ASCD Unveils 2009 Legislative Agenda

Alexandria, VA (03/19/09)— ASCD's 2009 Legislative Agenda calls on national leaders to ensure all students are taught by highly effective teachers, have equitable educational opportunities, receive innovative and research-based instruction, and are evaluated based on comprehensive measures of performance and school success. The agenda, which was unveiled at ASCD's Annual Conference this past weekend, will help the association, its members, and other educators influence the policy discussions and decisions regarding federal education legislation as well as reforms at the state and local levels. It is based on the premise that federal education policies and other initiatives affecting children need to be better aligned into a more coordinated system that better serves the whole child, families, educators, and communities.

Linda Mariotti, ASCD President and chair of the legislative committee that developed the agenda, said, "Educators must seize the opportunity to help the Obama administration and education policymakers fully realize our nation's great potential by ensuring our children become productive and engaged citizens. The legislative agenda will help ASCD's members use their voices to advocate at the local level to improve the education of all children."

The agenda emphasizes the need for

• Equitable Educational Opportunities. NCLB highlighted the achievement gaps that exist in too many of our schools and districts. It's time to use that data ensure all students have access to highly effective teachers; engaging and rigorous coursework; relevant educational technology and career and technical programs; and resources for strengthening schools, families, and communities.
• Highly Effective Educators. NCLB's highly qualified teacher provision ensures all students have teachers who have met the most basic qualifications to enter the classroom. Now we need to guarantee that each student has highly effective teachers who elicit growth in student achievement and receive comprehensive support at all stages of their careers, from preparation and induction to ongoing professional development.
• Innovative Educational Redesign. We need to support innovative, research-based approaches that ensure young children are well-prepared for school, students successfully transition from the elementary to secondary grades, and high school graduates are ready for success in a global society.
• Comprehensive and Accurate Measurement of School Success. Students and schools should be measured by a comprehensive assessment system that incorporates multiple indicators and analyzes student growth over time. Similarly, our accountability system should become more fine-grained, distinguishing among schools and districts with varying levels of performance and targeting improvement assistance where it is needed most.

ASCD's legislative agenda is developed by its legislative committee, a diverse cross section of individuals from ASCD's membership who represent various facets of the profession and are appointed by ASCD's President.

ASCD Executive Director Gene Carter said, "ASCD will use the 2009 Legislative Agenda to guide our advocacy work throughout the year, evaluate and shape ESEA reauthorization and other federal education policy proposals, and prepare our members to advocate for complementary education reforms at the state and local levels."

View ASCD's 2009 Legislative Agenda.

Help promote this agenda in your community. Join Educator Advocates to get regular policy updates from Washington, D.C., and help shape education initiatives for students and schools.

Contact Information

• David Griffith, policy director, at 1-703-575-5621 or by e-mail
• Barbara Michelman, communications director, at 1-703-575-5764 or by e-mail