Federal Legislative Update

Saturday, September 29, 2007
Mike Resnick, Associate Executive Director of Advocacy and Issues Management, NSBA

Mike Resnick’s presentation focused on the most important education-related legislative issue– theNo Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorization process.  NSBA’s advocacy staff, along with school board advocates across the nation and other education advocacy groups, is applying pressure for a reauthorization in this session of Congress.  Resnick cautioned that with the 2008 presidential race heating up coupled with partisan politics, changes to the NCLB law could easily be held over until 2009.  Mike further forecasted some of the likely key changes to the law that will impact school boards and urban students specifically.  
 

The new law may also be more of a “management driven plan” and will give much more detail that school board members will have to consider in decision making in their districts. 

Mike also provided an update on the status of federal funding for education programs such as Title I, IDEA, and Medicaid reimbursement sharing that in the new budget the shortfall could reach as much as $80 billion.

In closing, Mike encouraged CUBE members to support HR 648, NSBA’s  and to become more involved in NSBA’s Federal Relations Network, which will meet in early February in Washington, DC.

• "Mike always gives a strong, realistic, and timely update."
• "Outstanding research and information that is very helpful to each district."
• "Information was very valuable!  Lots to take back to the local school board."