GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ACTION ALERT & UPDATE
May 17, 2001
School Social Work Issues in House & Senate
HOUSE: Rule Eliminates Consideration of Student Support Services Amendment!
SENATE: Contacts Still Needed on Counseling & Professional Development Amendments!
HOUSE: House rules allow the number of amendments to be offered during consideration of a bill on the floor to be limited. The rule governing debate on H.R. 1, the No Child Left Behind Act, limits the number of amendments to 28. Close to 150 were proposed. Among the amendments that were proposed, but WILL NOT BE offered, include one mentioned in the May 10 Update & Alert -- an amendment sponsored by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), a social worker. The amendment would have provided funding, through a formula grant targeted at the most disadvantaged schools, to hire school social workers, school counselors, and school psychologists to provide a full range of "student support services." Thanks to all who made congressional contacts urging support for the amendment.
ACTION NEEDED: Even though the amendment will not be offered, if you are a constituent of Rep. Lee, please thank her for her efforts on behalf of school social workers. We look forward to continuing to work with her on issues important to school social workers and other association priorities. Rep. Lee can be reached by phone: 202-225-2661; by fax: 202-225-9817; or by email: barbara.lee@mail.house.gov. You can verify your constituency through NASW's new advocacy tool -- www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/congressweb.htm. Just type in your zip code.
One amendment of interest that WILL BE offered on the House floor is an amendment sponsored by Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA) and Rep. Bob Barr (R-GA) to allow students with disabilities to be disciplined in the same way as students without disabilities. Any student could be suspended or expelled for possession of a weapon or drugs or for committing aggravated assault or battery. Schools could, but would not be required, to continue to provide the students, with or without disabilities, with any educational or other related services.
NASW Position: NASW opposes the Norwood-Barr amendment and is working in coalition for its defeat. Unfortunately, it enjoys strong bipartisan support. NASW supports the removal of students from school who pose a danger to themselves or others, but believes ALL children, those with and those without disabilities, should be provided with ongoing educational and other supportive services.
SENATE: The Senate continues to debate S. 1, the Better Education for Students and Teachers (BEST) Act. Further debate is expected the week of May 21, 2001. Dozens and dozens of amendments are still pending. As stated in the May 10 Alert & Update, not all of them may end up being offered.
Amendments still pending include:
- School Counseling Amendment. Sponsored by Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), the amendment would restore a number of the small education programs to the bill, including the Elementary School Counseling program. The Cochran amendment expands the program to secondary schools, with funds being awarded to secondary schools only after the appropriation exceeds $60 million. This year's appropriation is $30 million.
- Pupil Services Personnel Recruitment and Professional Development Amendment. Sponsored by Senator George Voinovich (R-OH), this amendment would restore eligibility to pupil services personnel for professional development activities and allow local educational agencies to recruit "pupil services personnel" and "mental health counselors," along with teachers, if "deemed appropriate."
ACTION NEEDED: If you have not already done so, there is still time to contact your Senators and urge them (1) to support the Cochran amendment to restore "Education Programs of National Significance," which include the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling program, and (2) to support the Voinovich amendment to restore eligibility to pupil services personnel for recruitment and professional development. Contacts should be made as soon as possible. Votes on amendments are expected throughout the week of May 21.
All Senators can be reached through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Direct line telephone numbers, fax numbers, and email addresses can be accessed through NASW's new advocacy tool: www.socialworkers.org/advocacy/congressweb.htm
