A call to action
We have an update for you on
H.R. 4502 and a call for urgent action. As you know from our earlier call to action, congressional lawmakers have been considering a bill with language threatening federal funding for public charter schools.
Language in H.R. 4502 stipulates:
“None of the funds made available by this Act or any other Act may be awarded to a charter school that contracts with a for-profit entity to operate, oversee or manage the activities of the school.” (SEC. 314)
Thank you to those of you who have already taken action to share your views on this bill! By Wednesday at 5 p.m., a number of lawmakers had submitted an
amendment (also found
here, under Item 16) that would strike the language in SEC. 314. The amendment is sponsored by the following lawmakers:
- Rep. Wilson (SC)
- Rep. Letlow (LA)
- Rep. Calvert (CA)
- Rep. Norman (SC)
- Rep. Owens (UT)
- Rep. McHenry (NC)
- Rep. LaMalfa (CA)
- Rep. Webster (FL)
- Rep. Lesko (AZ)
- Rep. Biggs (AZ)
- Rep. Cawthorn (NC)
- Rep. Timmons (SC)
- Rep. Moolenaar (MI)
- Rep. Huizenga (MI)
- Rep. Good (VA)
- Rep. Grothman (WI)
- Rep. Fitzgerald (WI)
Next steps for H.R. 4502
The U.S. House Committee on Rules will
meet on Monday, July 26, at 2:00 p.m. on H.R. 4502. Please reach out to your representative (find more information about North Carolina’s delegation
here) and to
Congresswoman Deborah Ross to share your views. Rep. Ross is the only lawmaker from North Carolina who serves as a member of the U.S. House Committee on Rules.
Contact information for Rep. Ross
Washington, DC phone number for Rep. Ross: (202) 225-3032
Raleigh, NC number for Rep. Ross: (919) 334-0840
Please call the numbers above and ask that SECTION 314 be removed from H.R. 4502. In addition, please educate your parents on this bill. You can educate as a non-profit. Tell parents about Section 314 and how Section 314 impacts your school and their child. Encourage them to contact Rep. Ross regarding their opinions. You can relate to your parents that this request came from the NC Coalition for Charter Schools.
Rep. Ross must hear from North Carolinians and local constituents–like school leaders, business leaders, teachers, and parents–that this language will hurt charter school students who are singled out in the federal appropriations bill.
Potential impacts for charters
As the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools
has pointed out, SECTION 314
“… singles out one type of public schools—charter schools—and threatens them with the loss of ALL of their federal funds if they contract with private companies for services. The language is so vague that merely contracting for food services or back-office payroll support could put their Title I, IDEA and school meals funding at risk.”
What happens if this language is not removed and goes to the House Floor? If the bill secures passage with SECTION 314 intact, we will need to work to stop it in the Senate. This may be a marathon, not a sprint. We will keep you updated, but please act now!
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