Six issues emerged as key areas of debate and knowledge sharing across panels and speakers. Each issue page below contains a summary of ideas and positions presented during the conference, along with illustrative video clips and quotes.
Scope
Collective bargaining is normally limited to issues of wages, hours, and working conditions. Should the scope of collective bargaining in education be expanded to include professional development and other inputs to student achievement, or is greater teacher professionalism better achieved outside of collective bargaining?
 Summary, video, quotes
Evaluation and Accountability
What kind of teacher evaluation is most effective in producing high-quality teachers? Should principals or peers hold the ultimate power? Should accountability be punitive, formative, or incentive-driven?
Summary, video, quotes
Student Achievement
Can teachers unions advocate for their members' welfare and students' achievement at the same time? How do you define student achievement and measure its connection with collective bargaining?
Summary, video, quotes
Community Involvement
The collective bargaining process could be enhanced by expanding the role of the community and other stakeholders.
Summary, video, quotes
Working Out Disagreements
For conversations and joint actions between traditional adversaries – union and management – to be productive, they need to be structured by protocols, processes, and incentives.
Summary, video, quotes
Institutional Roles
Policy-makers in state government and other institutions in addition to districts and unions have an important role: to create a climate and incentives that foster collaborative collective bargaining that supports student achievement.
Summary, video, quotes
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