We join FairTest in urging you to contact your Senators and Congresspersons NOW about changes in the federal education law, ESEA (formerly NCLB).

While most Congress watchers don't think ESEA will be reauthorized (revised) this year, we are hearing that the members of the relevant committees are meeting every day to work on agreed language. What they agree to now is very likely to end up in the final bill.

This is big, folks. Changes in ESEA will have a huge impact on our children's education for at least the next five years.

Timing?

Congress is in session the rest of this week. Legislators should be in their home districts for a week beginning July 4^th. , and they take a month-long break beginning August 9.

So, think about contacting D. C. offices this week, or making a face-to-face appointment with your Senator and Congressman while they are home.

Calls are better than e-mails. Letters are good, too.

Contact information is here for the Senate and here for the House.

What to say?

Here's a 2-page summary of recommendations from the Forum for Education Accountability, which PURE endorses.

I'll be writing more tomorrow and in the coming days, too, but some main points are:

1. Fewer tests and real multiple measures. Don't use test scores to evaluate teachers.

2. Fair funding – the federal government needs to take a stronger role in making sure that your zip code doesn't determine the quality of your education.

3. Collaborative, local school remediation for struggling schools, not closings, firings, turnarounds and charters.

4. Real parent involvement including a strong parent voice in school decision making.

Need more motivation?

Here's a quote from "10 reasons to say 'no' to Race to the Top" from Diane Ravitch, former Bush education advisor, who now speaks out against NCLB and Arne Duncan's plans for ESEA:

I hope I am wrong, but I believe that 10 years from now, we will look back with regret and even shame on this misuse of federal power. Books will be written analyzing where these ideas came from and why they were foisted on the nation’s public schools at a time of fiscal distress. And we will be left to wonder why so much money and energy was spent promoting so many dubious ideas.

Act now – this is the moment to do something big for our children.