The American Federation of School Administrators believes that its locals and members must participate fully in the design, authorization, implementation, evaluation, and continuation of programs that extend the school day, school year, create alternative calendars and/or implement year-round school programs. The implementation of such programs must take into consideration salaries, collective bargaining agreements, due process, and established workplace rules and regulations.

The American Federation of School Administrators has reservations about the implementation and support for the public charter school movement. The Federation supports innovation in public school education, but has concerns that charter schools and other nontraditional school options may not provide the sustained reform that our nations public school require.

The American Federation of School Administrators believes that the learning process does not begin and end at the traditional school day. Students need to have adequate and appropriate adult supervision and guidance before and after school. Those students who have limited and/or no adult supervision before or after school need to have access to programs and services that can provide them that supervision, whether such programs be study-skill sessions, guidance, recreational activities and/or additional classroom instruction.

The American Federation of School Administrators believes that public school administrators and supervisors must be composed of individuals who meet the highest standards. The goal of those standards is to provide the highest quality education to all students. Such standards should include: recruitment; professional development; evaluation; effective practice and accountability. Therefore, to ensure the highest quality of standards, the establishment, the governance, and maintenance of must be done by members of the profession.

The American Federation of School Administrators believes that the federal government, state governments and local school boards must do more in the recruitment and retention of high quality school administrator and supervisors. The Federation urges such agencies to create specific programs designed to recruit and to retain high quality public school administrators and supervisors. The Federation feels strongly that the implementation of such programs must include local union input and participation as well as coordination with institutions of higher education.

The American Federation of School Administrators believes that it is the unions job to help promote excellence in our nations public schools. It is the Federations and its locals position that strong leadership is the cornerstone to effective public schools. Affiliates and members are encouraged to promote the highest standards for their staff, students and communities.

The American Federation of School Administrators believes that public school administrators and supervisors must receive specific leadership professional development in order to maintain the highest standards for public education. Such professional development programs must improve the knowledge and skills important to school leadership and provide the opportunity to learn and apply new practices and techniques. Such programs should be designed to ensure that administrators and supervisors have a decisive voice at every stage of planning, implementation, and evaluation.

The American Federation of School Administrators believes that strong mentoring programs designed to assist new and/or struggling public school administrators and supervisors can be beneficial to their professional careers. Such mentoring programs must be negotiated with the local affiliate and participation must being voluntary. The development, implementation and evaluation of such programs must be a joint effort between the school district and the local affiliate.

The American Federation of School Administrators believes that educating our nations children, youth and adults is one of the most important endeavors society can make. The opportunities that a free public education afford our nations citizens is a right that must be preserved and strengthened. The Federation believes that state governments and the federal government must maintain a strong public education system open to all students that helps to prepare them to become productive citizens. Therefore the Federation will take an active stand to defend and improve our nations public schools.