Action Alert on Senate ESEA proposal
A summary proposal for the Senate version of a new ESEA is likely to be released this Tuesday, October 11. There will be a week for public comment and a 3-day “mark-up” session for amendments.
This holiday weekend would be a good time to call. e-mail or fax your Senators at their home offices. You can use the support/oppose points suggested by Parents Across America (see Tuesday’s post) or these key points suggested by FairTest’s Monty Neill in the Washington Post Answer Sheet blog:
1) Do not mandate any additional standardized testing; there is already far too much. Do not use teacher or principal evaluation as a reason to require more tests. [ FairTest’s website, including NCLB/ESEA page, fact sheets, and newsletter, explains why test-based “reform” has not succeeded in improving schools.]
2) Do not mandate the use of student test scores to judge
Columbus Day protest – fund our schools!
From the CTU:
October 10th — 4pm
Meet at the Board of Trade (LaSalle and Jackson) and March to CPS, City Hall and the Art Institute to demand that city officials and wealthy investors gathering at the Art Institute pay their fair share and adequately fund our schools.
Flier here.