NEA Takes On NCLB and Social Security Penalties
Congress is drafting a new version of the Elementary and Secondary Act, also known as No Child Left Behind, and there seems to be strong support for changing how students are tested, so schools can measure student progress over time instead of based on a single test. Also, many in Congress seem to agree with NEA that the current law does not account for the needs of disabled students or English-language learners. It’s unclear what other elements of NEA’s Positive Agenda for the ESEA Reauthorization—such as class size reduction—might go in the new bill.
House Ways and Means
Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY) wants a hearing on the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which cut or eliminate many educators’ Social Security benefits. After meeting with NEA President Reg Weaver, Rangel expressed concern about these “very serious issues,” adding that the NEA-supported Social Security Fairness Act, which would repeal both the GPO and WEP, “deserves to be examined.”
Visit NEA's Legislative Action Center to take action on these issues.
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