Capitol Hill Talking Points
Talking Points for Capitol Hill Visits National PTA 2017 Legislative Conference “Invest in Public Education and Protect Our Children” Invest in Public Education 1. As a PTA member, I request that Congress invest federal resources in K-12 public schools and oppose any private school choice system—vouchers, tax credits or deductions—that would divert funding from public schools. Facts/Reasoning for the ask: • Education funding for elementary and secondary education—both from the federal government and states—is less than it was ten years ago. • Current federal K-12 funding is still below the 2008 levels even though public school enrollment has increased by 2.3 percent over those years. • Education spending accounts for only 2% of the federal budget and has remained at that proportion for decades. To compare, Defense/Homeland Security account for 16.2% of the federal budget. • Private school vouchers undermine public schools by diverting desperately needed resources away from the public school system, which accepts all students, to fund the education of a few, select voucher students. • Private school vouchers do not offer real choice. Vouchers give a choice to private schools, which may turn students away for a variety of reasons, ranging from disability to ability to pay. In contrast, public schools are open to all. • Although promoted as “school choice,” private school vouchers do not provide real choice for students and parents. In fact, calling vouchers “school choice” is a misnomer, as they do not provide quality education choices to most families. Studies show that voucher programs often fail to provide adequate, objective and languageappropriate information to families in order to allow them to make an important and critical decision for their child. • Private voucher schools do not adequately serve students with disabilities, often failing to admit them or provide them the same quality and quantity of services available to students in public schools, including those mandated under each student’s individualized education plan (IEP). • Private school vouchers do not adequately serve low-income students because the cost of tuition and fees at schools that accept vouchers generally exceeds the amount of the voucher, making voucher schools unaffordable for most low-income families.
Talking Points for Capitol Hill Visits National PTA 2017 Legislative Conference 2. Funding the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) competitive grant program is a priority for our PTA. We request that Congress fund Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) at no less than its authorized level of $10 million in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in the fiscal year 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (L-HHS-ED) appropriations bill. Facts/Reasoning for the ask: • Over 40 years of research shows that family engagement is critical for school improvement and student achievement. Students with engaged families attend school more regularly, earn better grades, enroll in advanced-level courses and have higher graduation rates. • The Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) competitive grant program is one of the few stand-alone programs from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) that was maintained in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). • The Statewide Family Engagement Centers grant program is NOT a NEW program but an IMPROVED program in ESSA from the Parent Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) program in No Child Left Behind. We are requesting for the Statewide Family Engagement Centers program to be funded in FY 2018 at its authorized amount of $10 million in ESSA which is only a portion of the funding that the PIRC program received when it was last funded at $39.3 million in FY 2010. o In FY 2010, (State) received $___ that went towards Parent Information Resource Centers. • The improved SFECs program will: o Build capacity for states and school districts to systematically embed family engagement policies and practices in their education plans; o Provide much needed professional development for educators and school leaders to strengthen school-family partnerships and parent-teacher relationships; o Provide direct services to families to give them the tools to effectively work with their child’s school to improve their child’s academic outcomes and overall well-being. • An investment in SFECs and family engagement is important to ensuring not only that families are meaningfully supported and engaged in the education of their children, but that our nation's students are fully prepared for higher education, workforce and career opportunities in the 21st century. • With the passage of ESSA and the implementation of the new law in schools, now more than ever it is important to fund SFECs to help parents and families better understand the law and work with schools to help students achieve their full academic potential.
Talking Points for Capitol Hill Visits National PTA 2017 Legislative Conference Protect Our Children Choose at least one issue area below that you or your state PTA advocates for or is passionate about. Reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) • JJDPA embodies a partnership between the federal government and the U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia to protect children and youth in the juvenile and criminal justice system, to effectively address high-risk and delinquent behavior and to improve community safety. • JJDPA was last reauthorized in 2002 and is more than eight years overdue. • Each year, police make more than 578,000 juvenile arrests; juvenile courts handle over 1 million cases; and an estimated 200,000 youth are prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system. • On any given day, just over 50,000 young people are confined in juvenile facilities, and approximately 5,500 youth were held in adult jails and prisons. We Advocate to: ● Eliminate the Valid Court Order (VCO) exception to the Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenses core requirement to keep children that commit minor offenses—such as skipping school—out of juvenile detention facilities. ● Extend the Jail Removal and Sight and Sound Separation core requirements to all children under the age of 18 during all forms of detainment within the justice system. ● Incentivize family and community-based alternatives to the incarceration of youth. ● Require states to establish solutions to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system. Reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) • IDEA is the main federal program authorizing state and local aid for special education services. • The federal government requires states to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with special needs in the least restrictive environment. • IDEA was last reauthorized in 2004. • Approximately 12% of public school students receive special education services each year. • The national high school graduation rate reached 83% in the 2014-2015 school year, while students with special needs only graduated at an average rate of 64%. • Students with special needs are more than twice as likely to receive disciplinary actions in school, such as out-of-school suspensions, than students without special needs.
