|
Federal Legislative Proposals This section of the ACCESS Network's
website provides updates on federal legislative proposals related to standards-based
reform, education funding inequities or inadequacies, and parent engagement. Senator
Dodd and Representative Fattah Propose Student Bill of Rights In
the first week of September, Senator Christopher Dodd (Connecticut) and Representative
Chaka Fattah (Philadelphia) introduced the Student Bill of Rights Act (S2912)
in both houses of Congress. ACCESS supports this proposed legislation because
it is intended to hold states accountable for providing all students with the
educational resources needed to enable them to: meet their state's academic requirements;
become participating citizens; and compete successfully in the global economy
. . . (more). U.S.
Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Education Equity On Thursday,
May 23, 2002, the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions held a hearing entitled "America's Schools: Providing Equal
Opportunity or Still Separate and Unequal." Michael A. Rebell, Executive
Director of ACCESS and CFE, testified
before the Committee. He provided statistical and anecdotal evidence of the
gross resource disparities between low-wealth and high-wealth school districts.
Also testifying at the hearing were National Urban League President Hugh Price,
Connecticut public school teacher Maryann Lang, Wyoming Superintendent of Public
Instruction Judy Catchpole, Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA) and Congressman Johnny
Isakson (R-GA). Congressman
Chaka Fattah announces he will propose a Student Bill of Rights On
May 23, 2002, in testimony before the United States Senate Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions, Congressman Chaka Fattah announced that he will
soon propose a "Student Bill of Rights." This Act would require states
to report on the often dramatic resource inequities that exist among districts.
States would be expected to take steps to reduce such inequities and federal funding
could be diverted to high-need districts in states that failed to make adequate
progress. |
