From Capitol Hill
White House meeting. A group of representatives from the Council for American Private Education, including some from ACSI, met on April 20 with Joshua DuBois, director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, and Roberto Rodriguez, special assistant to President Obama for education. We discussed the challenges that religious urban schools face, equity for private school children regarding federal funding, and universal prekindergarten goals. The one-hour meeting was a start to what we hope will prove to be an ongoing means of communication between the White House and private schools.
DC scholarships. There is much concern about the DC Opportunity Scholarship Program, which serves 1,700 students, lasting beyond the 2009/2010 school year. It is our understanding that Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT), as chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, is planning to introduce an entirely new bill relating to DC scholarships rather than to reauthorize the existing legislation.
A constitutional amendment relating to parental rights. HJ Res. 42 is a proposed amendment to the U.S. Constitution introduced by Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI). In section 1 it states, “The liberty of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children is a fundamental right.” Then in section 2 it states, “Neither the United States nor any State shall infringe upon this right without demonstrating that its governmental interest as applied to the [parent(s)] is of the highest order.” Also, no treaty or international law can supersede this amendment. (referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on March 31, 2009, 78 cosponsors)
Bills initiated by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX). The following bills were introduced by Rep. Ron Paul:
- Make College Affordable Act of 2009 (HR 1954) would “amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make higher education more affordable by providing a full tax deduction for higher education expenses and interest on student loans.” (referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on April 2, 2009, 1 cosponsor)
- Professional Educators Tax Relief Act of 2009 (HR 1950) would “amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit [of $3,000] for professional school personnel in prekindergarten, kindergarten, and grades 1 through 12” classrooms. [“Other staff” is excluded. —Ed.] (referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on April 2, 2009, 1 cosponsor)
- Teacher Tax Cut Act of 2009 (HR 1949) would “amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a tax credit for elementary and secondary school teachers.” (referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on April 2, 2009, 1 cosponsor)
- Education Improvement Tax Cut Act (HR 1952) would “amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against income tax for amounts contributed to charitable organizations which provide elementary or secondary school scholarships and for contributions of, and for, instructional materials and materials for extracurricular activities.” (referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on April 2, 2009, 1 cosponsor)
- Family Education Freedom Act of 2009 (HR 1951) would “amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for tuition and related expenses for public and nonpublic elementary and secondary education.” (referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on April 2, 2009, 1 cosponsor)
- Hope Plus Scholarship Act of 2009 (HR 1953) would “amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow the Hope Scholarship Credit to be used for elementary and secondary education expenses.” (referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on April 2, 2009, 1 cosponsor)
Bills initiated by Rep. Gary Peters (D-MI). The following two bills were introduced by Rep. Gary Peters:
- Helping Families Afford Tuition Act (HR 1957) would “amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a higher education tuition credit in place of existing education tax incentives,” which are called “Hope and Lifetime Learning credits.” (referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on April 2, 2009, no cosponsors)
- Helping Families Afford to Work Act (HR 1500) would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as it relates to the childcare or dependent-care tax credit, increasing the rate of such credit from 35% to 50% and making such credit refundable. (referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means on March 12, 2009, no cosponsors)
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act (S 277) was signed into law by President Obama on April 21. The prospect of private or religious school involvement really hasn’t changed much from the President Clinton years. More money will be spent; the number of “volunteers” will be raised from 75,000 to 250,000. As in the past, most of the funds will be awarded by grants to state agencies and local agencies, which include nonprofits such as private or religious schools. Learn more about the Corporation for National & Community Service, a government agency that oversees the projects, at the National & Community Service website.
News You Can Use
School choice for Congress. Currently, “14 states and Washington, DC, are offering school voucher or education tax-credit programs that help parents send their children to private [or religious] schools.” We know that about 11% of American families have children who attend nonpublic schools. What percentage of Congress members attended private schools? What percentage of their children attend private schools? The Heritage Foundation just released a fascinating study titled How Members of the 111th Congress Practice Private School Choice that answers these questions. —Lindsey Burke, Heritage Foundation, 4/20/09
Facts and figures. The Alliance for School Choice released a new series of bulletins called The Facts About School Choice. These bulletins give schools and parents information to share with community and state leaders. They contain the latest facts and figures regarding school choice issues. Check out these fact sheets today!
Revised USDE guidance on NCLB and private schools. The USDE (U.S. Department of Education), through its Office of Innovation and Improvement’s Office of Non-Public Education, has issued revised guidance on equitable services:
Guidance on Equitable Services, Eligible Private School Students, Teachers (Rev. March 2009).
This guidance is designed to assist state- and local-education agencies (SEAs and LEAs) and private school officials in implementing equitable services for private-school students and teachers for those programs governed by the Title IX uniform provisions under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as reauthorized by the NCLB (No Child Left Behind Act).
Swine flu. The CDC (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has established
a swine influenza website that includes some guidance regarding school closing.You can access it in the event of a confirmed case of swine flu or even a “suspected case epidemiologically linked to a confirmed case.” One private religious school in Queens, New York, has seen an outbreak of the virus connected to students who had spent their spring break in Mexico. —CAPE (Council for American Private Education) news alert, 4/27/2009
[For more details on any of the bills mentioned in this newsletter, please visit
the THOMAS website. —Ed.]