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FROM THE MAIL ROOM:
REMEMBERING REPRESENTATIVE DONALD PAYNE
This week, the country and particularly the nation’s children lost a great champion with the passing of Representative Donald Payne (D-NJ). Representative Payne had a long and distinguished career in public service, beginning with his work as a public school teacher. His experience in the public schools of Newark and Passaic gave him a unique perspective as a Member of Congress that was evident in his unwavering support for our nation’s students, educators, and public education. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee, he was a strong advocate on behalf of children, working families and senior citizens. Representative Payne’s priorities included closing achievement gaps, providing equitable funding for public schools and making college and healthcare more affordable. His calm and rationale voice and his tireless advocacy for the least fortunate in our nation will be greatly missed.
This Week's News:
WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU COULD INSPIRE STUDENTS? HUFFINGTON POST SEEKS EDUCATORS’ STORIES
The Huffington Post is kicking off an exciting new project called "The Moment I Knew" -- a user-submitted video series where readers tell the stories of life-changing moments they have experienced. The Education section is asking for videos from educators on "The Moment I Knew I Could Inspire." This moment of realization could be with regards to inspiration in any aspect of education, training or learning -- whether it's teacher to student, mentor to mentee, friend to friend, etc.
This project offers a great opportunity for educators to tell their stories and to share their experiences in inspiring tomorrow’s leaders. To contribute, create your own video using YouTube and send the link to themomentiknew@huffingtonpost.com. More information about the project and how to submit your video can be found on the Huffington Post site.
CRITICAL BUDGET DEBATE STARTING: WEIGH IN NOW!
The House is expected to begin work on the budget for the next fiscal year (FY 2013) the week of March 12. But, right now, individual Members of Congress and their staffs are weighing in with their priorities for funding. All Hill offices need to hear from educators today about the importance of education funding.
NEA is urging Congress to provide increases for education along the lines of those proposed by President Obama, who made education the top priority among all discretionary programs in his budget request. Specific NEA priorities include increased funding for Title I, special education, and School Improvement Grants as well as funding to maintain the current Pell Grant award.
Take Action Today: Urge Congress to pass a budget resolution that reflects the President’s emphasis on education as a top priority.
SENATE HOLDS HEARING ON EDUCATION AND THE MIDDLE CLASS
This week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on “The Key to America’s Global Competitiveness: A Quality Education.” In his opening statement, Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) framed the purpose of the hearing, saying “What our children and grandchildren learn today will determine America’s productivity in the future, and that depends on preparing them to compete in a global marketplace more competitive than at any other time in history. But while globalization and technology have dramatically increased the skills and qualifications required to succeed today, our schools are largely geared toward the assumptions of a 20th century workplace.” Read more about the hearing, including witnesses’ statements submitted for the hearing on the Committee website.
CHEERS AND JEERS
Cheers to:
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), who offered an amendment to a surface transportation bill to extend for one year the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. The Act ensures a predictable payment to federally-impacted forest counties. The program has restored critical educational services for students in over 775 rural counties and 4,400 schools and has prevented the closure of numerous isolated rural schools. The amendment passed by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 82-16. See how your Senator voted.
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), who at his hearing on the importance of education for global competitiveness said, “The great American tradition is to invest in the next generation, to leave our children a world that is more just, more advanced, and with more opportunity. Other nations have also identified this strategy as their own path to economic success….On the other hand, we in the United States have recently begun to expect less of our education system. How can we expect to remain globally competitive when we make choices like this? I hope that we in Congress can put aside our differences and take sensible steps that will give more Americans the opportunity to enter – or re-enter – the middle class.”
Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who in his request for fiscal year 2013 funding made education a top priority, saying “I strongly support budget provisions that will strengthen our community colleges and help them establish programs with local manufacturers so our students can learn critical skills needed by employers and transition into quality jobs. Our budget ought to continue making higher education affordable for all, including students from low-income families, by sustaining Pell grants at least at the current $5,635 level for next year. In Fiscal Year 2013, our public education system deserves investments that enable teachers to prepare their students to achieve no matter what careers they pursue.”
Florida Circuit Court Judge Jackie Fulford, who ruled that the state legislature's decision to turn to state employee salaries to help them close their budget gap was a breach of the state's contract with workers, an "unconstitutional taking of private property without full compensation," and a violation of the rights of public employees "to collectively bargain over conditions of employment.”
Jeers to:
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), who offered an amendment to the surface transportation bill that would have set an arbitrary cut of $10 billion to spending caps agreed to by Congress last year, resulting in more cuts to education and other critical programs. The amendment, which required 60 votes to pass, failed by a vote of 52-46. See how your Senator voted.
Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), who has offered an amendment to the surface transportation bill that would impose a 4 percent cut to non-defense discretionary spending, including education. The amendment rejects a balanced approach to deficit reduction that addresses revenues as well as mandatory and discretionary spending in favor of just imposing more cuts to programs serving children, seniors, and other vulnerable populations. The Senate has not yet considered the Corker amendment.
Education Votes....
