PLI Bulletin
Community Schools, Non-Verbal Persuasion, Teacher Pay and More
Posted on September 12, 2018
Resolution in Support of Community Schools: This resolution promotes community schools as a way to improve student achievement by providing services and programs that address out-of-school barriers to learning. The Resolution in Support of Community Schools can be adjusted to apply to states, cities, counties, towns or school boards.
The importance of non-verbal persuasion: How do you spend most of your time when preparing to give a speech? If you are like most advocates and policymakers, your answer is on the content or the words. You might even think the content is all that matters. But in fact, the words you say can be easily overridden by how you say them. For an explanation, read the latest IdeaLog, our blog intended to raise eyebrows and engage minds.
Strategies for Advancing Pregnant Workers Fairness: Monday, September 17 @ 1pm Eastern, Noon Central, 11am Mountain, 10am Pacific. This is a special video conference briefing from the National Women’s Law Center about ways to promote pregnant worker fairness legislation, especially in more conservative jurisdictions. To register for the webinar, click here.
Community Schools Playbook: This brand-new resource guide, which includes model legislation and messaging advice, comprehensively discusses the policy of Community Schools and details four key pillars: Integrated Student Supports, Expanded and Enriched Learning Time and Opportunities, Active Family and Community Engagement, and Collaborative Leadership and Practices.
Wage gap between public school teachers and other college graduates: Look first at the graphs in the Economic Policy Institute’s recent report “The teacher pay penalty has hit a new high.” In general, over the past 20 years, average teacher pay (adjusted for inflation) has declined while the pay of all other college graduates has increased by about ten percent. The wage gap is listed by state and the worst five are AZ, NC, OK, CO and VA.
The Progressive Agenda: The fifth annual edition of PLI’s Progressive Agenda for States & Localities provides more than 200 ideas for legislation on a very wide range of topics, from health and public safety to social services and voting.
Sex Education Act, Talking Environmental Issues, Legislative Review 2018 and More
Posted on August 30, 2018
Medically-Accurate Sex Education Act: As students return to classes, many are being mistaught “abstinence only.” Medically accurate sexuality education has been proven to help youth delay the onset of sexual activity, reduce the number...
Felony Threshold, Logical Fallacies, Gun Safety and More
Posted on August 16, 2018
Felony Threshold Reform Act: Felony theft is distinguished from misdemeanor theft by a monetary value. If the item stolen is worth more than, say $500, the crime is a felony while taking an item...
Hate Crimes, Education Messaging, Say Progressive, and More
Posted on August 2, 2018
Hate Crimes Prevention Act: Since the 2016 election, we have seen a wave of violence and threats against anyone who disagrees with the Radical Right. This will likely get worse. Right now, 45 states...
Wage Theft, Immigration Facts, Voter Turnout and More
Posted on July 18, 2018
Wage Theft Prohibition Acts: All states and many cities have the power to ban wage theft. The National Employment Law Project has a comprehensive booklet providing a wide variety of approaches. Four of the...
Civil Rights, Living Wage, Pharma Terms and More
Posted on July 3, 2018
Living Wage Act: Although most cities, towns and counties cannot set a minimum wage for all workers, they can and should legislate a minimum wage for their own employees and contractors. The Living Wage...
Subsidized Jobs Act, Progressive Narrative, City Energy Efficiency and More
Posted on June 19, 2018
Minimum Standards for Subsidized Jobs Act: Every year, cities and states award billions of dollars in subsidies to companies that create poverty-level jobs which, perversely, increase the need for government services, including public assistance...
Time Off to Vote, Fake vs Real News, Pharmacists Gag Rule and More
Posted on June 6, 2018
Time Off For Democracy Act: Broad participation in elections is essential to a healthy democracy, obviously. The Time Off For Democracy Act guarantees employees a minimum amount of paid leave to vote on Election...
Agency Diversity, Debate Proactively, Soda Tax and More
Posted on May 23, 2018
Public Agency Diversity Act: It is not unusual for officials in states and localities to find that particular government departments—often law enforcement agencies—lack diversity. The Public Agency Diversity Act requires a designated department, when...
E-cigarettes, Housing Crisis, Direct Mail and More
Posted on May 9, 2018
E-cigarette Smoke-Free Act: There has been a tremendous increase in vaping, especially by teenagers, and particularly with the E-cigarette device Juul. States and localities should protect both children and nonsmokers from the health risks...