I received a registered letter not that long ago from a veteran who was frustrated over NYSUT's inability to achieve total tier equity and full pension credit for military service. The letter came only a few days before our highly successful Committee of 100, where "100 x 6'" local leaders walk the halls of the Capitol, meeting with legislators and explaining why legislation is needed to create equity, correct errors, enhance basic benefits and right wrongs in existing legislation, regulations and funding.

Of course, I certainly understand the frustration of the retiree who experiences the inequities that still need to be corrected. But I also know how successful we have been in influencing what happens in Albany. Recent press coverage has referred to us as "the gorilla" (New York Post) that controls Albany and "one of the most powerful interest groups in Albany" (New York Times). And, while we have much to be proud of, we also understand there is much to be done and that we have a long road ahead of us.

The unfinished agenda goes beyond pension equity issues. It includes funding inequities, the full and appropriate funding of higher education, school safety and health care, to name a few. And, of course, it includes ending the achievement gap.

Our October conference, "Every Child Counts: A symposium dedicated to ending the gap," was a major step in addressing that piece of the unfinished agenda — a priority for NYSUT as an organization. Since that conference, we have been carrying the themes around the state through newspaper editorial boards (six and counting), radio interviews, commentary and op-eds. And, each time, we stressed what we believe to be the most pressing issue facing education today: providing equal educational opportunities for all children.

While we've been sharing our message about the gap with just about anyone else who will listen, it's particularly pleasing that the word is getting out to smaller — often rural — communities. In the minds of too many people, the achievement gap is dismissed as an urban, inner-city problem. But, as we all know from experience, and as we discussed at our extraordinary conference, that isn't the case.

As you know, most of our public schools are very successful. But there are still some students in communities across New York who struggle even before they start school. They start out behind and never catch up. This resulting gap in achievement is most pronounced for students living in poverty. As we all know, too often children of poverty are children of color. And, yes, it is a gap found in rural, suburban and urban school settings.

Our symposium in the fall included the voices and ideas of more than 400 community leaders and key stakeholders in education, government and business and emphasized the need to put the problem of the gap high on the agenda of every participant and the constituencies they represent.

Stepping up

I am very proud of how NYSUT's leaders, members and staff have stepped up to enthusiastically embrace closing the gap as a long-term commitment. As I've said before, the gap is central to just about everything we do as we formulate policy, lobby for resources and advocate for our professions. At the same time — and, I like to think, in part thanks to our efforts — others in education, health care and government have come to realize that ending the gap is vital to spurring an economic and social resurgence in New York state.

NYSUT recently released to the public a report generated from the symposium. Not only does this report summarize the conference discussions and presentations, it also spells out in simple terms the key themes that we believe provide the foundation for action to, once and for all, end the gap and ensure educational equity for all our children.

Those themes are:

• expanding pre-K and other early childhood programs and encouraging more school districts to take advantage of funding for such programs;
• creating high — and consistent — expectations for all students, in school, at home, at work and in the media;
• fixing (or abandoning if necessary) the No Child Left Behind Act to make assessments more meaningful and to improve instruction;
• pursuing partnerships with parents by welcoming them into our classrooms, encouraging two-way conversations and accommodating their schedules when possible;
• investing in school-based health clinics to address health problems that can prevent children from learning;
• continuing the discussion about the gap with all stakeholders;
• using research-based educational reform programs to sustain and replicate student achievement. In difficult economic times, we must ensure that scarce resources are devoted to programs that work;
• being open to bold approaches, including restructuring, school choice and reconfiguring the school day and school year;
• recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers and administrators, especially in those districts that are traditionally difficult to staff; and
• using NYSUT's continued activism and commitment to promote change and spur progress.

'Do one thing'

Like health care reform and pension protection and equity, ending the achievement gap has many facets and will require a long-term commitment. One conference, symposium or lobby day won't achieve these unfinished agenda items, and no one committed to real change should honestly expect that they would.

Ending the achievement gap is a challenging and, in some ways, controversial agenda. Many of the themes listed have been championed by NYSUT for years. Others make good common sense. And still others will force all of us to take a second look at some long-held positions. They will require flexibility and creativity.

But we really have no choice. This is our commitment, it is the right commitment and we must be open to bold, innovative solutions. To be champions of the status quo would be irresponsible — not in the best interests of our members and their professions, and certainly not in the best interests of our students and their families.

In my opening remarks last fall, I challenged symposium participants — in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt — to "do one thing every day that scares you," to consider "what might work instead of what doesn't work." From my visits to your classrooms and from hearing directly from members and local leaders from around the state, I know that you're committed to this agenda.

Together, we have stepped up. Now it's time to move forward.

(The Executive Summary from the Every Child Counts symposium can be viewed and downloaded at http://www.nysut.org/ or http://www.endingthegap.com/. DVDs featuring symposium speakers and other highlights are available, free of charge, for up to five copies for non-commercial uses, at orders@nysutmail.org.)