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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 1999

News Release

NEA President: Appropriations Bill Fails America's Children

'False flexibility' opens the door to spending on vouchers

Washington, D.C. -- Bob Chase, president of the nearly 2.5 million-member National Education Association (NEA), today issued this statement on the pending education appropriations bill:

"Cutting spending for class size reduction and Title I for disadvantaged students runs counter to everything we know about what our students need to succeed.

"Congress is telling school districts that cutting funding for class size reduction, and denying Title I benefits to 120,000 students will give them more 'flexibility' in education spending, but you can't do more with less. A promise of false flexibility can't hide the damage that these proposed cuts would do to children and public education.

"And, by allowing class size reduction funds for 'any other local need that is designed to improve student performance,' this bill opens the door for federal spending on school vouchers. As it's written right now, this bill fails America's children and public education.

"Class size reduction and the individualized attention afforded by Title I are absolutely essential to improve the performance of America's students from all backgrounds. Congress must match its rhetoric with a commitment to our children's futures."

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The National Education Association is the nation’s largest professional employee organization, representing more than 2.7 million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, education support personnel, school administrators, retired educators, and students preparing to become teachers.