Press Room

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 11, 2011

 

CONTACT: Allison Fastow

(202) 331-0330

 

 

Washington, D.C. -- A coalition of 14 major nonprofit organizations representing the nation’s leading innovators in the education sector (America's Promise Alliance, Appletree Institute for Education Innovation, Be the Change Inc., The Children's Aid Society, Citizen Schools, City Year, College Summit, "I Have a Dream" Foundation, KIPP Foundation, New Leaders for New Schools, Playworks, Save The Children, Teach For America, Turnaround for Children, Inc.) have come together to create the America Forward Education Coalition.

 

United behind the principles outlined in the policy paper, “America Forward on ESEA: Competition, Flexibility, and Data-Driven Results,” the America Forward Education Coalition sent a letter to Congress today requesting immediate reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Citing the “economic imperative and moral obligation to ensure every student has access to an excellent education and the chance for a successful life,” the Coalition expressed concern that federal inaction on the issue of education reform “is hampering education innovation and stalling proven strategies that would ensure opportunity for millions of "students."

 

In the letter that was sent to all Members of Congress, the America Forward Education Coalition outlined the need for the reauthorization of ESEA to include increased accountability and transparency, guaranteed access to effective teachers and school leaders, support of entrepreneurship within the education sector and catalytic investment in successful education solutions. It also advocated for increased flexibility paired with accountability and transparency standards that allow for locally determined solutions while holding school districts and schools accountable for achieving results with the local partners of their choosing.

 

"Never before have education organizations with such varied missions aligned behind one policy platform as it relates to national education reform to create this type of coalition," said America Forward Executive Director Deborah Smolover. "This is an essential moment for Congressional action on this issue, and the education sector recognizes the need to advocate for that action if we are going to make a difference in the education of future generations of America’s children."

 

The letter and policy platform is supported by the nearly 50 member organizations of the America Forward Coalition.

 

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America Forward works to advance a policy agenda that creates an infrastructure for innovators and government to act together to scale the impact of proven and promising solutions. America Forward Coalition organizations serve tens of millions of people per year. Coalition members, and the America Forward effort overall, focus directly on the toughest domestic challenges facing our nation in education, public health, poverty and economic mobility, workforce development, and other issues.