| Statement by NEA President Bob Chase in response to Senate refusal to fund class size initiative
On March 11, the U.S. Senate defeated an amendment to the "Ed
Flex" bill that would have authorized full funding over six years
for the hiring of 100,000 new teachers to reduce class sizes. (The
initial appropriation of $1.2 billion is part of the FY99 budget,
which takes effect July 1). The vote was along strict party lines --
55-44. The Senate also approved an amendment by Senate Majority Leader
Trent Lott that would allow states to spend their share of the $1.2
billion in class size reduction money on IDEA (Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act) if they so choose. That vote was 60-39,
with five Democrats joining the Republican majority. The House has already passed its own version of Ed Flex, and the
two versions are now headed for conference committee, where NEA will
be lobbying to have the Lott amendment dropped. On March 11, NEA
President Bob Chase issued the following statement: We are deeply disappointed with the House and Senate votes to reject
authorizing full funding to hire 100,000 new teachers to reduce class
sizes nationwide. We are equally disappointed with the Senate's approval of Sen.
Lott's amendment allowing class size funding to be diverted to special
education. The Senate is asking America's schools to make a false choice
between smaller class sizes and additional funding for special
education. In fact, both are important priorities, and both need
additional funding in order to best serve our students. Forcing school districts to choose between smaller class sizes and
special education will only dilute the effort to strengthen both
programs. Smaller class sizes should be a non-partisan issue.Yet today's
Senate vote rejecting full authorization of class size funding is a
strong indication that a majority in Congress apparently are willing
to renege on last fall's promise to reduce class sizes in America's
public schools. School districts are already making plans to hire new teachers for
next year, but today's votes tell them Congress may leave them hanging
without the resources needed to employ those new teachers after the
first year. NEA continues to support the Ed Flex proposal, but we will work
tirelessly to convince House and Senate conferees to authorize full
funding for smaller class sizes for the nation's students. Posted March 12, 1999 |