a minimum statewide salary schedule funded by the state of Missouri.
The MSTA supports legislation that requires school districts to accept all creditable years of teaching experience when being placed on the salary schedule.
Professional negotiations
Resolution:
The MSTA supports local boards of education adopting a policy that outlines a process for input and feedback
from school employees at all levels regarding salary, working conditions, employment benefit issues, personnel policies and appropriate student-related issues. The process should result in written statements of consensus and written
statements of unresolved issues. A time line to review unresolved issues should
be established.
Such policies should require local board policy to provide for representation by organizations, and at no time shall an exclusive representative be selected that excludes an employee organization or individual employee from the input process. In addition, such legislation should stipulate that at no time shall membership in any organization be a condition of employment or continued employment, nor may any fee for representation be required of an employee.
The MSTA strongly opposes strikes, blue flu and other tactics that could interrupt the instruction of students.
The MSTA believes teachers, administrators and boards of education share the common goal of providing the highest quality educational opportunity possible for each student. To help attain this goal, the MSTA urges the enactment of legislation that will ensure school districts adopt policies to facilitate effective communication among these groups.
Retirement
Resolution: The MSTA supports the repeal of the 10
percent cap on salary increases during the final average salary period.
Federal Issues
Protect retirement and Social Security benefits
Resolution: The MSTA strongly protests and opposes any efforts
by the state or federal government to group the teachers’ retirement system funds with Social Security funds.
The MSTA strongly opposes the plans that have deprived, or any plans that would deprive, teachers of their earned benefits accrued by participation in the Social Security system, including any they could be entitled to through a spouse.
The MSTA strongly supports the elimination or modification of the Social Security offset provision that reduces or eliminates a spouse or survivor Social Security benefit from a husband or wife whose work was covered by Social Security.
The MSTA strongly opposes the Social Security windfall benefits law that can reduce an accrued Social Security benefit.
Provide more flexibility in the federal oversight of education
Resolution: The MSTA supports allowing states flexibility to design accountability systems that go beyond just scores on statewide assessments.
The MSTA supports having appropriate assessments for students with disabilities and for students who are English Language Learners.
The MSTA supports targeting for interventions in the schools those students who are not proficient.
The MSTA supports ensuring that state accountability systems are fair and accurate measures of student progress and achievement for all students.
The MSTA encourages the federal government to implement an accountability system that gives credit for progress and/or proficiency.
The MSTA encourages the federal government to create Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) levels that distinguish struggling schools from those needing limited assistance.
The MSTA supports allowing more than one year to implement plans before subjecting schools or districts to additional sanctions.
MSTA opposes
MSTA opposes school vouchers or education tax credits
Resolution:
The MSTA opposes legislation that would give tax credits for scholarships, tuition or vouchers to private schools or voucher plans that would divert public funds to pay for private-school tuition.
MSTA opposes merit pay
Resolution: The MSTA opposes legislation to promote any use of merit pay, including the use of standardized test scores or other subjective criteria as a measurement of teacher performance
or to determine future salary increases.