[Dec-advocacy] news update

[Sarah Hadden]

Welcome to the DEC Advocacy List. The Division for Early Childhood  
(DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children is a non-profit  
membership organization advocating for individuals who work with or on  
behalf of children with special needs, birth through age eight, and  
their families. For more information about DEC, please contact the DEC  
Office at: The Division for Early Childhood, 27 Fort Missoula Road,  
Suite 2, Missoula, MT 59804. Phone: 406-543-0872, Fax: 406-543-0887,  
e-mail: dec at dec-sped.org. If you would like to either join or be  
removed from the DEC Advocacy List, email Sarah Hadden at  
dsh5gn at virginia.edu. Additional information about governmental  
relations activities can be obtained by visiting the DEC website:  
http://www.dec-sped.org/

11/7/005

Good afternoon. I have two items of interest. First, CEC is requesting  
that members participate in a national call-in day this Wednesday,  
November 9th, to advocate for increased funding for both IDEA and the  
Jacob Javits Gifted and Talented Act. Remember that the House and  
Senate still need to conference this appropriations bill, so feedback  
is important. In a separate issue, the Department of Ed is requesting  
feedback on Part D programs via an online survey. See details from CEC  
below.

Sarah Hadden
DEC Governmental Relations Committee

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Information from CEC

On November 9th Call Congress to Save Funding for IDEA, Gifted &  
Talented Programs

Next Wednesday, November 9th, the education community will be sending a  
message to Capitol Hill – Do Not Cut Education Funding!  Call your  
Representative and Senators toll free 1-800-426-8073 using the talking  
points below!

Talking Points
-- Thirty years ago, Congress committed to fully fund IDEA at 40  
percent per pupil cost, but both the House and Senate versions of H.R.  
3010 only allocate enough funds to pay 18.1 percent and 18 percent,  
respectively, leaving states and school districts to pay the balance.  
Currently, IDEA is funded at 18.6 percent, so Congress is actually  
taking steps backwards! 

-- The House of Representatives has eliminated funding for Javits  
Grants for students with gifts & talents, the only federal initiative  
that provides educational opportunities for gifted & talented students.  
We need to support the Senate proposed funding level of $11 million for  
2006. 

-- The two versions of H.R. 3010, together, eliminate more than $900  
million in funding for programs such as Even Start, and comprehensive  
school reform, and chop funding for education technology, and teacher  
quality enhancement grants.

On November 9th, Tell Congress to Fund IDEA and Javits Grants!
Call your Senators and Representative toll-free: 1- 800-426-8073

It’s easy to call.

Step 1: On November 9th, call 1-800-426-8073 to be connected toll-free  
to the Capitol Switchboard. Ask to speak to your Representative. (If  
you don’t know who your Representative is, the people at the Capitol  
Switchboard can tell you or you may visit CEC’s Legislative Action  
Center http://capwiz.com/cek/home/ )

Step 2: After you are connected to your Representative’s office, say:
“My name is _______________ and I live in (your town/city). I would  
like Representative [name] to support:

-- Funding for IDEA at the highest proposed level, and recognize that  
IDEA remains drastically under funded. 

-- Maintaining funding for Javits Grants for students with gifts &  
talents.

-- Not making cuts to education to pay for the recent Hurricanes, now  
is the time to support our schools and students. 

Add any other personal anecdotes or information about how these drastic  
cuts will affect you and your community.

Step 3: Call again and ask to speak to your Senators with the same  
message!

Department of Education Seeks Input on Part D of IDEA In Online Survey  
by Nov. 11

The Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)  
seeks your input on programs that will support individuals with  
disabilities and their families, covered under Part D of IDEA. Your  
input will assist OSEP in the development of its long-range plan for  
national activities which will establish OSEP’s investment directions  
and strategies across programs authorized in IDEA ’04. The deadline for  
survey submissions is November 11.

This is a unique opportunity for you to share your views with OSEP. CEC  
encourages all of its members to participate in this 10-minute,  
anonymous survey.  Click here to take the survey.


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