Paid Family Leave Moves Through Legislature

Bill Would Expand Treatment of Substance Abuse, Alcoholism

Legislation Addresses Emergency Diabetes Situations

Parents Could Decide Twins’ Placement

Assembly Committee Releases Internet-Notice Bill

Workshop Forms Coming in May

National Report Examines States’ Standards  

NJSBA Fights Supermajority Requirement

NSBA’s Call to Action: Federal Funding

Innovations in Special Education: Opportunity Awaits for Recognition

New Date Announced for Salary Guide Program

Budget Training for the Media

Members Invited to Networking Breakfast at NSBA Conference

NJSBA Board of Directors to Meet

Audit Committee Meeting Slated for March 14

Calendar

Click here for a pdf version of this issue of School Board Notes

The National School Boards Association is urging local school board members to contact their representative on the House Budget Committee and senators on the Senate Budget Committee. The budget committees are expected to consider their versions of a Fiscal Year 2009 Congressional budget resolution this week (the week of March 3).  

NSBA is calling for strong support for an increased federal investment in discretionary funding for education programs, including:

• Increases of $2.5 billion for Title I grants for disadvantaged students and $2.5 billion for IDEA/special education, the two major federal programs that benefit a majority of districts. 
• Rejection of the proposed cuts/eliminations to other programs such as vocational education and education technology.
• Rejection of any private school voucher proposals including: (1) the Pell Grants for Kids Plan, (2) a Washington, D.C. pilot voucher program, and (3) the conversion of the 21^st Century Community Learning Centers Program into a voucher experiment.

NSBA is asking board members to e-mail or call their representatives using NSBA’s Legislative Action Center. Board members can view a pre-written letter by choosing the “Form Letter,” or they can read talking points and create their own message using the “Custom Letter” link.

Background NSBA provides background on the Administration’s Fiscal 2009 budget through an online press release and budget analysis.  

The House Budget Committee has also prepared a state-by-state analysis on the impact of the Administration’s proposed budget cuts and eliminations that would affect a number of programs.  Pages 11, 12, and 13 of the document provide an analysis about the impact of proposed cuts to Teacher Quality State Grants, the proposed elimination of Career and Technical (Vocational) Education, and the proposed cut to 21^st Century Learning Centers. 

For additional information, contact Kathleen Branch in NSBA’s Office of Advocacy at (703) 838-6735.