NEA Gives Mixed Reviews to 106th Congress
The 106th Congress received mixed reviews from the nearly 2.5 million-member
National Education Association (NEA) Monday (November 22, 1999), as legislators
headed home following passage of the fiscal year 2000 budget.
"The budget contains some notable successes for children and public
education," said NEA President Bob Chase, "but much still remains
to be done."
After months of debate, Congress voted to increase federal education
spending by $2.07 billion (6.1%), with increases in the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Act (IDEA, the federal special education law),
and in after-school, teacher quality, middle-school mentoring, Safe and
Drug-Free Schools, college student aid, and Title I programs to improve
performance for disadvantaged students.
"This Congress also had the wisdom to maintain the E-Rate program
in the face of ill-informed attacks," said Chase, referring to the
$2.25 billion program that provides discounted Internet access to schools
and libraries based on need.
"And, in true bipartisan spirit, Congress also rejected school vouchers
in two House floor votes," Chase added, noting that more than 50
Republicans voted to oppose the measures.
"We're generally pleased with the House-passed Title I reauthorization,
which increases targeted resources to schools serving our neediest students,"
said Chase. "Additional Title I funding will improve accountability
and enhance teacher quality. That's a win-win for our students. However,
Title I is still significantly underfunded," Chase noted. "It
received less than a 1% increase in the fiscal year 2000 budget, and still
needs an additional $16 billion to serve all eligible low-income children."
Additional unfinished business includes funding for school modernization,
and additional resources for class size reduction, Title I, IDEA, and
school safety, with continued opposition to block granting education funding,
Chase said. Chase expressed pride in an NEA-led effort that resulted in
233 bipartisan House sponsors - 15 beyond a majority - for school modernization
bills filed by Reps. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) and Nancy L. Johnson (R-CT).
While Congress did not take up either bill in this session, it did vote
to extend for two years the $800 million Quality Zone Academy Bond program,
which provides zero-interest bonds for school construction in low-income
districts.
"We made solid progress on school modernization, and it's only a
matter of time before Congress addresses this enormous priority,"
said Chase.
Estimates of the cost of repair, modernization, and construction for
America's public schools exceed $200 billion.
Chase noted that while the critically important class size reduction
proposal was maintained, and increased by $100 million, NEA would continue
to work to convince Congress to reach the measure's goal of hiring 100,000
new teachers.
"This legislation needs to be extended for at least five years -
with a major increase in funding - to reach its goal of hiring 100,000
new teachers in grades K-3," Chase said.
"And, while IDEA received a $700 million increase, it still falls
some $11 billion per year short of its original legislated goal of paying
40% of the cost of educating special needs students," Chase said.
He added that NEA is also committed to legislation to provide "sensible
gun safety measures and other efforts to improve school safety,"
including more counselors. Those proposals were bottled up in the House-Senate
Conference.
"We also must complete the reauthorization of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act with a firm commitment to standards-based reform,"
Chase said. "That includes resources for recruiting and retaining
quality teachers, helping our rural schools, and continued efforts to
target resources to high-poverty schools.
"NEA will also continue to fight for pension portability, to encourage
teacher mobility, and for the repeal of harmful Social Security government
pension offset provisions, which tend to punish women in disproportionate
fashion," said Chase.
Posted November 22, 1999