NEA’S MESSAGE TO MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
ON THE REAUTHORIZATION OF ESEA
March 2011
THE FEDERAL ROLE: The role of the federal government in public education historically has been to serve as a catalytic and positive force for change and as a driver of equity. In partnership with states and districts, the federal government now should guarantee equal educational opportunity for all students and support school transformation.
THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION
The public education system is critical to democracy and its purpose is to:
- maximize the achievement, skills, opportunities, and potential of all students by promoting their strengths and addressing their needs
- ensure that all students are prepared to thrive in a democratic society and in a diverse and rapidly changing world as knowledgeable, creative, and engaged citizens and lifelong learners
HOW WILL WE FULFILL THE PURPOSE?
- CHAMPION STUDENT SUCCESS: Prepare All Students to Thrive in College, Careers, and Life
- Replace AYP with authentic accountability systems designed to improve learning, identify successful schools, and support struggling ones
- Ensure students can think critically, solve problems, and attain global competence
- Address needs of the whole student, and increase wraparound services to help them succeed
- Use multiple, valid sources of evidence of growth in student learning and school performance over time
- Support standards and assessments that are accessible for all students and that address the unique instructional and assessment needs of students with disabilities and English language learners
- Encourage high-quality longitudinal data systems that improve instruction and protect student and educator privacy
- Provide a clearinghouse for research and innovative promising practices to drive student success
- Encourage schools to engage parents, families, and communities as partners in students’ learning
- ELEVATE THE PROFESSION: Support Great Teachers and Education Support Professionals
- Help districts recruit and retain excellent teachers and education support professionals, especially in hard-to-staff schools
- Promote high standards and rigorous preparation for entry into the teaching profession
- Assist states in attracting top candidates to world-class teacher preparation programs
- Foster comprehensive systems of induction, mentoring and professional development for educators
- Ensure all schools have access to effective instructional leadership
- FIGHT FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE: Ensure Equitable and Safe Schools for Every Student
- Provide adequate, equitable and sustained funding for schools; fully fund critical programs like Title I and IDEA
- Provide sustained and targeted support and evidence-based intervention strategies for struggling or “priority” schools to close opportunity, achievement, and skills gaps and increase graduation rates
- Eliminate unsafe and inequitable treatment of students due to bullying, harassment, or discriminatory practices
- Require states and districts to submit Equity and Adequacy plans to eliminate disparities in educational opportunity
- Address unique needs of rural and frontier schools and students to ensure equal access to services and support
To view NEA’s comprehensive agenda and priorities for ESEA Reauthorization, go to: www.nea.org/esea
For additional information, please contact: Erin Duncan (EDuncan@nea.org), NEA Government Relations, or Robert Kim (RKim@nea.org) or Matt Finucane (MFinucane@nea.org), NEA Education Policy and Practice
