HELP STOP THE PARENT DISEMPOWERMENT ACT NOW

There is no bill officially called "The Parent Disempowerment Act," but that is what we think "Straight A's" should be called (as well as the Teacher Disempowerment Act).  Straight A's is being proposed as part of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.  Among other things, it would wipe out all the key federal provisions that spell out for parents the basic components of a high-quality education that Title I schools should provide to their children (like effective instruction and individual help), the need to have any school plan for developing those components, and all the provisions for parents' involvement in the program.

Immediate action is needed in the Senate, where the bill may go to the Senate floor as early as this Monday, April 30th.    (House education committee action is expected soon as well, probably the week of April 7th.) Contact your Senators (and your networks) TODAY to oppose Straight A's, and to seek other improvements in the bill.

Democrats and some moderate Republicans are saying that there. Will be no deal unless it includes more money for education.   But they need to be told that, more money or no, they need to oppose and vote against  any bill with these Straight A's problems.  An increase in this year's funding, while important, cannot begin to compensate for the loss of basic family rights to quality education.

Also, keep in mind that while the Senate version is being proposed as a "demonstration" (for 7 states and 25 districts in other states), (1) that could cover a huge area, and (2) recent experience tells us that we would soon have it everywhere.  "Ed Flex," for example was initially adopted as a demonstration but then was quickly expanded to make Allstate eligible, with no real review of the demonstration or oversight.  ("Ed Flex" states, by the way, already have authority to waive individual requirements of federal law, rather than having to request a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education.)

To help you, linked are:
(1) An update on where things are in the Senate and the House.  Checkmark later for more news.
(2) A one-page sheet of talking points about Straight A's and other key issues on the bill.
(3) A brief explanation of the problems with some of the starkest problems with the Senate draft version of Straight A's.

Let us know what you send, and what kind of response you get.