Weekly Legislative Highlights: December 3 through December 7, 2007
Updated December 7, 2007
*New Co-Sponsor for NCLB Improvements Act
*Funding Update
*U.S. DOE begins new round of Highly Qualified Teacher monitoring
*New Co-Sponsor for NCLB Improvements Act
Congressional support for NSBA’s recommendations to improve NCLB continues to grow. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) is the latest among the 10 Republicans and 9 Democrats to sign on as a co-sponsor of H.R. 648, the NSBA-backed No Child Left Behind Improvements Act of 2007, which includes more than 40 provisions for improving the law based on feedback and input from school boards throughout the country. NSBA continues to urge Congress to reauthorize ESEA / NCLB in 2008 and ensure that the provisions in H.R. 648 are included.
For more information on NSBA’s NCLB co-sponsorship campaign, visit www.nsba.org/nclbcampaign, where you may download a copy of the sample resolution in support of H.R. 648 and view the growing list of school boards that have passed a resolution. Why pass a resolution? NSBA has found that members of Congress are more enthusiastic about supporting the provisions in NSBA's bill to improve NCLB (H.R. 648) when they see that their school districts have formally taken action in support of it.
*Funding Update
House and Senate Appropriations leaders are currently renegotiating Fiscal Year 2008 appropriations for education after the President vetoed the original funding bill (H.R. 3043) on November 13, and the House failed to override the veto. View the roll call for the vote. It is likely that education funding will be included in a consolidated appropriations bill along with funding for other domestic programs. The House and Senate could consider the legislation as early as December 12.
NSBA’s goal is to reject any cuts to education and ensure that the $2.6 billion increase initially proposed for Title I, IDEA and other K-12 programs is included in a final FY08 funding bill. If Congressional leaders cannot agree upon a final appropriations bill, it is likely that the current Continuing Resolution (which is set to expire on December 14) will be extended throughout January 2008. The Continuing Resolution maintains FY07 funding levels for education programs.
*U.S. DOE begins new round of Highly Qualified Teacher monitoring
The Department of Education has started a new round of monitoring states’ progress in meeting the Highly Qualified Teacher requirements within the No Child Left Behind Act and is posting those reports online. In addition to looking at progress in meeting the HQT requirements, the Department also is reviewing how states utilize NCLB Title II, Part A funds to prepare, retain, and recruit quality teachers and principals.