Press Call Wednesday: Tri-Caucus House Members Call for Strong Education Bill to Protect Vulnerable Students

Media 02.24,15

WASHINGTON – – On Wednesday, February 25 at 10:30 AM, the day before the House of Representatives votes on a proposal to weaken the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), members of the congressional Black, Hispanic, and Asian Pacific American caucuses will come together on a press call urging their colleagues to reject this proposal and keep protections for vulnerable students. 

Since the passage of the ESEA fifty years ago, the resources and accountability it provides to states and school districts have been our nation’s major drivers of greater equity in our public schools. But the pending House and Senate ESEA reauthorizations gut the most important provisions that help states and school districts narrow achievement gaps for students of color, students with disabilities, low-income students, and English language learners.

Pending proposals would undermine targeted funding for low-income children; eliminate targets for narrowing achievement gaps; allow states to lower performance expectations for minority school districts; roll back annual testing necessary to measure student progress; allow schools to segregate students with disabilities; and allow states to place less qualified teachers in low-income and minority schools.

Speakers will call on Congress to reject these proposals and share how a strong ESEA is vital for improving educational outcomes in their communities.  

Click here to read the shared civil rights principles for ESEA reauthorization.  

RSVP requested to [email protected]

WHEN: Wednesday, February 25 at 10:30 AM EST

WHO:

  • Congressman Bobby Scott, ranking member of the House Committee on Education and the Work Force and member of the CBC and CAPAC
  • Congresswoman Linda Sanchez, chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
  • Congresswoman Judy Chu, chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
  • Nancy Zirkin, executive vice president of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

DIAL-IN INFORMATION: Please RSVP to [email protected]. Dial-in: 877-876-9173 Verbal Passcode: “Education”