RRCNA Action Alert & Advocacy Update - October, 2007

Dear RRCNA Members:

I. Federal funding action alert.
Please contact your two U.S. Senators by October 18th to ask them to vote in favor of S. 1710, the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. Most schools offering Reading Recovery rely on federal funds to provide instruction and professional development, and S. 1710 increases funding for Title I, IDEA and other vital programs by more than $2 billion dollars over this year. A sample message is below, and you can email your Senators from the U.S. Senate website. Thank you.

Dear Senator _________:

I’m writing to urge you to support S.1710, the Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill, without any amendments that would cut education funding. The increase in funding for education in S 1710 will help provide vital literacy instruction and services to struggling students. [Personalize here by 1) providing a brief example or success story, by 2) describing your role as an educator and/or 3) inviting the Senator to visit your school or campus].

Sincerely...(be sure to include your name and address so the Senator knows you are a constituent)

II. Advocacy updates.

1. Reading Recovery featured in Committee for Education (CEF) publication issued to more than 500 congressional offices.
    
2. RRCNA “Case Studies in Effective Advocacy” updated for 2007; includes Elements of Effective Advocacy.
    
3. RRCNA analysis available of House Education & Labor Committee discussion draft of ESEA/NCLB reauthorization. The House and Senate education committees could mark-up (discuss and amend) their respective bills the week of October 22nd. RRCNA will monitor progress of the ESEA and analyze for impact on Reading Recovery.
    
4. RRCNA leaders tackle Washington during CEF legislative conference: RRCNA president-elect Judith Neal, advocacy chair Judy Embry, executive director Jady Johnson and government relations director Lucy Gettman conducted a dozen meetings on and around Capitol Hill in September, including the D.C. office of “The Governator,” and the USDE Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. Embry's congressperson, Rep. John Yarmuth (D-KY) received the CEF Outstanding New Member award.