Learning Forward Advocacy
Thank you for standing up for professional learning!
On December 5, 2023, more than 3300 people stood up for professional learning on advocacy day at the Learning Forward annual conference. This is a stand we must all make every day. Remember to collect and share stories of the impact of professional learning in your school or learning environment. Learning Forward wants to hear from you.
Call to Action - Save Title II-A
Members of Congress will return after Labor Day and appropriations and continued funding to keep the government open are going to be the issues front and center for every member of Congress. Now is not the time to be complacent. We need to remain vigilant in our efforts to save Title II-A. On July 18, Fred Brown issued a call to action to all educators to help save Title II-A. If you are reading this message, please take a moment to send a message to your members of Congress. Press the blue button below to get started.
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On July 27, the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee held a full-committee markup to consider several bills, including the fiscal year 2024 Labor-Health and Human Services-Education (LHHS-ED) funding bill. Bypassing a subcommittee markup, the full committee approved the bipartisan spending bill that would provide $79.6 billion in discretionary funding to the U.S. Department of Education in FY24. This topline number is roughly the same as what was appropriated to the Department of Education in FY23. Sen. Deb Fischer, a Republican from Nebraska, and Sen. Bill Hagerty, a Republican from Tennessee, were the sole votes against the bill as it easily advanced out of committee.
Unlike the House LHHS-ED bill, the Senate funds education programs at similar levels as last year, with modest increases for programs like Title I (+$175 million), Impact Aid (+$10 million), IDEA (+$175 million), Title IV-A (+$20 million), CTE State Grants (+$40 million), and Title III (+$7 million). Title II-A and federal funding for charter schools received level funding. Given the stark differences between the Senate and House bills, there will be much to reconcile, especially among programs that were cut by the House LHHS-ED subcommittee altogether. Negotiations between the two committees will have to hold for at least the next month as Congress has entered August recess.
Given the stark differences between the Senate and House bills, there will be much to reconcile, especially among programs that were cut by the House LHHS-ED subcommittee altogether. Click To Tweet
During her opening statement on the LHHS-ED bill, Subcommittee Chair Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, stated that while she wished they could have invested more, the bill is a bipartisan compromise to avoid defaulting on our nation’s debt, which is a stark contrast to the House’s LHHS-ED bill. Further, she stated that the House’s approach to this appropriations cycle threatens a government shutdown and sequestration to defense and non-defense programs. Subcommittee Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito, a Republican from West Virginia, highlighted specific increases for Title I and IDEA but did not mention the House’s bill.
Below is a breakdown of K-12 funding levels:
Despite the debt ceiling deal, which was enacted June 3 and sets the overall fiscal year 2024 federal funding level at roughly fiscal year 2023’s funding level, House Appropriations Committee Chair Kay Granger, a Republican from Texas, issued a statement on June 12 that the committee would be using fiscal year 2022 levels as the basis for fiscal year 2024 appropriations. This is apparently an effort to mollify House conservatives, who were angry about the debt ceiling deal between Speaker McCarthy and President Biden and essentially shut down the House floor recently.
Continuing down a dangerous path of proposed cuts for fiscal year 2024 – 20%-30% by administration and Department of Education estimates – means critical education programs are going to get caught in the crosshairs.
If these funding levels hold, education programs could be again facing double-digit percentage cuts next year.
This lower level of spending will be a no-go for Senate Democrats and perhaps some Senate Republicans, who were already upset by agreed upon fiscal year 2024 defense increases that were smaller than they wanted. So, while the House may move fiscal year 2024 spending bills pegged to fiscal year 2022 spending levels, the Senate will not.
Appropriations Chairwoman Granger’s announcement raises the prospect of a potential government shutdown for some or all of the federal government if fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills are not enacted by September 30. Of late, federal shutdowns have been prevented by passing continuing resolutions to keep the government operating temporarily but it is unclear if House Republicans would be willing to agree to continuing resolutions this year.
As of now, neither the House nor the Senate has set dates to mark-up their versions of the fiscal year 2024 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill. The House mark-up could come as soon as next week. This latest declaration about spending levels by Rep. Granger, though, may delay further the Senate’s mark-up schedule.
Educators need to let Congress know that 20%-30% cuts would be devastating. Make your voice heard by sending an email to your members of Congress. Click To Tweet
Educators need to let Congress know that 20%-30% cuts would be devastating. Make your voice heard by sending an email to your members of Congress. It’s easy. Just visit Learning Forward advocacy for a sample letter that you can personalize very easily and quickly.
Can we count on your voice? Join Learning Forward CEO Frederick Brown Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 1 p.m. EDT for a virtual Capitol Hill briefing, “Professional Learning IS stronger schools: Title II-A funding and the federal education budget.” This policy briefing addresses urgent issues around building a strong, unwavering federal commitment to ensuring access to high-quality professional learning to all educators.
Panelists include:
Kevin Armstrong, a Tennessee principal representing National Association of Elementary School Principals
Gladys Cruz representing AASA, The School Superintendents Association
Marla Ucelli-Kashyap, American Federation of Teachers’ senior director for educational issues
Maureen Tracey-Mooney, U.S. Department of Education
Learning Forward’s Powered by Title II campaign website puts all of the information, tools, and advocacy tutorials in one easy to access online location to enable educator advocates reach their Members of Congress and help convince them to support more Title II funding. On this site, advocates will find:
- The latest news on Title II
- Background facts, stories, research, and data on Title II
- A storytelling tool to assist you in researching and explaining how Title II supports your school district
- Sample letters, talking points, tweets and more to support your advocacy
Evidence, evidence, evidence
Evidence of impact is not optional. From your ESSA plans to Title II to talking with your district superintendent, everyone wants to know when professional development is making an impact and how you know. Learning Forward is here to help. We invite you to join your peers from across the U.S. to share your successes here.
Tell us what Title II funds in your school or district, and most important, what outcomes you see as a result. Outcomes might include improved graduation rates or assessment scores, improvements for specific populations of students, or other indicators that students are experiencing more meaningful learning.
ESSA Toolkits
A New Vision For Professional Learning: A Toolkit to Help
States Use ESSA to Advance Learning and ImprovementSystems. This toolkit helps leaders leverage professional learning as
an essential tool in overcoming systemic inequities and guaranteeing
excellence for all.
Agents for Learning Toolkit: A Guide to Amplifying Teacher
Voice and Stakeholder Engagement. This toolkit suggests ways to cultivate teacher voice and agency in policy decisions and the implementation of professional learning.
This webinar, originally created for our Virtual Advocacy Day, includes advocacy strategies and tips that are applicable to any advocacy effort. Watch to hone your skills, build confidence, and get excited about being an advocate.