Urge your member of Congress to support and formally sponsor HR 1386 to reaffirm local school board governance in education and other related decision making and to ensure that the U.S. Department of Education’s actions are consistent with the specific intent of federal law and are educationally, operationally, and financially supportable at the local level. The responsibility for education resides with the states which, in turn, have delegated substantial authority to local educational agencies, which are governed by local school boards, to develop policies, set priorities, and provide accountability to direct the operation of its schools. Education decisions are best made locally by educators who understand school operations and their students’ needs. In recent years, the U.S. Department of Education has engaged in a variety of activities to reshape the educational delivery system. All too often these activities have operated to impact local policy and programs in ways that have been

The National School Boards Action Center (NSBAC) continues to urge Congress and President Barack Obama to develop an immediate bipartisan solution that will allow school districts to continue programs that are vital in advancing student achievement as they craft budgets for the 2013-14 school year. The Budget Control Act of 2011 is imposing across-the-board cuts of approximately 5 percent to education and other domestic programs in FY2013 through a process called sequestration (the cancellation of budgetary resources), Pursuant to the American Taxpayer Relief Act that was enacted earlier this year, the sequester was ordered on March 1 and slated for implementation on March 27. For fiscal years 2014-2021, the Budget Control Act would reduce budget authority for each year for defense and non-defense programs, meaning that the overall budget allocations for these programs would be lowered. On February 26, NSBAC held a national press call illustrating the consequences of sequestration on s

On December 4, 2012 NSBA Executive Director Thomas J. Gentzel presented Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) with more than 360 local school board resolutions urging Congress to stop sequestration (pictured above). Gentzel thanked Senator Murray for her efforts and stated the deep concern of local school boards regarding sequestration. Senator Murray, co-chaired the Joint Committee on Deficit Reduction (also known as the Supercommittee) and is a strong supporter of education and a former school board member

On November 6, voters in 38 states considered 188 ballot measures, some of which directly or indirectly affect public education.  The following chart is a roundup of those initiatives that presented key issues for state associations and school boards. 2012 Ballot Results

View the various resources developed by NSBAC to promote public education in the 2012 elections. NSBAC developed these resources to help school board members and the public promote public education in the 2010 presidential and congressional elections. Making Education a Major Priority: An Election Year Message to President Obama – NSBAC shares the seven key areas for federal attention over the next four years and details three key principles to guide a successful role in K-12 education in this election year message to President Obama. NSBAC’s Ask Your Local School Board: Key Education Positions for the 113th Congress can be provided to Congressional candidates by school board members to encourage them to engage voters on priority public education issues as they continue their election or re-election campaigns. While there are numerous issues across the states, within Congressional districts and even within a single community, the National School Boards Action Center (NSBAC) has i