Tuesday, March 15, 2011

In Case You Missed It!

Federal Aid for Most Literacy Programs Eliminated

In the article "Budget Cuts Raise Questions About Federal Commitment to Literacy,"  Education Week writer Erik W. Robelen writes, "The elimination of most federal aid for literacy programs at the U.S. Department of Education is raising new questions about the future of the federal commitment to promoting literacy, a role that’s had a bumpy ride in recent years.

Even though some of the more than $350 million in cuts to those programs this month could be reversed, as Congress and the White House wrangle over the budget, some education advocates say the Obama administration doesn’t seem to treat the issue as a high priority. The president himself has devoted far more public attention to the so-called STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, as he did once again when visiting a Boston public school last week."

Read the complete article (published March 14) on EdWeek.org.  

Take Action! 
The federal budget is not yet complete. You can make your voice heard and share your thoughts on our nation's educational priorities for our young people. Contacting your congressmen and senators is easy. Go to the online directories for the House of Representatives and the Senate to quickly find contact information for the congressmen and senators in your state and district. And visit WhiteHouse.gov to send a direct email to President Obama.