More than 900 school board members – including a 30-member New Jersey delegation – traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with their congressmen, key legislative aides and U.S. Department of Education officials during the annual Federal Relations Network (FRN) conference. The local board members pressed their views on federal education funding and the impact of No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

The FRN conference, February 5 – 7, was sponsored by the National School Boards Association.

During meetings with New Jersey board members and NJSBA staff, Congressman Jim Saxton (R-3) and Congressman Rush Holt (D-12) both expressed their support for increased federal funding of education and amendments to the No Child Left Behind Act. They also noted their opposition to public school vouchers.

FRN attendees also met with key aides to New Jersey’s other House of Representatives members. (Many congressmen had cancelled travel plans to Washington after  postponement of the House voting session in recognition of the death of Coretta Scott King.)

In addition, the New Jersey delegation met with U.S. Senator Robert Menendez’s staff to explore a wide range of  topics, including the underfunding of federal education programs, the impact of NCLB on district finances and operations, and the threat that vouchers may enter  federal programs disguised as tuition tax credits and Hurricane Relief packages. 

School board members also learned the value of building relationships with congressional aides, who have a high level of knowledge about bills going through Congress. Aides have the ear of the Congressmen when communicating the impact of legislation on school districts and taxpayers.