WEAC: A History - Timeline

1853	Wisconsin Teachers Association forms in Madison.
1862	First law establishing teacher's certificates passed.
1913	First minimum teacher salary law passed - $40 per year.
1921	Fort Atkinson Teachers Association sues the Fort Atkinson School Board over student grade changing and wins the first Wisconsin teacher association suit against a school board.
1935	Wisconsin Teachers Association changes name to Wisconsin Education Association, or WEA.
1959	Wisconsin passes the nation's first collective bargaining law for public employees, including teachers.
1964	Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association (MTEA) becomes the first certified teachers' bargaining agent in Wisconsin.
1969	Ashwaubenon teachers are first WEA affiliate to strike.
1972	WEA reorganizes and changes name to WEAC, Wisconsin Education Association Council.
1972	The WEA Trust is formed.
1973	The Wisconsin UniServ system is created.
1973	The organization's first foray into electoral politics ends with a loss in the race for State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
1973	WEAC calls for a federal investigation of Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association policies concerning equity between boys' and girls' sports programs, leading to legislative reform within the next few years.
1973	WEAC's lobbying leads to a passage of the 13 Educational Standards bill, establishing that all teachers must be certified by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, that every school include kindergarten, special education, guidance counselors, and other measures.
1974	Eighty-eight percent of WEPAC's endorsed candidates win their elections, leaving little doubt as to the value and effectiveness of teacher political action.
1974	Hortonville Teachers strike begins.
1978	Mediation Arbitration Law, Senate Bill 15, takes effect and ushers in era of labor peace that lasts 15 years.
1985	WEAC successfully lobbies to increase the number of Wisconsin Educational Standards from 13 to 20, adding standards for testing and graduation , gifted and talented students, and accurate measuring of school personnel performance.
1993	Governor and Legislature impose revenue caps and the QEO, ending labor peace and undermining local school budgets.
1996	The SAGE class-size reduction program is pioneered in Wisconsin classrooms.
1996	WEAC halts the governor's attempted takeover of the Department of Public Instruction, eventually winning a 7-0 Wisconsin Supreme Court decision protecting DPI's independence.
1997	WEAC wins multi-million dollar lawsuit over governor's raid of public employee retirement funds, increasing the value of pensions for thousands of members and former members.
1999	WEAC Representative Assembly approves Great Schools.
2000	Wisconsin Supreme Court issues Vincent v. Voigt decision, establishing one of the highest standards in the nation for a child's right to a sound, basic education.

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