Weekly Legislative Highlights: July 30 through August 3, 2007
*August Congressional Recess Packet: Make a Difference Now for Your School District
*SCHIP Passes; Kennedy Amendment on School-Based Claiming Not Offered
*NCLB Resolutions Campaign Continues – 423 School Boards Passed Resolution
*Congress Expected to Pass Competitiveness Bill with Education Provisions
*Congressional Calendar
August Congressional Recess Packet: Make a Difference Now for Your School District
You will receive a copy of the August Congressional recess packet in the mail next week, complete with background information and tools for contacting your members of Congress while they are home in the district/state this month about 1) the importance of fixing NCLB and reauthorizing the law now and 2) increasing federal funding for Title I and IDEA (special education). Go to www.nsba.org/advocacy to view a copy in advance or share it with others.
SCHIP Passes; Kennedy Amendment on School-Based Claiming Not Offered
Before leaving for their August recess, both the House and Senate passed bills to reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The House approved their measure by a vote of 225-204; while the Senate passed their bill 68-31.
NSBA had sought to attach language to the Senate bill to impose a one year moratorium on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) from making any changes or regulation shifts in school-based Medicaid claiming. As reported in last week’s Legislative Highlights, it is anticipated that CMS will publish a rule in the coming days to eliminate reimbursement under the Medicaid program for school‑based administration expenditures and certain transportation costs for services provided to low-income children with disabilities. Senator Kennedy, who has introduced stand-alone legislation to protect these reimbursements, was expected to offer the amendment to the SCHIP bill (S. 1893); however, it was not accepted by party leaders due to concerns over a monetary offset for the amendment.
Thank you to all federation members and school board members who contacted their Senators on the issue! While the Kennedy amendment was ultimately not voted on, school board members’ letters and calls to their Senators certainly helped to show support for protecting the ability of school districts to claim reimbursement for these services, which will be helpful as legislators work to reconcile differences between the two bills in conference (the House bill already contains a moratorium provision). In addition, the numerous contacts made with the Hill may have helped to stave off CMS action.
NCLB Resolutions Campaign Continues – 423 School Boards Passed Resolution
If a school board has not yet passed a resolution endorsing the provisions contained in HR 648, the No Child Left Behind Improvements Act, there is still time! NSBA is requesting that all school boards pass a resolution no later than their August board meeting. To join the other 423 school boards that passed a resolution, visit www.nsba.org/nclbcampaign to download a copy of a sample resolution and link NSBA’s Legislative Action Center to write to your members of Congress about the resolution. View the list of school districts that passed a resolution!
Congress Expected to Pass Competitiveness Bill with Education Provisions
Legislation to improve math and science education passed the House on Thursday, August 2 and is expected to pass the Senate before members leave for their congressional recess. The America COMPETES bill (H.R. 2272), the culmination of a year and a half-long, bipartisan effort to address American competitiveness, includes a number of education provisions aimed at improving teacher quality and increasing opportunities for students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.
The conference agreement seeks to improve teacher quality in high-need schools, by authorizing scholarships of up to $10,000 a year for three years for prospective teachers to earn a bachelor’s degree in STEM fields with a concurrent teaching credential. The legislation also boosts professional development, mentoring and induction programs for teachers of these subjects, and encourages existing teachers to further develop their knowledge and skills through financial assistance toward master’s degree programs.
In addition, H.R. 2271 authorizes new grant programs to expand access to AP and IB classes, enhance math education in elementary and middle schools, and assist states in implementing programs for secondary schools. These programs would provide additional resources to help districts develop and sustain AP and IB curricula, implement rigorous math curriculum, hire qualified staff, expand targeted professional development, and supply instructional materials and assessments.
The legislation also includes a pilot program of grants to states to help establish or expand statewide specialty high schools in STEM education; a program to provide internship opportunities and summer institutes for low-income middle and high-school students at the national labs, and competitive grants to states to promote better alignment of elementary and secondary education with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in higher education and in the 21st century workforce.
View a copy of the letter NSBA sent to the House and Senate on August 2 regarding the education provisions in the COMPETES Act on the Competitiveness section of the NSBA website.
Congressional Calendar
Congress will be in recess for the month of August. The House and Senate will reconvene on September 4, 2007 and the weekly highlights will resume on September 7.