The passage of California's Proposition 226 will bring a greater degree of national publicity to the issue, which will in turn build momentum for many other similar state initiatives that will be voted on later in the year. The legal investigation into the WEA's political fundraising, spearheaded by the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, is ongoing. Wyoming became the third state to pass a paycheck protection measure in March 1998. Both Houses of the Wyoming legislature approved legislation making it illegal for labor unions to force members to give contributions to political causes or politicians without the written consent of individual union members. Gov. Jim Geringer has promised to sign the measure.
Many more states are likely to enter the fray.
House Bill 1968 would preclude private and public employees from making any payroll deductions that would support any candidate, separate fund, political action committee, legislative campaign fund, political party, or ballot issue. Luzier, a veteran teacher from Florida, appeared before a handful of members of the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education. Luzier explained the development of the PTA's six national standards for parent and family involvement. These standards are now being marketed to PTA members and others in hopes of having the standards adopted and implemented by school districts. The standards include promoting consistent communication between home and school, supporting parent skills development, urging parental roles in student learning, training volunteers, encouraging parents to become full partners in school decision making, and collaborating with the community.