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Washington Partner Perspectives For January 29, 2007

Today’s questions are answered by Ellen S. Fern, senior vice president at the firm.

Fern brings almost 20 years of experience in public policy and communications to her work in support of the firm's education clients. She began her career on Capitol Hill as an aide to Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and is an expert in a variety of areas including coalition building, grassroots organizing, managing and developing public education campaigns, field services and advocacy.

Before coming to Washington Partners, LLC, Fern was the director of National and Corporate Partnerships at the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy where she spearheaded the inception of the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy.

President Bush made a strong call for the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act last week in his State of the Union Address. Are Congressional Democrats ready to work with Bush on a reauthorization this year?

Fern:
Yes, I believe Congressional Democrats are ready to work with the Administration as well as their colleagues across the aisle on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary School Education Act - known as No Child Left Behind. However, the timeline is the real question. Congressional Democrats will not be “rushed” to get the work done in order to meet a deadline imposed by the President. Both Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Chairman of the HELP Committee and Representative George Miller (D-CA), Chairman of the House Ed and Labor Committee, are committed to maintaining the core principles of the law as they are both original authors of NCLB; however, they want to have plenty of time for members of each of their committees to hear testimony on key issues and then discuss and debate how to make the law better for all students.

The Bush administration has indicated it will not be submitting a specific proposal for the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind. Does that make it harder for a bipartisan bill to emerge, or easier?

Fern:
I believe this will make it easier for a bipartisan bill to emerge. Because the Administration has not submitted a specific proposal, the HELP and Ed and Labor Committees can focus on bills they want to pass out of their committees as opposed to reacting to something the President has submitted.

We expect the President’s proposal to expand charter school options under No Child Left Behind will be a major area of debate on the bill. Do you agree? What are the other areas where party differences are likely?

Fern:
Yes, I agree, there will be a push to expand charter school options under No Child Left Behind which will be very controversial. Other even more controversial topics will include an expansion of school choice or “vouchers” (using the D.C. Voucher Program as the model); expansion of Supplement Education Service (SES); and accountability systems particularly concerning limited English proficient (LEP) students as well as students with disabilities.

On a more macro level, however, there will be much heated debate – on both sides of the aisle - around the essence of No Child Left Behind, and what I mean by that is the fundamental question of, how much of a role should the federal government play in dictating public school policy. There is an extremely strong tradition in this country that school policy is under the purview of local and state governments. In the first term of the Bush administration, Republicans kept quiet about this key point to let the President have his first big legislative win. These same members will not contain their concern this time around.

The adequacy of funding available to state and local school districts to implement No Child Left Behind has been a major area of concern for the past several years. Is this likely to continue?

Fern:
I can answer that best in one word – absolutely!



Washington Partners, LLC is a full service government affairs and public relations consulting firm that has built a reputation for producing results. The partners - long-term insiders in education policy - came together in 2002 to form Washington Partners, LLC. The firm boasts a staff of strategic and innovative thinkers providing a wide array of services that are customized to meet clients' needs. By consistently exceeding client goals and expectations, the firm's client list continues to grow. The firm's website may be found at: www.wpllc.net.

"Partner Perspectives" is produced weekly by Higher Education Washington, Inc. and is available on both the Washington Partners, LLC website and under "Opinions and Interviews" in the HEWI Quad located at www.hewiquad.net. Opinions expressed in "Partner Perspectives" are those of the person interviewed and not those of Washington Partners, LLC, its clients, or of Higher Education Washington or the HEWI Quad.

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