CEC Policy Insider

Urge Congress Fix the Cut to IDEA! These Funds Are Needed Now

In the end of September, states were notified that their IDEA allocations were less than had been previously thought.  This was a surprise to states around the nation. What we now know is that in the last funding bill passed by Congress (a continuing resolution (CR) or short term measure meant to fund programs just for a short time – here until November 18), contained a 1.5 percent across-the board cut for all programs.

NCLB no more? The Senate Drafts its Own ESEA

Its looks like the much maligned title of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive education law “No Child Left Behind” might soon be gone, and along with it many of that law’s most controversial components. Last week, the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee voted 15-7 to pass NCLB’s replacement bill, named the Elementary and Secondary Education Amendments Act out of Committee and to the floor.

CEC Member David Chard Nominated as member for the National Board for Education Sciences

Last week, President Obama announced the nomination of CEC member Dr. David Chard for a member position on the Board of Directors of the National Board for Education Sciences. Chard is a member of CEC and served as the President for the Division for Research of the Council for Exceptional Children. He currently serves as the Leon Simmons Endowed Dean and a Professor at the Southern Methodist University's Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development since 2007. His most recent positions included Associate Dean of the College of Education at the University of Oregon from 2005 to 2007, Director of Middle-Secondary Education at the University of Oregon from 2000 to 2003, and Director of Research and Evaluation of the Texas Center for Reading and Language Arts from 1997 to 2000. He also worked as a Peace Corps volunteer, serving as a teacher in Lesotho, Africa.

ESEA/NCLB Reauthorization: Is it really happening?

Wednesday, October 18, 2011, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee will begin real work on its draft of the bill that will replace No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and will be known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Amendments Act.

Last Tuesday, Senator Harkin (D-IA), Chair of the HELP Committee released a copy of the proposed reauthorization – all 860 pages of it. Notably, however, Senator Enzi (R-MT), the ranking member of the Committee did not sign onto that draft.

Senate Introduces Legislation to Save Teacher Jobs!

Yesterday, Sens. Reid (D-NV), Menendez (D-NJ) and Casey (D-PA) introduced The Teachers and First Responders Back to Work Act. This new bill contains a provision from the American Jobs Act, which CEC also supports, that “provides $35 billion to create or protect nearly 400,000 education jobs, while preventing the layoffs of thousands of cops and firefighters.”

This important legislation will provide much needed funding to assist schools across the nation to continue to provide essential services to all students. The legislation is well crafted to provide schools the flexibility they need to continue to employ teachers and other specialized instructional support personnel to educate diverse students – those with disabilities and/or gifts and talents, and ensure they receive the services to which they are entitled. Moreover, it is not just teachers, but any public school K-12 employee, who can be hired/rehired/retained with these funds.

It is not clear when the Senate will vote on this measure, but Senator Reid wants a vote this week. Read Senator Reid’s comments from the floor yesterday: Reid: Democrats Are Committed To Putting Teachers And First Responders Back To Work.

Take action now! CEC’s Legislative Action Center provides you with a draft letter that you can sent to your Senators – it only takes a few clicks of the mouse! Together we can make a difference! Visit CEC's Legislative Action Center today!

Join CEC and urge the Senate to vote for this bill!