DELAURO MEETS WITH 3RD DISTRICT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS

New Haven, CT— Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) held a meeting with 3rd Congressional District school superintendents today, discussing the FY 2012 budget and its impacts on education, as well as the upcoming reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

Significant cuts to education services and programs are included in the House majority's proposed budget for FY 2012, including cuts of $475 million to Teacher Quality State Grants, $138 million to Career and Technical Education, and the elimination of all federal literacy programs, Education Technology State Grants, and programs such as Teach for America.

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), which funds elementary and secondary schools across the country, awaits congressional action.

"This is a question of priorities. Education should be a bipartisan issue but the House majority has chosen to recklessly slash $30 billion in critical education funds and programs while maintaining oil company subsidies and tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Today I met with the superintendents of my congressional district and we discussed the difficult budget crises they face.

"There is no shortage of things we could do to help improve our education system, and you can be sure I am ready for the fight. I believe we should move towards a more comprehensive approach to education, investing in early childhood education and afterschool programs to ensure our kids have access to good nutrition, good health care, and good counseling. We cannot expect our school system to be the fix-all band-aid for the many problems kids face today, especially when we often do not pay good teachers or good administrators what they are worth.

"I will continue to stand up for the federal commitment to enhancing education, and will work hard to convince my colleagues to give our schools and our kids the resources they need to thrive."