URGENT ACTION -- Tell Congresswoman Davis to Vote YES on the Biggert Amendment

by Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco Thursday, May. 03, 2001 at 6:01 PM
coh@sf-homeless-coalition.org 415/346.3740 468 Turk St. San Francisco 94102

ACTION NEEDED: U.S. Congresswoman Susan Davis is on the House Education Committee and is currently in opposition to the Biggert amendment because of unfounded fears that schools in San Diego will lose funding.

A C T I O N A L E R T

Help Homeless Children and Youth Succeed in School

Tell Congresswoman Davis to Vote YES on the Biggert Amendment



May 2, 2001

BACKGROUND: H.R. 1, the "No Child Left Behind Act" reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It includes the McKinney Act's Education for Homeless Children and Youth program.

H.R. 1 contains many important measures that would increase homeless children's access, stability, and support in school -- provisions such as immediate enrollment, liaisons in all schools, and the right to stay in the school of origin for the duration of homelessness.

However, H.R. 1 contains an objectionable provision that should be vigorously opposed. This provision, a so-called "grandfather" provision, would permit school districts that currently segregate homeless students from their housed peers to continue to do so, thus violating their educational rights.

STATUS: The House Education Committee will mark up H.R. 1 on Wednesday, May 2nd and Thursday May 3rd. Congresswoman Judy Biggert (R-IL) will offer an amendment to remove the grandfather provision permitting school segregation.

ACTION NEEDED: U.S. Congresswoman Susan Davis is on the House Education Committee and is currently in opposition to the Biggert amendment because of unfounded fears that schools in San Diego will lose funding.

Please contact Congresswoman Davis and urge her to vote YES on the Biggert amendment.

THE MESSAGE: Vote YES on the Biggert amendment to stop the school segregation of homeless students. No schools in San Diego will lose funding if she votes yes, but many students will lose their educational rights if she votes no.

Congressional action in the next few days will shape the McKinney Act for the next six years. Please call today! Congresswoman Davis' number is 202.225.2040.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Barbara Duffield at NCH at 202.737.6444, ext. 18, or email at bduffield@nationalhomeless.org.

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National Coalition for the Homeless

1012 Fourteenth Street, NW

Suite 600

Washington, DC 20005-3405

Phone: 202-737-6444, ext. 18

Fax: 202-737-6445

Email: bduffield@nationalhomeless.org

Web: http://www.nationalhomeless.org

Original: URGENT ACTION -- Tell Congresswoman Davis to Vote YES on the Biggert Amendment