Transforming Teacher Unions to Become Agents of Reform

Teacher Union Reform Network is a union-led effort to restructure the nation's teachers unions to promote reforms that will ultimately lead to better learning and higher achievement for all students. The primary goal of TURN is to create new union models that can take the lead in building and sustaining effective schools for all students. Because teachers are closest to students, to the learning process, and because of their link to parents and the larger communities, we are in a unique position to stimulate the necessary changes.

Critical to creating new union models is developing a network of reformers to share ideas and create mutual systems of support. TURN leaders convene at least three meetings each year to share ideas and knowledge. We have also created an electronic network (The TURN exCHANGE) to extend and deepen our conversations and our work. Currently, TURN's work focuses on the development and implementation of the Local Action Plans, strategic road-maps aimed at changes that would lead to improved student learning. Each Local Action Plan addresses the following directions: collaboration with other stakeholders; engagement of members and other partners; promoting union changes and increasing locals' capacity to implement these goals; and linking all reforms to improved student learning.

TURN has received funding and in-kind support from the American Federation of Teachers; the Center for Policy Research in Education; the MacArthur Foundation; the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future; the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles; the Pew Charitable Trusts; U.S. Department of Education (OERI); the National Education Association; and TURN member locals.