FROM THE MAIL ROOM:
REMEMBERING REPRESENTATIVE DONALD PAYNE
This week, the country and particularly the nation’s children lost a great champion with the passing of Representative Donald Payne (D-NJ). Representative Payne had a long and distinguished career in public service, beginning with his work as a public school teacher. His experience in the public schools of Newark and Passaic gave him a unique perspective as a Member of Congress that was evident in his unwavering support for our nation’s students, educators, and public education. As a member of the U.S. House of Representatives Education and the Workforce Committee, he was a strong advocate on behalf of children, working families and senior citizens. Representative Payne’s priorities included closing achievement gaps, providing equitable funding for public schools and making college and healthcare more affordable. His calm and rationale voice and his tireless advocacy for the least fortunate in our nation will be greatly missed.
This Week's News:
WHEN DID YOU FIRST KNOW YOU COULD INSPIRE STUDENTS? HUFFINGTON POST SEEKS EDUCATORS’ STORIES
The Huffington Post is kicking off an exciting new project called "The Moment I Knew" -- a user-submitted video series where readers tell the stories of life-changing moments they have experienced. The Education section is asking for videos from educators on "The Moment I Knew I Could Inspire." This moment of realization could be with regards to inspiration in any aspect of education, training or learning -- whether it's teacher to student, mentor to mentee, friend to friend, etc.
This project offers a great opportunity for educators to tell their stories and to share their experiences in inspiring tomorrow’s leaders. To contribute, create your own video using YouTube and send the link to themomentiknew@huffingtonpost.com. More information about the project and how to submit your video can be found on the Huffington Post site.
CRITICAL BUDGET DEBATE STARTING: WEIGH IN NOW!
The House is expected to begin work on the budget for the next fiscal year (FY 2013) the week of March 12. But, right now, individual Members of Congress and their staffs are weighing in with their priorities for funding. All Hill offices need to hear from educators today about the importance of education funding.
NEA is urging Congress to provide increases for education along the lines of those proposed by President Obama, who made education the top priority among all discretionary programs in his budget request. Specific NEA priorities include increased funding for Title I, special education, and School Improvement Grants as well as funding to maintain the current Pell Grant award.
Take Action Today: Urge Congress to pass a budget resolution that reflects the President’s emphasis on education as a top priority.
SENATE HOLDS HEARING ON EDUCATION AND THE MIDDLE CLASS
This week, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on “The Key to America’s Global Competitiveness: A Quality Education.” In his opening statement, Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) framed the purpose of the hearing, saying “What our children and grandchildren learn today will determine America’s productivity in the future, and that depends on preparing them to compete in a global marketplace more competitive than at any other time in history. But while globalization and technology have dramatically increased the skills and qualifications required to succeed today, our schools are largely geared toward the assumptions of a 20th century workplace.” Read more about the hearing, including witnesses’ statements submitted for the hearing on the Committee website.
CHEERS AND JEERS
Cheers to:
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), who offered an amendment to a surface transportation bill to extend for one year the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. The Act ensures a predictable payment to federally-impacted forest counties. The program has restored critical educational services for students in over 775 rural counties and 4,400 schools and has prevented the closure of numerous isolated rural schools. The amendment passed by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 82-16. See how your Senator voted.
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), who at his hearing on the importance of education for global competitiveness said, “The great American tradition is to invest in the next generation, to leave our children a world that is more just, more advanced, and with more opportunity. Other nations have also identified this strategy as their own path to economic success….On the other hand, we in the United States have recently begun to expect less of our education system. How can we expect to remain globally competitive when we make choices like this? I hope that we in Congress can put aside our differences and take sensible steps that will give more Americans the opportunity to enter – or re-enter – the middle class.”
Representative Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who in his request for fiscal year 2013 funding made education a top priority, saying “I strongly support budget provisions that will strengthen our community colleges and help them establish programs with local manufacturers so our students can learn critical skills needed by employers and transition into quality jobs. Our budget ought to continue making higher education affordable for all, including students from low-income families, by sustaining Pell grants at least at the current $5,635 level for next year. In Fiscal Year 2013, our public education system deserves investments that enable teachers to prepare their students to achieve no matter what careers they pursue.”
Florida Circuit Court Judge Jackie Fulford, who ruled that the state legislature's decision to turn to state employee salaries to help them close their budget gap was a breach of the state's contract with workers, an "unconstitutional taking of private property without full compensation," and a violation of the rights of public employees "to collectively bargain over conditions of employment.”
Jeers to:
Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), who offered an amendment to the surface transportation bill that would have set an arbitrary cut of $10 billion to spending caps agreed to by Congress last year, resulting in more cuts to education and other critical programs. The amendment, which required 60 votes to pass, failed by a vote of 52-46. See how your Senator voted.
Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), who has offered an amendment to the surface transportation bill that would impose a 4 percent cut to non-defense discretionary spending, including education. The amendment rejects a balanced approach to deficit reduction that addresses revenues as well as mandatory and discretionary spending in favor of just imposing more cuts to programs serving children, seniors, and other vulnerable populations. The Senate has not yet considered the Corker amendment.
Education Votes....
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