Talking Points for Capitol Hill Visits National PTA 2017 Legislative Conference
We Advocate to: ● Provide greater protections for the rights of children with special needs and their parents to ensure access to resources and supports for a high-quality education. ● Ensure students with special needs receive quality instruction and support from teachers, school counselors and other specialized school support personnel who have completed the state licensure or certification process. ● Support the inclusion of behavioral intervention plans in a student’s individualized education program (IEP) and 504 plan. ● Require schools to implement positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) as an alternative to exclusionary school discipline practices such as in and out-of-school suspensions. ● Require transition planning services for students with disabilities to begin no later than the age of 14 and incentivize school districts to employ specialized staff to provide these services. Reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act • The Child Nutrition Act was last reauthorized in 2010 as the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA). • HHFKA created stronger nutrition standards with schools serving more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less fat, sugar and salt. • 98.5% of schools nationwide are successfully meeting the updated nutrition standards from HHFKA. We Advocate to: • Improve and enhance opportunities for parents to participate in the development of local school wellness policies. • Maintain, at a minimum, the current school nutrition standards and Smart Snack guidelines and deliver technical assistance and resources to schools that are not meeting the nutrition standards. • Provide federal grants and loan assistance for schools to improve kitchen infrastructure and equipment. o National PTA supported the School Food Modernization Act (HR 3316/S. 540) in the 114th Congress which was introduced by Representatives Lou Barletta (R-PA) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). • Oppose any attempt to block grant the school nutrition program or reduce the number of students eligible to participate in the free and reduced-price school meals program.
Talking Points for Capitol Hill Visits National PTA 2017 Legislative Conference Reauthorize and Modernize the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) • FERPA is a federal law that provides individuals with the right to inspect and review their educational records, exercise significant control over the disclosure of information from those records and correct or amend inaccurate information in the records. • FERPA was signed into law in 1974 and has never been reauthorized. • COPPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of children under age 13 when using commercial websites and online services, including mobile apps. The primary goal of COPPA is to ensure parents are in control over what information is collected when their young children are online. • COPPA was signed into law in 1998 and has never been reauthorized. • Current federal laws do not contemplate electronic records, online service provider rights and responsibilities or individual electronic student profiles. • About 95% of school districts nationwide rely on cloud services—services offered through the internet that can be assessed from any location—to manage school data. • 75% of districts do not inform parents of the use of cloud services and less than 7% of school contracts explicitly restrict the sale and marketing of student information through cloud services. We Advocate to: • Require states, school districts and schools to be transparent and engaged with families on the development, implementation and notification of student data privacy policies and procedures. • Provide federal restrictions around the collection, use, storage, security and destruction of student data and educational records.
Talking Points for Capitol Hill Visits National PTA 2017 Legislative Conference 2. Funding the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) competitive grant program is a priority for our PTA. We request that Congress fund Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) at no less than its authorized level of $10 million in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) in the fiscal year 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (L-HHS-ED) appropriations bill. Facts/Reasoning for the ask: • Over 40 years of research shows that family engagement is critical for school improvement and student achievement. Students with engaged families attend school more regularly, earn better grades, enroll in advanced-level courses and have higher graduation rates. • The Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFECs) competitive grant program is one of the few stand-alone programs from No Child Left Behind (NCLB) that was maintained in the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). • The Statewide Family Engagement Centers grant program is NOT a NEW program but an IMPROVED program in ESSA from the Parent Information and Resource Centers (PIRCs) program in No Child Left Behind. We are requesting for the Statewide Family Engagement Centers program to be funded in FY 2018 at its authorized amount of $10 million in ESSA which is only a portion of the funding that the PIRC program received when it was last funded at $39.3 million in FY 2010. o In FY 2010, (State) received $___ that went towards Parent Information Resource Centers. • The improved SFECs program will: o Build capacity for states and school districts to systematically embed family engagement policies and practices in their education plans; o Provide much needed professional development for educators and school leaders to strengthen school-family partnerships and parent-teacher relationships; o Provide direct services to families to give them the tools to effectively work with their child’s school to improve their child’s academic outcomes and overall well-being. • An investment in SFECs and family engagement is important to ensuring not only that families are meaningfully supported and engaged in the education of their children, but that our nation's students are fully prepared for higher education, workforce and career opportunities in the 21st century. • With the passage of ESSA and the implementation of the new law in schools, now more than ever it is important to fund SFECs to help parents and families better understand the law and work with schools to help students achieve their full academic potential.
