Web NAEHCY website
Home | Sitemap | Contact Us
|
||||
|
Web NAEHCY website Home | Sitemap | Contact Us |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
Interested in homeless education? Learn more. Houston, TX November 2010 Learn more about the 2010 NAEHCY Annual Conference. [ What's New? Archives ] 
|
 The President's Budget Request and FY2011 Funding for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program Last update: 2/02/10 Homeless and Foster Education Bills Introduced in US Senate. Both Oregon Senators Join Murray and Franken as Cosponsors! Last update: 2/02/10. FY2011 Funding for the Education for Homeless Children and Youth Program (FY2011 appropriations)Last Update: February 2, 2010BACKGROUND: On Monday, February 1st, President Obama unveiled his FY2011 budget proposal. The President's request includes $65 million for the McKinney-Vento Act's Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program, which is the same as the past two fiscal years. In light of the recent stimulus dollars, this funding level represents a cut to the current funding that is available for homeless education. The proposed funding level of $65 million is particularly inadequate in light of the recent surge in family and youth homelessness, and the EHCY program's unique ability to assist homeless children and youth. The President has requested a historic investment in education - a $3.5 billion increase in funding for the U.S. Department of Education's discretionary programs. Yet without specific, targeted assistance, homeless children and youth are unlikely to benefit from these reforms. The most promising instructional strategy or academic program will be of little benefit to children and youth who cannot get to school, or who are constantly changing schools due to the instability of their homeless situation. In these times of unprecedented homelessness and limited resources, failure to target federal education dollars to the poorest children and youth is fiscally irresponsible, and sets these students on a path for academic and economic failure. NEXT STEPS: The President's budget request marks only the beginning of the process for determining FY2011 funding; Congress ultimately makes the final budget decisions. There are many opportunities to influence the funding level for the EHCY program, but the best way is for Members of Congress to hear from you. The Congressional appropriations process takes many months to complete. However, many of the most important decisions occur in early spring. Therefore, it is imperative to communicate with Congressional offices soon, and often, throughout the entire process. FUNDING LEVEL REQUESTED: Congress should appropriate at least $140 million in EHCY funding for FY2011. A funding level of $140 million would include the program's fully authorized amount of $70 million, plus the ARRA homeless education funding of $70 million. The need for this funding level is more than justified given the increases in homelessness due the recession, and pre-recession needs. ACTION NEEDED: 1. Please write and/or visit your U.S. Senators and ask them to urge Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) to include at least $140 million for the McKinney-Vento homeless education program in the FY2011 education appropriations bill. Contact information for U.S. Senators may be found at www.senate.gov. A sample Senate letter is here in Microsoft Word format. 2. Please write and/or visit your U.S. Representative and ask him or her to urge Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman David Obey (D-7th/WI) to include at least $140 million for the McKinney-Vento homeless education program in the FY2011 education appropriations bill. Contact information for U.S. Representatives may be found at http://www.house.gov. A sample House letter is here in Microsoft Word format. 3. Please distribute this alert to as many partner organizations as possible, and urge them to join this effort 4. If you are a school district homeless liaison, please fill out NAEHCY's online survey about funding needs at: this link. This information will help us make the case for more funding for FY2011. For More Information:  If you have questions, please contact Barbara Duffield at bduffield@naehcy.org or (202) 364-7392.Homeless and Foster Education Bills Introduced in US Senate. Update: Both Oregon Senators Join Murray and Franken as CosponsorsLast update: February 2, 2010"THE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITHOUT HOMES ACT" "THE FOSTERING SUCCESS IN EDUCATION ACT" Background: On Thursday, November 19, US Senators Patty Murray and Al Franken introduced the "Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2009," S. 2800, and the "Fostering Success in Education Act of 2009," S. 2801. In January, US Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) signed on as co-sponsors of these bills. The "Educational Success for Children and Youth Without Homes Act of 2009," S. 2800, amends the McKinney-Vento Act's Education for Homeless Children and Youth program, Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and other related titles of the ESEA. S. 2800 makes a strong law even stronger by reinforcing and expanding its key provisions, including school stability, enrollment, and support for academic achievement. S. 2800 also expands authorized funding to meet transportation needs. A summary of the legislation is available here. The "Fostering Success in Education Act of 2009," S. 2801, establishes a new education program to ensure that all children and youth in foster care have school stability, immediate school access, and support for academic success. S. 2801 encourages collaboration across education and child welfare agencies to cover the cost of transportation to enable foster youth to continue in their school of origin when it is in their best interest, with ultimate responsibility for the cost of transportation on child welfare agencies when necessary. S. 2801 requires school districts to collaborate with child welfare agencies to facilitate transportation in a cost-effective manner. A summary of the legislation is available here. ACTION NEEDED: 1. Please contact your U.S. Senators and urge them to co-sponsor S. 2800 (homeless bill) and S. 2801 (foster bill). Contact information for U.S. Senators may be found at http://www.senate.gov. A sample letter may be downloaded in Microsoft Word format here. 2. Please distribute this alert and urge others to contact their U.S. Senators. For More Information: Please contact Barbara Duffield at bduffield@naehcy.org or (202) 364-7392. |
| © NAEHCY 2007-2009; All rights reserved. | |