TCA/TSCA
GOVERNMENT RELATIONS/ADVOCACY
2008 COMMITTEE REPORT
Revised November 20, 2008
CHAIRPERSON: Randy McPherson, EdD, LPC, NCSC, NBCT, GCDF, HPCDF
The primary focus of the Advocacy /Government Relations Committees continues to be the promotion of National Board Legislation for School Counselors. To that end, TCA we continue to work closely with TEA, NBCC, NBPTS, and the Tennessee Legislature on passage of comprehensive NB Legislation.
Currently, an expanding array of school districts in Tennessee offer salary supplements and varied support systems for teachers and school counselors achieving National Board Certification (NBCT) through NBPTS. TEA sponsored legislation seeks to offer a state-supported salary supplement and fee support system recognizing both NBCC (NCSC) and NBPTS (NBCT) certificants.
During the 2007-08 Legislative Session, three bills remained active supporting NB legislation. The TEA sponsored HB1735/SB0782 bill was once again “Placed Behind The Budget” which means that no final action was taken because our bill was not listed in the Governors’ budget. No funds were allocated during a year where there was a significant deficit. Since we are at the end of the two-year legislative cycle, all bills will be introduced as new legislation.
We are seeking an audience with the Governor to present the merits of NB. We will be armed with the most positive research on NBCTs; recently released following the US Department of Education commissioned independent study on student success rates. Overwhelming evidence was revealed in a national study showing NB Certified educators influence student success rates above educators who are not board certified.
Efforts to pass the legislation included working closely with lobbyist, key senate and house members of the Finance and Education Committees, a visit to the capitol to provide literature to committee members, an extensive e-mail network, and letters & phone calls from counselors and teachers around the state.
An exciting opportunity was presented through an invitation to be the National Board Legislative State Team Leader in Washington, DC on July 15-17, 2008. A day of advocacy training, a night of planning, and a day of appointments with the US Senate and House of Representatives was a huge success. We were received well in House and Senate offices and met with plenty of well-wishes for our efforts. Already we have been able to increase federal funding by $1,000,000 which translates into more support and opportunities in Tennessee. We seek their influence in creating additional funding at the state level.
The committee chair plans to continue presenting sessions on NB Certification and Lobbying opportunities at the TCA annual meeting and other related groups. TEA will conduct the year-end board meeting the first week of December. All indications point to a renewed commitment by TEA to recommend and support legislation implementing a state-funded stipend for successful NBCTs and extend support systems to candidates. Any new bill presented for the new 2009-2010 legislative session will be announced when authorship is complete.
We remain conscious of a deteriorating economic climate which makes funding new program a challenge.