OPPOSE INCLUSION OF THE HOUSE-PASSED GRAHAM/TIARHT
AMENDMENT IN THE FINAL ESEA REAUTHORIZATION BILL
July 20, 2001 Dear Conferee: The undersigned organizations, representing parents, educators, health professionals, pupil services personnel, principals, and education advocates urge you to oppose inclusion of the House-passed Graham/Tiahrt amendment in the final version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization bill (HR 1). The Graham/Tiahrt amendment language takes the unprecedented step of requiring parental access to review curriculum and prior parental consent for any non-emergency medical, psychological, or psychiatric examination, testing or treatment of the student. Local, state, and federal education funding could be sanctioned if schools fail to meet this parental consent requirement. We believe that this amendment, under the false guise of parental rights, will jeopardize the mental and physical health of elementary and secondary students; limit critical research on youth; and infringe on the local control of local education agencies (LEA) and communities to develop appropriate curriculum and services for students.
Once again, we urge you to oppose inclusion of the House-passed Graham/Tiahrt amendment language in the final ESEA reauthorization bill. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Jamie Pueschel, American Association of University Women, at 202/785-7730. Sincerely, American Association of School AdministratorsAmerican Association of University Women American Counseling Association American Education Research Association American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO American Psychological Association American Speech-Language-Hearing Association American School Counselor Association Association of Educational Service Agencies Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Center for Women Policy Studies Council for Exceptional Children Council of Chief State School Officers Council of Great City Schools Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network Myra Sadker Advocates National Alliance of Black School Educators National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity National Association of Collegiate Women Athletic Administrators National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators National Association for Girls and Women in Sport National Association of School Psychologists National Association of Secondary School Principals National Association of Social Workers National Coalition for Sex Equity in Education National Council of La Raza National Council of Teachers of English National Education Association National Parent Teacher Association National Rural Education Association National School Boards Association New York City Board of Education Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays Research Society on Alcoholism School Social Work Association of America United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries United States Student Association Women's Sports Foundation |
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