NSBA Launches Campaign Urging Congressional Members to Pledge Support to America's Schoolchildren

Hershey, PA - October 11 - E. Jane Gallucci, president of the National School Boards Association (NSBA), joined with officials from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association at the Hershey Lodge and Conference Center today to announce the launch of a national campaign to encourage Members of Congress to demonstrate their commitment to fundamental education goals by signing a Pledge to America’s Schoolchildren. 

At the joint conference of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators, Gallucci told the press that “the Pledge to America’s Schoolchildren is a nationwide, grassroots campaign designed to encourage Members of Congress to pledge their support for America’s schoolchildren by signing their name to a pledge card.  What’s in the Pledge?  What are Members of Congress across the country being asked to sign?  It’s simple. As a Member of the upcoming 110th Congress, they’re asked to work and vote to:

• “Improve the No Child Left Behind Act to give local school districts better measures of student and school performance, and the support needed to close the achievement gap.
• “Help school districts meet the needs of students with disabilities by supporting the funding goals of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act.
• “Support school readiness programs for children entering kindergarten.
• “Help school districts attract, train and retain highly qualified and effective teachers. 
• “And, help school districts provide all students with 21st Century skills and knowledge, including math, science and technology.”

“Who could be against supporting school readiness programs for incoming kindergarteners?  Who would not want to fund programs for disabled children or allow local school districts to more accurately measure the effectiveness of their programs?  Who would not want to sign a pledge to support programs that they have already voted to create?  That is what the Pledge to America’s Schoolchildren is all about,” continued Gallucci.

For details on the campaign, a copy of the pledge, and a list of pledge signers, please visit http://www.pledgetoamericasschoolchildren.org/

Founded in 1940, the National School Boards Association is a not-for profit federation of state associations of school boards representing 95,000 local school board members throughout the United States. Its mission is to foster excellence and equity in public elementary and secondary education through local school board leadership. NSBA represents the school board perspective in working with federal government agencies and national organizations that impact education, and provides vital information and services to state associations of school boards throughout the nation.

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