H.R.610 – To distribute Federal funds for elementary and secondary education in the form of vouchers for eligible students and to repeal a certain rule relating to nutrition standards in schools.
Parents with kids in public schools, teachers, and anyone else who believes in school equality, healthy lunches and the public school system will want to read this new bill.
https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/610
Please call your US House Representative-and those in other states when you have any sort of connection (have lived there, admire their public education; have family members there with kids in public schools: that gives me additional states like TN, IA, NY, for example)- now and ask them to vote NO on House Bill 610 (HR 610 introduced & in the Education & Workforce Committee, by three Republican House Reps: Lead is Andy Harris-MD (202) 225-5311, with Franks-AZ (202) 225-4576 and Olson-TX (202) 225-5951.
Sample Script:
Hello, I am _______, calling from ____________ to ask that you support public schools and advocate for students by voting NO on House Bill 610.
Background info:
This bill will effectively start the nationwide school voucher system to be used by children ages 5-17, and start the defunding process of public schools, in hand with eliminating all student rights and programs that address poverty, etc. Please read on.
The bill will eliminate the Elementary and Education Act of 1965, which is the nation’s educational law and provides equal opportunity in education. ESSA is a big comprehensive program that covers programs for struggling learners, AP classes, ESL programs, programs for students of color including Native Americans; as well as Rural Education, Education for Students who are Homeless, School Safety (Gun-Free schools), Monitoring and Compliance and Federal Accountability for these and other Programs. The bill also abolishes the Nutritional Act of 2012 (No Hungry Kids Act) which provides nutritional standards and funding to states for in-school breakfast and lunch.
Some things ESSA does for Children with Disabilities:
-Ensures access to the general education curriculum
-Ensures access to needed accommodations ( e.g. larger print, additional time) on assessments
-Ensures use of principles of “Universal Design for Learning” in materials and instruction so that all have curriculum access and ability to learn
-Includes provisions that require school districts to use research-based instruction and curriculum in schools, especially with students who represent groups that have been consistently “underperforming” or underachieving.
-ESSA also requires that states write Title I (ESSA granted federal funds to assist students and schools in poverty) plans to address how they will improve conditions for learning including: reducing incidents of bullying and harassment in schools, reducing overuse of punitive discipline practices and reducing the use of aversive behavioral interventions (such as restraints and seclusion).
All of this goes away if ESSA does. We can safely say that IDEA will be next.
Voters for Accountability 