NCTE Establishes 2007 Legislative Platform
by Kent Williamson, NCTE Executive Director

At its February meeting in Atlanta, the NCTE Executive Committee adopted the 2007 NCTE Legislative Platform. This was another important step down the long road towards becoming effective advocates for our professional community. The platform had been drafted in late January by members of the Subcommittee on Government Relations (Brian Huot, chair; Susan Houser; Suzi Long; Eric Bateman; Don Zancanella) and members of the NCTE Presidential Team (Joanne Yatvin, Kyoko Sato, Kathi Yancey, Kylene Beers). Careful research and hours of briefings with legislative aides on key committees in Congress provided necessary background information for drafting the document, an arduous but enlightening process.

Gabriella Gomez from Rep. George Miller's office and Brad Thomas from Rep. Buck McKeon's office provided insights into changes underway in the House Education and Labor Committee. Since the change in majority party following the November election, the committee has been juggling its agenda. At the top of their priority list is re-examination and re-authorization of the No Child Left Behind Act and the Higher Education Act. They described the key questions that lie ahead for Congress as it considers the issues, and listened to our concerns about the effects these laws have had on literacy teaching and learning. After a long interview with Lindsay Hunsicker, Senior Education Policy Advisor with the Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) committee, the drafting group had a keener understanding of questions relating to English language learners, growth models for measuring school improvement, and the definition of scientifically-based research under various education laws. Each of these issues are addressed in our platform, and will be the subject of ongoing advocacy work this winter and spring.

Cheryl Oldham, who had served as Executive Director of the (Spellings) Commission on the Future of Higher Education, described the investigatory and deliberative processes that group worked through in 2006. She felt that the implications of their report for Congressional action this term are unclear, and that the greatest influence their report may have is to simply draw wider attention to issues of higher education access, accountability, and articulation. She dismissed the notion that the Commission was pushing for a uniform national assessment in higher education, but asserted that better tracking of student progress across higher education institutions is needed. She noted the expertise that NCTE brought to the table in writing and communications, and acknowledged that our structure, with strong representation of pre-K – 12 and two-year and four-year college institutions, made us a source of expertise for those concerned about the transition to college and academic preparation.

Liz Stillwell, the Education Legislative Assistant to Senator Jeff Sessions, spoke to us about plans for the Striving Readers legislation. This bill marks a departure from recent literacy legislation in that it doesn't depend solely on experimental or quasi-experimental research designs to validate learning gains, and also looks to qualitative data from peer-reviewed sources. It provides support for literacy coaching plans in secondary schools and targets help to teachers of reading and writing. NCTE has had an opportunity to work on this legislation at the drafting stage, along with IRA, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and the Alliance for Excellent Education. We will be working to rally support for it (in its current form) throughout this legislative session.

Policy advocacy isn't easy work, and it demands skill in the arts of compromise and negotiation. But collectively, we are learning the ropes. Busy legislators and their professional staff members really don't have time or the depth of professional experience to understand nuanced literacy education issues. They need the expertise and knowledge that NCTE members have. This term, we can speak from a position of authority in addressing some of the most complex issues facing Congress.

I hope that many members can find the time to come to Washington, D.C., on Thursday, April 26, to participate in Education Policy and English Language Arts Day events. There is no registration fee and you will have a chance to gain a deeper understanding of the issues while meeting with key legislators and NCTE leaders. All members are welcome…hope to see you there!