RRCNA Advocacy Update - June, 2009

Dear RRCNA Members:

1. Reading Recovery really made its voice heard on Capitol Hill earlier this month, during the 2009 Teacher Leader Institute and North American Leadership Academy. More than 300 Reading Recovery teacher leaders, teachers, and administrators visited 112 Congressional offices on June 11 – the greatest number ever! Every senator’s office from the 39 states represented by our attendees was visited. In addition, every key legislator serving on education and appropriations committees who has Reading Recovery in his/her district had a meeting. Priority talking points included 1) support for the Comprehensive Literacy Programs bill, expected to be introduced in both the House and Senate this summer, and 2) discussions about the education funding flowing to states from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). For the latest on ARRA funding, visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website.
    
2. Speaking of ARRA funding, it is important for Reading Recovery leaders, practitioners and advocates to be familiar with the stimulus funding options and to communicate with their governors and other state and school district decision-makers. Directing this one-time funding toward professional development and literacy instruction will have a lasting impact on students and schools.
    
3. Gene Wilhoit, the Executive Director of the Council of Chief State School Officers, keynoted the June 12 general session of the Teacher Leader Institute/Leadership Academy. Mr. Wilhoit is the former superintendent of education for both Arkansas and Kentucky and is very familiar and supportive of Reading Recovery and comprehensive literacy curriculum models. CCSSO is partnering with the National Governors Association on a Common Core State Standards Initiative on English-language Arts and Mathematics. These standards will be research and evidence-based, internationally benchmarked, aligned with college and work expectations and include rigorous content and skills. Additional information.
    
4. Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, is rounding out the Department’s executive staff. One of his most recent picks is Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana, to serve as Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. She was most recently the Superintendent of Pomona (CA) Unified School District. Access the list of all appointees and their bios.
    
5. President Obama’s FY10 budget proposal is generating both praise and concern. While $300 million is included for Striving Readers Early Literacy grants (Reading First was eliminated in the FY09 appropriations legislation) and increased funding is proposed for school improvement programs, cuts are proposed for Title I Part A, the main source of support for high need students and schools. Review the President’s budget.