National PTA Children First | Legislative Directives

Legislative Program

Directives:

Public Education

Parent Involvement

Funding

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

Program

Resources

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National PTA ESEA Document

Elementary and Secondary Education Act

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, a law that affects nearly every school district in the nation, will expire on September 30, 1999. ESEA was last reauthorized in 1994 in the Improving America's Schools Act (IASA), and the law is sometimes referred to by this name. Congress will review the more than 40 programs within this comprehensive, $12 billion law and debate changes that could dramatically alter the way these programs operate.

ESEA programs supplement state and local efforts to provide educational opportunities to all children and are targeted to address specific national concerns. This partial list of programs contained in ESEA gives an idea of their breadth and importance to the nation's schools and children.

Title I, which improves the educational attainment of low-achieving children
professional development for teachers and school staff o bilingual education
school based before- and after-school programs
safe and drug-free school education programs
technology programs
programs that support local school reforms

Title I outlines a number of steps each school and local education agency must take to ensure effective involvement of parents and to support a partnership between the school, the parents, and the community in improving student achievement. This model must be fully supported and replicated in other areas of ESEA, as well as other education programs. Research shows the positive connection between parent and family involvement and student success.

Reauthorization must require accountability for how federal education dollars are spent and retain the targeted focus of programs based on educational and economic needs. Further, ESEA must help schools, school districts, and states build their own capacity to offer a quality education for all students by providing parent and community involvement, professional development, before-and-after school care, integrated services, safe environments, and modernized school facilities.

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