Letter to Representative Altmire

April 28, 2008

Dear Representative Altmire:

On behalf of the National Education Association’s (NEA) 3.2 million members, we convey our support for your bill, the Educational Advisor and Contractor Integrity Act (H.R. 3718), which would strengthen the integrity of programs implemented under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind (NCLB).

We are pleased that this legislation is designed to address and prevent conflicts of interest associated with the U.S. Department of Education’s advisory committees and contractors who provide technical assistance. In particular, we applaud the provisions of the bill that require continual monitoring by the Department to ensure that providers of technical assistance implement appropriate conflict-of-interest policies and procedures.

A year ago, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing to address conflicts of interest in the Reading First program. The hearing highlighted the critical need for closer scrutiny of potential contractors to address – and prevent – conflicts of interest in the administration of ESEA programs. Your bill would do just that.

We thank you for your attention to this important issue and your leadership in advancing this legislation.

Sincerely,

Diane Shust, Director of Government Relations

Randall Moody, Manager of Federal Advocacy