34th Annual Federal Relations Network Conference

1
34th Annual Federal Relations Network Conference

• Washington D.C.
• January 28-30, 2007

2
Sunday, January 28

• Opening session Issues Update
• E-Rate Program
• Provides discounts to schools to make Internet
  access and other telecommunications services more
  affordable and accessible to students.
• Generated about 15 billion since 1998, 2.25
  billion per year.
• 40,000 applicants per year.
• The fees are accessed on long distance charges.
• Program benefits
• 94 of nations public school classrooms are
  connected to the Internet.
• 82 of public schools receive funds
• 61 of public libraries receive funds
• Beneficial to special education programs
• Provides distance learning for rural schools

3
Medicaid Eligibility

• School districts eligible for payment from
  Medicaid for health services delivered to
  Medicaid-eligible children with disabilities
• Diagnostic, preventive, and rehabilitative
  services
• Speech, physical and occupational therapies
• transportation for such services.
• teachers aids.
• School districts can claim reimbursement for the
  administrative costs of providing services such
  as enrollment outreach, coordination and/or
  monitoring of medical care.
• Medicaid Threat
• Presidents FY07 budget plan
• Block fed reimbursement for school-based
  administration/transportation costs for
  Medicaid-eligible students.
• Fed savings 615 Million in FY2007 and 3.65
  billion over 5 years.
• Contingent upon admin action by Centers for
  Medicare and Medicaid Services

4
IDEA Funding -Connection

• FY 2006 Appropriations bill cut funding for IDEA
  for the first time in history.
• FY 2007 IDEA funding-unresolved
• Federal commitment is down to 18 instead of the
  promised 40.
• Elimination of Medicaid claiming would increase
  pressure on the funding shortfall of IDEA

5
Student Nutrition in Schools

• Student Nutrition
• Increasing rate of child obesity in recent years
  has increased attention/legislation.
• Prevalence of overweight kids increased from 11
  to 19 among ages 6-11 in past decade and from
  11 to 17 among adolescents ages 12-19.
• Lots of activity in this arena-at Federal, State,
  Local and industry levels.
• School Wellness Plans
• 2004 Legislation Every school district in
  Federal school meals program must have a wellness
  policy that includes
• Goals for nutrition education
• Goals for physical activity
• Nutrition guidelines for all foods available at
  school
• Goals for other school-based activities designed
  to promote student wellness
• Assurances that school meal guidelines are not
  less restrictive than federal requirements
• Plans for evaluating implementation of the policy

6
Opening Session

• Setting the Stage for the first Session of the
  110th Congress
• Presenters E.Jane Gallucci NSBA President, Anne
  L. Bryant Executive Director NSBA, Michael A.
  Resnick Asssociate Executive Director NSBA.
• All talked
• Key quotes to remember
• If America fails its children it fails us all
• Fix the Flaw change the law
• 40 key serious flaws in NCLB

7
Monday, January 29

• Three key seminar sessions
• Federal Education Funding and Grassroots
  Strategies
• Strategy, Politics and NCLB
• Teacher Quality and Voluntary Preschool
• General Session I Speaker
• The Honorable Edward M.Kennedy(D-MA)
• Congressional Awards Luncheon
• Awards were given to The Honorable Mike
  Crapo(R-ID) and The Honorable Don Young(R-AK)
• General Session II Speakers
• The Honorable Margaret Spellings Secretary
  U.S Department of Education
• The Honorable James Clyburn(D-SC) Majority
  Whip,U.S. House of Representatives
• The Honorable Michael Castle(R-DE)U.S
  Representative Ranking Member, subcommittee of
  Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary
  Education
• The Honorable Dale Kildee(D-Mi) U.S
  Representative Chairman, Subcommittee of Early
  Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education

8
Tuesday, January 30Our Day on Capitol Hill

• Began with Senate Breakfast in the Russell Office
  Building.
• Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow attended,
  spoke and both signed NSBAS Pledge to Americas
  School Children.
• Over 90 delegates attended from the State of
  Michigan
• Break out time to visit with our county/state
  representatives
• Cheryl and Laurie met with Jackie Parker Senator
  Carl Levins Asst. and with Patti Readinger
  Debbie Stabenows Asst.
• Personally met with Thaddeus McCotter and his
  assistant.
• Later in the day we met with Nicole Young,
  Gov.Granholms asst. in Washington.
• Finished the day off with a congressional
  reception.
• Weds. Laurie attended a meeting with Alex
  Nock-Aspen Institute

9
Michigan Federal Education Priorities

• NCLB Fix and Fund it! Fix provisions regarding
  assessments, AYP measurement, and sanctions,
  especially
• Amend the definitions and calculations for
  subgroups
• Improve and make flexible the highly qualified
  teacher requirements
• Hold review and oversight hearings on NCLB for
  the present and future changes
• Medicaid Oppose proposed cuts in Medicaid
  funding for vital school based services support
  the Protecting Childrens Health in Schools Act
  to firmly establish the SBS program in statue.
• Preschool Create and fund a new grant program to
  develop, expand and sustain voluntary, quality
  preschool programs for participating children,
  especially three and four year olds.
• Title I Formula Reform the Title I allocation
  system to achieve fairness.
• Funding, Funding!!! Increase federal funding
  levels for all education programs, especially for
  Title I and IDEA.

10
The Pledge

• Pledge to Americans Schoolchildren
• Log onto www.pledgetoamericasschoolchildren.org.
• Download a copy of the Pledge.
• Contact your Representative and Senators to sign
  the Pledge.
• Send the signed Pledge back to NSBA.
• Contact local media to help inform the community.
• Your help can change the lives of schoolchildren
  in your area and possibly the future of America.
• Join the fight! Visit us online today or call
  866-521-5121

11
PLEDGE TO AMERICA'S SCHOOLCHILDREN This
pledge represents my commitment to ensure
Americas schoolchildren receive the highest
quality public education and make certain that my
schools continue to fulfill their essential role
in our communities.  Through my efforts in
Congress, I pledge to actively support and
collaborate with my local school boards to
promote excellence and equity in raising student
achievement. As a Member of Congress, I pledge to
work and vote to Improve the No Child Left
Behind Act to give my school district(s) better
measures for student and school performance, and
the support needed to close the achievement
gap. Help my school district(s) meet the needs
of students with disabilities by supporting the
funding goals of the Individuals with
Disabilities Education Improvement Act
(IDEA). Support school readiness programs for
children entering kindergarten in my school
district(s). Help my school district(s) to
attract, train and retain highly qualified and
effective teachers. Help my school district(s)
to provide all students with 21st Century skills
and knowledge, including math, science and
technology. Signed ___________________________
____________________
12
Michigan Supporters

• Carl Levin
• Debbie Stabenow
• Dale Kildee
• John Conyers, Jr.    
• Peter Hoekstra
• Fred Upton
• Tim Walberg
• February 2, 2007

13
Conference Attendees

• Cheryl Flesher Treasurer
• Laurie Hicks Secretary
• South Redford School Board

PowerPoint created by Cheryl Flesher With
collaboration by Laurie Hicks Edited by Melanie
Flesher