Talking Points for Capitol Hill Visits National PTA 2017 Legislative Conference Protect Our Children Choose at least one issue area below that you or your state PTA advocates for or is passionate about. Reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (JJDPA) • JJDPA embodies a partnership between the federal government and the U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia to protect children and youth in the juvenile and criminal justice system, to effectively address high-risk and delinquent behavior and to improve community safety. • JJDPA was last reauthorized in 2002 and is more than eight years overdue. • Each year, police make more than 578,000 juvenile arrests; juvenile courts handle over 1 million cases; and an estimated 200,000 youth are prosecuted in the adult criminal justice system. • On any given day, just over 50,000 young people are confined in juvenile facilities, and approximately 5,500 youth were held in adult jails and prisons. We Advocate to: ● Eliminate the Valid Court Order (VCO) exception to the Deinstitutionalization of Status Offenses core requirement to keep children that commit minor offenses—such as skipping school—out of juvenile detention facilities. ● Extend the Jail Removal and Sight and Sound Separation core requirements to all children under the age of 18 during all forms of detainment within the justice system. ● Incentivize family and community-based alternatives to the incarceration of youth. ● Require states to establish solutions to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in the juvenile justice system. Reauthorize the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) • IDEA is the main federal program authorizing state and local aid for special education services. • The federal government requires states to provide a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with special needs in the least restrictive environment. • IDEA was last reauthorized in 2004. • Approximately 12% of public school students receive special education services each year. • The national high school graduation rate reached 83% in the 2014-2015 school year, while students with special needs only graduated at an average rate of 64%. • Students with special needs are more than twice as likely to receive disciplinary actions in school, such as out-of-school suspensions, than students without special needs.
Talking Points for Capitol Hill Visits National PTA 2017 Legislative Conference
We Advocate to: ● Provide greater protections for the rights of children with special needs and their parents to ensure access to resources and supports for a high-quality education. ● Ensure students with special needs receive quality instruction and support from teachers, school counselors and other specialized school support personnel who have completed the state licensure or certification process. ● Support the inclusion of behavioral intervention plans in a student’s individualized education program (IEP) and 504 plan. ● Require schools to implement positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) as an alternative to exclusionary school discipline practices such as in and out-of-school suspensions. ● Require transition planning services for students with disabilities to begin no later than the age of 14 and incentivize school districts to employ specialized staff to provide these services. Reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act • The Child Nutrition Act was last reauthorized in 2010 as the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act (HHFKA). • HHFKA created stronger nutrition standards with schools serving more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less fat, sugar and salt. • 98.5% of schools nationwide are successfully meeting the updated nutrition standards from HHFKA. We Advocate to: • Improve and enhance opportunities for parents to participate in the development of local school wellness policies. • Maintain, at a minimum, the current school nutrition standards and Smart Snack guidelines and deliver technical assistance and resources to schools that are not meeting the nutrition standards. • Provide federal grants and loan assistance for schools to improve kitchen infrastructure and equipment. o National PTA supported the School Food Modernization Act (HR 3316/S. 540) in the 114th Congress which was introduced by Representatives Lou Barletta (R-PA) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) and Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND). • Oppose any attempt to block grant the school nutrition program or reduce the number of students eligible to participate in the free and reduced-price school meals program.
Talking Points for Capitol Hill Visits National PTA 2017 Legislative Conference Reauthorize and Modernize the Family Education Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) • FERPA is a federal law that provides individuals with the right to inspect and review their educational records, exercise significant control over the disclosure of information from those records and correct or amend inaccurate information in the records. • FERPA was signed into law in 1974 and has never been reauthorized. • COPPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of children under age 13 when using commercial websites and online services, including mobile apps. The primary goal of COPPA is to ensure parents are in control over what information is collected when their young children are online. • COPPA was signed into law in 1998 and has never been reauthorized. • Current federal laws do not contemplate electronic records, online service provider rights and responsibilities or individual electronic student profiles. • About 95% of school districts nationwide rely on cloud services—services offered through the internet that can be assessed from any location—to manage school data. • 75% of districts do not inform parents of the use of cloud services and less than 7% of school contracts explicitly restrict the sale and marketing of student information through cloud services. We Advocate to: • Require states, school districts and schools to be transparent and engaged with families on the development, implementation and notification of student data privacy policies and procedures. • Provide federal restrictions around the collection, use, storage, security and destruction of student data and educational records.
