Federal Legislative Update

November 5, 1999

A weekly review of progress on the Quality Public Schools Agenda and other legislation that impacts our students, classrooms, and public education.

On Capitol Hill

PRESIDENT VETOED EDUCATION SPENDING BILL
Thirty-four days into the new fiscal year, there is still no budget agreement. The vetoed education-spending bill returns to Congress. Budget negotiations between Congress and the White House are now underway. Congressional Leadership is pressing for agreement and adjournment by November 10.

Of the 13 spending bills that make up the budget, four have yet to be approved by the President. The biggest of the four is the Labor, Health & Human Services (HHS) and Education Appropriations bill.

APPROPRIATIONS BILL FAILS AMERICA'S CHILDREN
"As it's written right now, this bill fails America's children and public education," NEA President Bob Chase says.

• Title I: The bill would cut Title I (reading and math) assistance for 120,000 of our neediest students. Current funding only provides academic support for one-third of eligible students.
• Smaller Classes vs. a Back-Door to Vouchers: HR 3064 provides no guarantee of continued funding for the 29,000 teachers hired this year with class size initiative dollars. It would allow class size reduction funds to be used for "any other local need that is designed to improve student performance." That extraordinarily broad authority--found in no other program--opens the door for using federal dollars to fund vouchers, an option the House voted down only a week ago.
• Teacher Quality: The bill fails to invest in proven teacher professional development practices.
• After-School Services: The bill provides only half the funds the President has requested, denying 400,000 students access to after-school programs.
• Gear Up: The bill underfunds this initiative to help young people have high expectations and take the right courses to go to college.

E-RATE DISCOUNTS FILING PROCESS STREAMLINED
Time for filing the second E-rate form, Form 471, Services Ordered and Certification Form, opens in early November and closes January 19, 2000. Applications received during this window period will be treated as if they were simultaneously received. Forms filed after the window period closes will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Form 470 and Form 471 Now Available: Call 1-888-203-8100 or download from the Schools and Libraries Division (SLD) web site. Go to http://www.sl.universalservice.org/reference/forms.asp
• Information on How Schools and Libraries Can Apply for E-rate Discounts on Telecommunications Services, Internet Access and Internal Connections: SLD web site http://www.universalservice.org/or Client Service Bureau, 1-888-203-8100 or Fax-on-Demand 1-800-959-0733.

THE UNFINISHED AGENDA
Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) - The House approved renewal of many of the 40+ programs in three separate bills. The 1999 Student Results Act (HR 2) renews the landmark Title I and selected other programs. The Teacher Empowerment Act (HR 1995) focuses on professional development programs. The Academic Achievement for All Act ( HR 2300), called "Straight A's," the Leadership's Flagship bill, invokes "flexibility" and redefines the federal/state partnership.

Both the Teacher Empowerment Act and Straight A's would consolidate ESEA funding into block grants that could be used for purposes unrelated to the original programs. Under the Straight A's bill, at the discretion of the governor and state legislature, funds could be used even for vouchers. The bills are unacceptable to NEA and the education community.

The Senate will not act on ESEA until next year. Seven of the nine-member majority on the Senate Health, Labor, Education and Pensions (HELP) Committee are pressing Chairman Jim Jeffords (VT) to include the House Teacher Empowerment Act (HR1995) and Academic Achievement for All Act (Straight A's, HR 2300) before submitting a Senate proposal to the committee. Go to www.nea.org/lac/ESEA.

NEWS FROM THE STATES: CHARTER SCHOOLS

Michigan: A Michigan State University study of the state's school-choice programs released findings and recommendations.

The study's findings:

• Charter schools mainly cater to low-cost elementary students in urban districts.
• Charters offer new approaches to school governance and management.
• Most charters do not offer innovative programs.
• Competition spurs public schools to improve.

The study's recommendations:

• The state should provide a solid education for children in failing districts.
• Charter management companies must allow more public oversight.
• Charters need more help in acquiring buildings, technology.

In Michigan, the state pays all schools the same per pupil tuition, $6000. Because younger children are cheaper to educate than teenagers who require extensive libraries, laboratories and specialized teachers, most charter school organizers have chosen to open elementary schools.

Three-quarters of the charter schools offer no special-education services. The few that do enroll special-needs students provide them with fewer and less costly services than nearby public schools. This year, some 50,000 Michigan students may be in the state's 138 charter schools, giving Michigan the third-largest charter school population, after Arizona and California.

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