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: BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog

Board members tell Congress help is needed

Tight budgets, rising fuel costs, federal funding shortfalls and a flawed No Child Left Behind Act are all contributing to difficult times for local school boards. This was the message that Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT) heard from school board members back home this weekend in a meeting organized by the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. ?The way fuel costs are headed right now, our budgets are in deep trouble,? said Charlie Jaskiewicz, chairman of the Norwich Board of Education. ?Being able to talk about what's happening in your district ? that gets through to politicians,? said Courtney, a member of the House Education and Labor Committee. ?You're actually there talking about what's happening back home.? BoardBuzz couldn't agree more. It is incumbent on school board members to keep their members of Congress informed throughout the year on their districts' accomplishments and challenges, as well as what they need from Congress. Get the facts and tools to make your case at NSBA's Advocacy website. Here's a needs-completion list for Congress: 1) fix the flaws in NCLB; the comprehensive H.R. 648 contains key improvements and strong support from local boards; 2) increase federal funding for Title I and IDEA by $2.5 billion each and oppose diverting dollars to private schools via vouchers; and, 3) protect districts' ability to receive reimbursement for providing services to Medicaid-eligible children with disabilities. One way to do that is by urging your Representative to support H.R. 5613, which would impose a moratorium until April 2009 on administration plans to end reimbursements to districts. The bill cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee last week and could reach the House floor Tuesday. Stay engaged on these issues via NSBA's Legislative Action Center.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on April 21, 2008 (boomark / email).