Advocacy

On August 11, President Barack Obama signed into law a $26 billion plan to save the jobs of thousands of teachers and other government workers. The legislation specifically provides $10 billion to school districts to rehire laid-off teachers or to ensure that more teachers won't be let go before the new school year begins. The U.S. Department of Education estimates the funding could save more than 100,000 teacher jobs.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) called back House lawmakers from August recess for a one-day session to vote on the education jobs package. More than 20 PTA parents, children, and families from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia watched as the Speaker signed the bill with House Education Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA), House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI), Rep. Dale Kildee (D-MI) and other House members looking along. Stella Edwards, President of the Chesterfield County, (Virginia) Council of PTAs/PTSAs was provided these remarks at the press event:

"Today, I am proud to stand alongside Speaker Pelosi and others that were vital to this effort in order to celebrate passage in the House of Representatives. The National PTA has long said that families, teachers, school districts, and communities all have a shared responsibility to work together to close the achievement gap that affects so many of our communities. And teachers — the very same teachers whose jobs need to be saved — know, understand, and continue to emphasize the importance of family engagement in education."

A week earlier, Eric Solomon, president of the Longfellow Elementary School PTA in Maryland, joined Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Democratic Conference Secretary Patty Murray (D-WA) and Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Tom Harkin (D-IA) for a Senate press conference on August 5 to celebrate the bill's Senate passage. "The education jobs package will eliminate the threat of teacher layoffs, layoffs that will negatively impact students," Solomon stated.

The $10 billion in education jobs funding will support education jobs in the 2010-2011 school year and be distributed to states by a formula based on population figures. States can distribute their funding to school districts based on their own primary funding formula or districts' relative share of federal Title I funds. The House passed the measure by a vote of 247-161, while the Senate passed the measure by a vote of 61-39.

On March 24th, the Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously passed S. 3307, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, moving it to be taken up by the full Senate. However, this bill has yet to be adopted, and time is rapidly running out to pass this important piece of legislation before the programs expire in September. This bipartisan bill updates and improves a number of critical child nutrition programs, including school breakfasts and lunches.  

 The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act takes many critical steps toward alleviating child hunger and supporting the health and wellness of our nation’s children. This bill contains common-sense measures that will increase access to critical nutrition programs, increase the quality of foods served in schools, and provide the resources, tools, and training necessary to accomplish these goals. If the Senate does not make this issue a priority and act on this legislation soon, then all these improvements will be lost. 

 What you can do:  Contact your Senators today and urge them to pass S. 3307:

Sherrod Brown
(202) 224-2315
http://brown.senate.gov/contact/ 

George Voinovich
(202) 224-3353
http://voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

While the pace of local PTA groups slows down during the summer months, the Ohio PTA is monitoring several Ohio House Bills that are pending in Committees:

House Bill 353:  Commercial advertising on school buses  

This bill would authorize school districts to sell commercial advertising space on the outside of school buses.  It is pending in the House Education Committee.

House Bill 270:  Text Messaging

This bill would create a statewide ban on texting or typing on a mobile communication device while driving.  The bill defines "mobile communication device" to include a wireless telephone, text-messaging device, personal digital assistant, computer, or any other substantially similar wireless device that is designed or used to communicate text or data (R.C. 4511.204(D)).  The bill would not prohibit making emergency contacts with law enforcement, hospitals, healthcare providers, fire departments, or other similar emergency entities.  It would also permit people operating public safety vehicles from using these devices in the course of their duties.

Under the bill, whoever violates the prohibition discussed above is guilty of a minor misdemeanor (R.C. 4511.204(C)).  The penalty for a minor misdemeanor is a fine of not more than $150 (R.C. 2929.28, not in the bill).

This kind of ban has already been codified in many local ordinances, including the Cities of Cleveland and South Euclid.  The bill is pending in the House Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee.