Washington, D.C., February 4, 1999 --Representatives of fourteen major religious and education organizations today announced their support for Congressional reauthorization of Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and their intent to work together against the inclusion of vouchers and block grants in the program.

At a press conference held at the National Press Club, the group called for the reauthorization to remain true to the original purpose of Title I: to provide educational assistance to poor children, regardless of the kind of school they attend. Under the act, most of the funding goes to schools and school districts serving the highest concentration of poor children.

Jack Jennings, Director of the Center on Education Policy, observed: "This alliance of national public and private school groups sends a strong message to Congress to concentrate on making Title I the best possible program for all poor children and to put aside the divisive issues of block grants and vouchers."

"We are all committed to seeing that America's most disadvantaged, most vulnerable children get the extra help they need to meet high academic standards, regardless of whether they attend public, private, or parochial schools," said Sandra Feldman, President of the American Federation of Teachers. "Title I has helped level the educational playing field for poor kids across the country, and we must ensure that those funds continue to go where they are most needed."

"We believe that the passage of ESEA, and specifically Title I, was a major political and historical development that benefits American education Ð especially those students who are poor and most at risk educationally," said Rev. William Davis, OSFS, Representative for Catholic Schools and Federal Assistance at the United States Catholic Conference. "This legislation established a federal responsibility for improving elementary and secondary education for students no matter what school they attend Ð public, private, or religious. Our goal is to maintain and strengthen that commitment in this reauthorization."

Among the controversial issues expected during this reauthorization of Title I are proposals for a voucher program and efforts to turn Title I funds into block grants that will give states and districts broader discretion in the use of the funds.

"The risks with vouchers and block grants are great. Vouchers for a few would come at the expense of the many, and block grants open the door to diverting Title I funds away from poor children. Either way, poor children stand to lose," noted Feldman.

Those participating included: the American Federation of Teachers, US Catholic Conference, National Education Association, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, National Association of Independent Schools, Council of Chief State School Officers, National Catholic Education Association, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Association of Secondary School Principals, National School Boards Association, American Association of School Administrators, Council of the Great City Schools, American Montessori Society, and National Association of Episcopal Schools. The group released a joint statement in support of Title I, including a list of six principles they will push to see included in the final bill:

1. Reflects the "child benefit" principle of providing services designed to assist children, regardless of where they go to school.

2. Operates through a public trustee accountable for the fair and appropriate distribution of Title I funds to eligible children.

3. Requires that public, private and religious school officials continue to work together to provide benefits to poor and educationally disadvantaged children.

4. Directs substantial additional dollars to districts with the greatest number of poor and educationally disadvantaged children enrolled in public, private, and parochial schools.

5. Remains a categorical program that targets resources to the most disadvantaged children and also permits flexibility in the local use of these funds to meet the needs of children.

6. Requires that Title I funds supplement, not supplant, other education funds, whether federal, state or local.