Lucy Gettman, MA, MSW National School Boards Association 2013 NASB Legislative Issues Conference January 13, 2013

 3 former local school board members in the class of 2013  Total 24 Reps & Senators who were local school board members .04%

ESEA ReauthorizationSequestrationNSBA Bill

 House Committee passed bill in 112 th Congress  Senate Committee passed bill in 112 th Congress  Unresolved issues  MOE (House)  Funding tied to COL (House)  Comparability (Senate)

 Political stall  School boards MUST convey urgency If there is no reauthorization:  Waivers  NCLB provisions

 Sequestration  Continuing Resolution for FY 2013 funding

 Defined as the “automatic, across-the-board cancellation of budgetary resources”  Slated to impose across-the-board cuts of 5.9 percent or more to education and other domestic programs  Would occur March 1, 2013 for most federal programs, unless Congress intervenes

 Reductions would occur during the school year for most programs (e.g. Title I, Special Education, Teacher Quality)  Reductions would affect Impact Aid funding during the school year.  Some programs are exempt (ex: career & technical education, child nutrition programs)

 For every $1 million a school district receives in federal aid, $59,000 would be cut—equivalent to more than one teacher  Title I grants = $862 million cut  Special education = $687 million reduction  Not a one year cut, but part of a 10 year program

 Title I: -$4,827,794  Special Education: -$4,185,513  Teacher Quality: -$ 699,862  Head Start: -$2,475,810 *“Sequestration’s Impact on Nondefense Jobs and Services,” A report by Sen. Tom Harkin, Chairman, Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies, July 2012, adjusted for the American Taxpayer Relief Act What an 5.9 Percent Cuts Means for Nebraska: - $13 million in federal education and HHS Funds

 Sample Board Resolution  Sample Opinion-Editorial  Sample letter to Members of Congress  Survey on the impact of sequestration Urge Congress to cancel the across-the-board cuts by rescinding the sequestration provisions of the Budget Control Act.

Congress passed a six-month Continuing Resolution (CR) instead of pending FY2013 appropriations bills CR will fund education and other programs through March 27, 2013 Programs are funded at their current Fiscal Year 2012 levels plus an across-the-board increase of 0.612% If sequestration becomes effective, the funding levels from the CR would be affected by the across-the-board cuts of approximately 8.2%.

 PROBLEM  Expanded Role of Executive Branch U.S. Department of Education  Adverse impact on local policies and operations  Erosion of local school board authority and flexibility

 Race to the Top – District (RTT-D) grants  ESEA Flexibility Waivers  Civil Rights Data Collection requirements  Public Comment by blog  Reading First

GOALS  STRENGTHEN LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT CAPACITY  RE-AFFIRM ROLE OF LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS  PROVIDES CONGRESS WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON LOCAL IMPACT  ENCOURAGES CONGRESS TO EXECUTE ITS ROLE

 Conduct a review of existing reporting requirements to determine duplication & make modifications  Annually solicit input from LEAs and allied organizations regarding the impact of rules, regulations, etc. & shall issue a report based on the comments to Congress

 Promulgate any regulatoin, rule, guidance or other condition or requirement without:  Requesting data and recommendations from LEAS and key stakeholder organizations  Verifying that LEAs have adequate financial resources and technical assistance  Providing LEAs with at least 60 days to notice of new regulations, etc.  Ensuring that maximum flexibility is provided to LEAs to implement new requirements.

 Conflict with the power & authority of LEAs regarding the operation of schools  Create additional costs to LEAs unless federally funded  Place conditions or requirements on grants to SEAs or LEAs that are not directly related to the purpose of a grant

 NSBA lobbyists are meeting daily with Members of Congress to request their sponsorship and support.  NSBA Executive Director Tom Gentzel is meeting with the Secretary today. to talk about our bill.  NSBA’s Federal Relations Network conference will officially unveil the bill & be a topic for Hill visits.

 Ask your Member to sponsor/support the “LEA Governance, Flexibility and Efficiency Act”  Make your feelings known about sequestration and the fiscal cliff  Root for your favorite movies and television shows at the Golden Globes.

Lucy Gettman Director, Federal Programs NSBA