NREAC Meeting Minutes

  

June 25, 2008

Conference Call

 

John Hill
Joe Bard
John Hill
Joe Bard
Ray Patrick
Mary Kusler
Brian Talbott
Scott Turney
Boyd Dressler
Noelle Ellerson
Don Rogers
Bob Rogers
Barb Havlicek

Pre-K Act

  • The House Education and Labor Committee marked up an early childhood bill (HR 3289). It would support state efforts in Pre-K education. It would NOT be a new federal system over what the states are already doing. Rather, it would support current efforts.
  • The bill was offered by Rep. Hirono out of Hawaii.
  • Specific rural highlights are found in two amendments by Rep. Hare of IL:
  • It would increase language to ensure the support of the transition students from Pre-K to K at the local level
  • It would increase the state responsibility to break down barriers for rural students to attend PreK opportunities
  • States would be required to make sure they serve children in rural areas
  • Mr. Hare offered this specific amendment, and Mr. Loebsack spoke out in support
  • NREA and NREAC were mentioned in both amendments
  • There is not a direct companion bill in the Senate as of yet
  • Another passed amendment adds in reporting section that states have to report on progress for serving students from rural areas

DC Vouchers

  • DC has the only federally funded school voucher program. That pilot program was intended to expire this year, meaning the program would end this year (it should not be funded).
  • Two official reports indicated that the voucher program and schools made no significant difference in student performance.
  • If the funding language was not stripped out, we had hoped the bill will include clarifying language that this would be the last year of the program and that the money could only be used towards current enrolled students the money could not be used to increase the amount of the vouchers or to expand the program to new kids
  • Unfortunately, the clarifying language was not included in the House bill. We are now totally focusing our attention on the Senate action in July.
  • The bill included loose language that if DC no longer wants the voucher program then it will be undone; otherwise, Congress will keep it.

Appropriations

  • Both the House and Senate subcommittees marked up their versions of the appropriations bill.
  • We do not have both the REAP numbers, but we are pretty sure that both the House and the Senate level funded the program
  • The House included a $665 million increase in Title I and a $604 million increase for IDEA
  • The House and Senate zeroed out Reading First
  • The Senate included $631 million additional dollars for Title I; $447 million for IDEA; level funded REAP; and zeroed out Reading First
  • We will forward the detailed funding chart from CEF when it becomes available.

Emergency Supplemental (Medicaid/ Forest Counties)

  • Good News we won!!
  • Both the House and the Senate passed the final version of the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill and they are on the way to be signed by the President.
  • 6 of the 7 Medicaid regulation moratoria are included (language that extends the moratoria through April 1, 2009)
  • We are safe for now, but we need to start working on a long term strategy soon. We do not want to wait until March to start addressing this issue.
  • Thanks for everyone’s work on this!!!
  • Not So Good News
  • The supplemental appropriation does not include a 1 year extension of the Forest Counties legislation. We are scrambling to figure out the next steps, and what the next best legislative vehicle may be for moving the extension.

Business Related

  • Jan Fly In: The dates for the 2009 January fly in are Thursday and Friday, Jan 29-30
  • Ray Patrick has a conflict, in order to accommodate his schedule we would have to move it to early Feb. (How do people feel about this?)
  • NREAC Meeting at NREA Conference: NREAC will meet at the NREA national conference. The coalition will meet at 1 pm on October 29.
  • Our next NREAC conference call will be Wednesday July 23 at 1 pm EST.
  • In the next month or so, Joe Bard will be sending invoices for NREAC membership.
  • Interest in starting a House Education Rural Caucus: Reps. Loebsack and Hare have expressed an interest in starting a rural education caucus and will be looking to do an event in December. Mary has offered for NREAC to help. Details to follow as available.