Senate Education Debate Drags On . . .

Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program

Bills to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Program introduced by Representative Marge Roukema (R-NJ) as the Elementary and Secondary Counseling Improvement Act (H.R. 1508) and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) as the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Improvement Act (S. 620) were incorporated, as amendments, into much larger education legislation--the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) (H.R. 1).

A conference committee has been appointed to work out the differences in the House and Senate Versions. The Senate appointed Kennedy, Dodd, Harkin, Mikulski, Jeffords, Bingaman, Wellstone, Murray, Reed, Edwards, Clinton, Lieberman, Bayh, Gregg, Frist, Enzi, Hutchinson, Warner, Bond, Roberts, Collins, Sessions, DeWine, Allard and Ensign to the conference committee and the House appointed Boehner, Petri, Roukema, McKeon, Castle, Graham, Hilleary, Isakson, Miller, George, Kildee, Owens, Mink, Andrews, and Roemer.

The last meeting held by the Conference committee was September 25. Conferees are scheduled to meet again on October 23, but is unclear—even with pressure from President Bush—if a final compromise can be reached prior to adjournment.

Still Time to Build Support for School Social Work Amendments!

If you have not yet contacted your Senators to urge them to support the Cochran and Voinovich amendments (see below), there is still time. Senate debate on S. 1, the Better Education for Students and Teachers (BEST) Act, is expected to continue the week of June 4, 2001. Senate leaders had hoped to finish work on the bill prior to the Memorial Day congressional recess, which begins tomorrow and ends June 3, but were unable to finish due to the number of amendments pending and the need to debate the tax bill.

(1) Cochran Amendment. Sponsored by Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), the amendment would restore a number of the small education programs, including the Elementary School Counseling program, to the BEST Act. The Cochran amendment expands the current program to secondary schools, with funds being awarded to secondary schools only after the appropriation exceeds $60 million. This year's appropriation is $30 million.

(2) Voinovich Amendment. Sponsored by Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), this amendment would restore eligibility to pupil services personnel for professional development activities and allow local educational agencies to use federal funding earmarked for hiring and training teachers, to recruit not only teachers, but also "pupil services personnel," which include school social workers, if "deemed appropriate."

ACTION NEEDED: Contact your Senators and urge them (1) to support the Cochran amendment to restore "Education Programs of National Significance," which include the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling program, and (2) to support the Voinovich amendment to restore eligibility to pupil services personnel for recruitment and professional development. Contacts should be made as soon as possible. Votes on amendments are expected throughout the week of June 4.

All Senators can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Direct line telephone numbers, fax numbers, and email addresses can be accessed through NASW's new advocacy tool: www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/congressweb.htm

HOUSE UPDATE:

The House approved H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act, on Wednesday, May 23, by a vote of 384-45. As expected, prior to final passage and despite our best efforts, the House passed an amendment sponsored by Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA) and Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) to allow students with disabilities to be disciplined in the same way as students without disabilities. The vote on the amendment was 246 to 181. All four social work members of Congress voted no. (Rep. Susan Davis, D-CA; Rep. Barbara Lee, D-CA; Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-TX; and Rep. Ed Towns, D-NY). Under the amendment, any student can be suspended or expelled for possession of a weapon or drugs or for committing aggravated assault or battery. Schools can, but would not be required, to continue to provide the students, with or without disabilities, with any educational or other related services.

ENSURE THAT THE VOICE OF SOCIAL WORK IS HEARD!

MAKE YOUR SENATE CONTACTS TODAY!

THANKS FOR YOUR ADVOCACY!