The Baltimore County Federation of Public Employees Local 4883 will be participating in the 24th Annual MSP Polar Bear Plunge this coming January 25, 2020, which means we will be jumping into the Chesapeake Bay in support of Special Olympics Maryland! But before we do, we need your help to reach our fundraising goal.
2020 promises to be an important year for AFT-Maryland locals, politically. The most noteworthy election will be for President of the United States, however there are a number of other elections that will be on the radar for Maryland public sector unions. In anticipation of the upcoming elections, AFT-Maryland’s political committee gathered for their December monthly meeting.
Low wage earners who work for Baltimore city will get a boost to owning homes in the city thanks to the work of the City Union of Baltimore. The union worked with elected officials to get a property tax credit through the General Assembly and now it has been introduced at the local level. This credit would give the lowest paid city employees a $2,500 property tax credit.
Members from the unions that make up AFT-Maryland joined with sisters and brothers of the AFL-CIO to pack boxes for union and community families in need this holiday season. The Metropolitan Baltimore AFL-CIO annually packs boxes of food and provides toys for families of union members and to the greater Baltimore community.
The Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant Program provides financial assistance to Massachusetts residents who are currently employed as paraprofessionals in Massachusetts public schools, but wish to become certified as full time teachers. This grant is designed to reduce their financial burden and help address the Commonwealth's current teacher shortage. Financial need is not a requirement for the Paraprofessional Teacher Preparation Grant. However, recipients must annually file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). For more information regarding this opportunity for paraprofessionals follow this link.
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In This Issue!
1) Earned MA/PhD Guides
2) Out of certification
3) How to protect your rights
4) Grand Jury Investigaing Newark Charter School
5) And More!
OFNHP's quarterly newsletter, The Heartbeat, is back with a brand new edition! Download the December 2019 issue here.
In this issue:
• Our new headquarters
• The union difference
• New bargaining units
• PeaceHealth news
• Kaiser news
• Political action update
• Weingarten rights
• Steward summit
• 2020 officer elections
• Workplace violence bill
In 2018 negotiations, the Alliance continued the protection and improvement of key benefits that have been part of every national agreement since 2000. Download flyers summarizing benefits for Alliance members in the Northwest.
Whether pursuing a short certificate or a PhD choosing an educational path that is right for you can be a challenge. Not all schools and programs offer the same level of quality or return on your investment. Recent Department of Education efforts to eliminate student protections, such as the gainful employment rule, have increased the risk to students that a school may not be worth the time and money they invest.
Borrower beware! Here are our top tips for choosing a school, use these and the other resources on this website to ensure your continuing education is high quality.
Shop around for the school that will offer you the best chance at success. Compare costs, graduation rates, and how much debt you will likely have to take on to complete the program. Use resources like the College Scorecard and College Navigator to compare schools.
Find out the total cost of the program and how you will pay for it. How much of the cost will be covered by grants, scholarships and other aid that does not have to be paid back? How much debt will you have taken on by the end of the program, and how much are you expected to pay out of pocket? Make sure the total cost includes tuition, fees, books and living expenses. Beware of signing documents without reading them in detail.
Some jobs may require specific accreditation or licensing requirements. Check for special requirements in your state.
Will your credits transfer and to which schools? Check to be sure the college you are considering is in good standing with its accreditor and is fully accredited.
Visit the school, talk to students in the program you are interested in, and talk to employers and alumni if possible.
Search for any red flags, including high default rates, financial instability, or a history of lawsuits or investigations. Google the school and read online reviews. Check the local Better Business Bureau. If there is pressure to enroll from school admissions representatives, know that this may be a red flag. Avoid promises about likelihood of employment and earnings after enrollment. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
On November 14, 2019, the BCFPE Executive Board voted unanimously to appoint Brother Philbert Christian and Sister Graceann Rehbein to vacant Area Vice President positions on the board, for the remainder of the current term.
