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U.S. Senate Gets Second Chance To Help America's Public Schools
IN THIS ALERT
(1) U.S. SENATE GETS SECOND CHANCE TO HELP AMERICA'S PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Last week, the United States Senate voted to weaken our public schools by passing S. 1134, which would give federal tax subsidies to families that send their children to private and religious schools. In doing so, the Senate rejected measures that would have invested in school construction, class size reduction, and violence prevention.
However, the Senate now has a second chance to help America's schools. The United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee is in the process of reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Federal Government's primary means of supporting public education. ESEA includes such programs as Title 1, the Federal Government's largest aid initiative targeted at low-income students.
As currently written, the new ESEA bill includes a provision known as "Straight-As" that would cut many items that have helped to improve educational opportunities for students that need the most help. Even worse, Senator Gregg has proposed "portability" amendments that would further harm public schools by diverting to private and religious schools resources currently targeted to our neediest schools and students. PFAW expects that Democratic Committee members will offer corrective amendments that would strike the "Straight-As" provision and add much-needed school construction and class size reduction programs.
Please contact your Senators and urge them to vote against voucher and
voucher-like provisions such as "Straight-As" and "portability" and
to vote for school construction and class size reduction programs.
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(2) CONTACT YOUR SENATORS TODAY!
The Senate Health, Education, Labor And Pensions Committee has begun the process of reauthorizing the Elementary and Seconday Education Act, but the whole Senate will vote soon.
If either of your Senators is a member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, please contact that Senator immediately and urge him or her to vote against voucher and voucher-like provisions such as "Straight-As" and to vote for provisions such as school construction and class size reduction programs.
If your Senators are not members of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor And Pensions, please urge your Senators to contact committee members regarding the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
* Committee members are designated by an asterick.
[if you're a Californian:]
YOUR SENIOR SENATOR: Dianne Feinstein
FEEDBACK:
Please tell us how your call to Sen. Feinstein went:
http://www.pfaw.org/f/?membid=casr&issue=ESA-ESEA
Please tell us how your call to Sen. Boxer went:
http://www.pfaw.org/f/?membid=cajr&issue=ESA-ESEA
(3) SIGN OUR SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION PETITION
People For the American Way has launched a petition campaign to encourage Congress to pass a well-funded school construction program.
It's time to make a national commitment to strengthening our public schools and providing every child with access to a modern school and adequate facilities. Our nation's schools need fixing. A recent GAO report estimated that one third of our nation's public schools are in need of extensive repair. How can our children be expected to learn if their schools are falling apart around them?
You can take a stand in support of educational opportunities for all children by signing PFAW's school construction petition. Copies are available on the web at:
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(4) ABOUT PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY / SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
To join our email Activist Network, please go to:
(5) PLEASE SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS -- JOIN PEOPLE FOR THE AMERICAN WAY
To become a member of People For the American Way, please call 1-800-326-7329 or go to:
Donations to People For the American Way are not tax-deductible as charitable contributions or as business expenses under IRC Sec. 162(e).
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Last updated 3/15/2000 by Jean Richter, richter@eecs.Berkeley.EDU