Top Dems Oppose Privatization of Funds that Support Schools and Students
“It is unfathomable that you and your colleagues would be open to a major redistribution of Impact Aid dollars that would strip funding from 1,200 school districts and 10 million students”
WASHINGTON– Today, all 17 Democratic Members of the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and all 24 Democratic Members of the Committee on Armed Services, sent a letter to Chairwoman Virginia Foxx and Chairman Mac Thornberry expressing strong opposition to the inclusion H.R. 5199, the Education Savings Accounts for Military Families, or any school voucher or privatization amendment, in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Specifically, members were concerned with how this bill would privatize and dilute funding from the Impact Aid program – a program with a strong history of bipartisan support as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
“Over the years, no one in either chamber suggested that Impact Aid should be privatized. It is unfathomable that now, as ESSA is being implemented, you and your colleagues would be open to a major redistribution of Impact Aid dollars, a redistribution that would strip funding from 1,200 school districts and 10 million students,” the Members wrote. “As you are aware, 80% of our military-connected students attend public schools. Any amendment that diverts resources from public schools would be detrimental to the majority of military-connected students. Furthermore, privatizing impact aid would violate the statutory purpose of the program: to reimburse school districts for the loss of local tax revenue in communities where there is a federal impaction.”
Rather than dismantling this bipartisan program, Congress should work to fully implement ESSA, monitor the educational achievement of military-connected students, support the implementation of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission, and focus on the support military families need.
The full text of the letter is enclosed below:
Dear Chairwoman Foxx and Chairman Thornberry:
We write to express our strong opposition to the inclusion of H.R. 5199, the Education Savings Accounts for Military Families, or any school voucher or privatization amendment, in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Specifically, we write to express our deep concern with any dilution of funding from the Impact Aid program, a program with a strong history of bipartisan support that was reauthorized in 2015 by an overwhelming majority as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). ESSA made amendments to and reauthorized our nation’s K-12 education law, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
The NDAA reauthorization is a critical piece of legislation that must pass on a bipartisan basis every year. The inclusion of any proposal that would send public resources to private schools is opposed by the Democratic caucus and could potentially derail any NDAA bill that contains such measure.
During the lead-up to ESEA reauthorization, the House Education and the Workforce Committee held 69 hearings over the course of eight years to debate every aspect of the law. Over those years, no one in either chamber suggested that Impact Aid should be privatized. In fact, during the open amendment process in the Senate, not a single amendment was filed or voted on that would fundamentally alter the structure of Impact Aid. It is unfathomable that now, as ESSA is being implemented, you and your colleagues would be open to a major redistribution of Impact Aid dollars, a redistribution that would strip funding from 1,200 school districts and 10 million students. As you are aware, 80% of our military-connected students attend public schools. Any amendment that diverts resources from public schools would be detrimental to the majority of military-connected students. Furthermore, privatizing impact aid would violate the statutory purpose of the program: to reimburse school districts for the loss of local tax revenue in communities where there is a federal impaction.
One noticeable improvement for military-connected children included in ESSA was the disaggregation of student data by a new subgroup of military-connected children. This policy change was requested by military-families and other service member stakeholders who were actively engaged in the multi-year-long ESEA reauthorization process. At no point did military families ask for Impact Aid dollars to flow to private schools. Furthermore, other voucher proposals offered during ESSA consideration were soundly rejected.
Rather than dismantling this bipartisan program, Congress should work to fully implement ESSA, monitor the educational achievement of military-connected students through the new subgroup data in ESSA, support the implementation of the Military Interstate Children’s Compact Commission, and focus on the supports military families need, such as addressing TRICARE, providing opportunities for spousal employment, and ensuring transitional benefits.
Sincerely,
Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Committee on Education and the Workforce, Ranking Member
Congressman Adam Smith (WA-09), Committee on Armed Services, Ranking Member
Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Congresswoman Alma S. Adams (NC-12)
Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL)
Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02)
Congresswoman Susan A. Davis (CA-53)
Congressman Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11)
Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13)
Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11)
Congressman Raul M. Grijalva (AZ-03)
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08)
Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01)
Congressman Jared Polis (CO-02)
Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (MP-AL)
Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01)
Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41)
Congresswoman Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24)
Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo (GU-AL)
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14)
Congressman A. Donald McEachin (VA-04)
Congressman Salud O. Carbajal (CA-24)
Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02)
Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01)
Congressman Ruben Gallego (AZ-07)
Congressman Tom O’Halleran (AZ-01)
Congressman Robert A. Brady (PA-01)
Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02)
Congressman James R. Langevin (RI-02)
Congressman John Garamendi (CA-03)
Congressman Anthony G. Brown (MD-04)
Congressman Seth Moulton (MA-06)
Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20)
Congresswoman Niki Tsongas (MA-03)
Congressman Ro Khanna (CA-17)
Congressman Beto O’Rourke (TX-16)
Congressman Thomas R. Suozzi (NY-03)
Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33)
Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-05)
Congresswoman Jacky Rosen (NV-03)
Congresswoman Stephanie N. Murphy (FL-07)
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