{"id":22619,"date":"2015-07-03T01:52:25","date_gmt":"2015-07-02T17:52:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tashorg.wpengine.com\/?p=22619"},"modified":"2015-07-03T01:52:25","modified_gmt":"2015-07-02T17:52:25","slug":"take-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tash.org\/take-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Take Action! ESEA is Critical for Our Children"},"content":{"rendered":"

Background: Why ESEA is Critical<\/strong><\/p>\n

The nation\u2019s most important education law for our country\u2019s children \u2013 the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) \u2013 has historically provided critical civil rights protections for underserved students through a\u00a0strong federal role in education\u00a0and other\u00a0key principles. \u00a0TASH has been at the table since the beginning and has been engaged as a strong voice for children with disabilities.<\/p>\n

Yet the\u00a0Every Child Achieves Act of 2015 (ECAA – S. 1177)\u00a0\u2013 a bill passed by the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) attempting to update the ESEA \u2013\u00a0falls far short of ensuring equal opportunity in education for\u00a0all<\/em>\u00a0children.\u00a0In its current form,\u00a0the bill does not fulfill its function as a civil rights law\u00a0and fails to build on the lessons of the past to ensure greater academic progress for all students.<\/p>\n

To ensure equal opportunity in education for all children<\/a>, the Every Child Achieves Act must be fixed by:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Strengthening\u00a0accountability<\/strong>\u00a0for student outcomes;
\n2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Providing additional\u00a0data<\/strong>\u00a0on student groups;
\n3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Addressing\u00a0disparities<\/strong>\u00a0in resources; and
\n4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Providing a more meaningful\u00a0federal role<\/strong>\u00a0in education.<\/p>\n

As early as the week of July 6<\/span><\/span>, the U.S. Senate could consider this bill to update \u2013 or reauthorize \u2013 the ESEA.<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s up to us to ensure that the Senate protects equal educational opportunities for all children by passing a reauthorized ESEA with these four important fixes.<\/p>\n

Click to view Talking Points<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Action Needed: <\/strong>Tell your Senator that ECAA doesn’t go far enough for education equity for all kids. Call the\u00a0United States Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121.<\/p>\n

Sample Social Media Blurbs:<\/strong><\/p>\n