As of June 2005...

• NREAC created their first legislative agenda through a successful 2 day meeting in Washington DC in January.  This was the first time that both state and national associations came together to create a national policy agenda for rural education and was a critical step in moving the coalition forward.

• The Coalition helped sponsor a reception welcoming Senator Enzi, co-founder of the Senate Rural Education Caucus, as chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.  This reception was attended by more than 250 people and provided great exposure for the Coalition both on Capitol Hill and among the other national education organizations.

• NREAC held several conference calls with AASA staff to be briefed on the latest legislative activity in Congress, updates on the REAP program, progress in implementing No Child Left Behind and update on the regulations being proposed for IDEA.

• NREAC became a member of the Committee for Education Funding joining 105 national education organizations dedicated to increasing the federal investment in education.  This membership expires at the end of the calendar year.  Membership includes a Budget Analysis Book for the coalition, as well as access to funding resources such as the latest charts and discounted tickets to any CEF events including the annual Gala and breakfasts with congressional members.

• NREAC was represented in meetings on Capitol Hill on issues ranging from E-Rate to Perkins Career and Technical Education and funding matters and signed onto organizational letters this year in support of their advocacy positions.

• Within the E-Rate debate, NREAC is represented with the EdLiNC coalition (a national coalition of private and public education organizations and the American Library Association committed to preserving the E-Rate).

• NREAC was able to establish the importance of rural America with the Perkins reauthorization to help support the case that career and technical education should be continued.

• The grassroots of NREAC helped place pressure to ensure the continued funding of the Rural Education Achievement Program.  NREAC was represented in conversations with the U.S. Department of Education to streamline the application process and help district apply who have never participated.

• Finally, NREAC will continue to distinguish itself during this appropriations process as the combined grassroots works to maintain dollars flowing to rural districts, especially within Title I.