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July 2011United States CongressWashington, DCDear Members of Congress,On behalf of the thousands of students and schools across the country that we serve, we are writing to urgeyou to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) without further delay.Our nonprofit organizations are united behind this goal. Collectively, we are working to transform

struggling high poverty schools, build schools’

capacities to confront nonacademic and academic barriers tostudent success, and establish a positive culture for teaching and learning. We work in early childhoodeducation, elementary, and secondary schools. We run charter schools, afterschool programs, collegeaccess initiatives, and many other vital programs. We hold ourselves to high standards. We measure ourresults. And that is how we know we are making a difference. Now we are asking you to make a difference.No Child Left Behind is a ten-year o

ld law, enacted when this year’s graduating seniors were in second

grade. It is no longer adequate to meet the challenges we face in preparing all students for the jobs of thefuture and successful citizenship in a global economy. Combined with the uncertainty that comes fromfederal inaction, this law is hampering education innovation and stalling proven strategies that wouldensure opportunity for millions of students. It is time to do the hard work of passing a new law.Our organizations, united under the America Forward Education Coalition, believe in the principlesoutlined in our policy platform

“America Forward on ESEA: Competition, Flexibility, and Data

-DrivenResults

”

As the paper articulates, this reauthorization must push forward on accountability andtransparency. It must ensure all students have effective teachers and leaders and increase local flexibility toallow for locally determined solutions. The new law must spur entrepreneurship and reward success bymaking catalytic investments in innovations that work for the academic achievement of all children.Secretary Duncan has stated that he and the President support action immediately. If Congress cannot come together to reauthorize ESEA by August of this year the Secretary will use statutory authority towaive regulatory requirements of the current law. State waivers are not sufficient to support the

critical

reform efforts that students deserve and the public expects. We urge you not to let politics stand in theway of an excellent educat

ion for our nation’s children. Simply put, the reauthorization of ESEA is essential

to ensuring that all children, of all backgrounds, have access to a quality education.We are here to do everything in our power to help you do what is right for our children. We urge you tomake our students a national priority and move this legislation before school starts again in the fall.Sincerely,

The America Forward Education Coalition

THE AMERICA FORWARD EDUCATION COALITION

Deborah Smolover Executive DirectorAmerica ForwardBob Giannino-Racine CEOACCESSJim McCorkell CEOAdmission PossibleMarguerite Kondrake President & CEO

America’s Promise

AllianceJack McCarthy Managing DirectorAppleTree Institute forEducation InnovationSara Beaulieu VP, Organizational Strategy& Development Be the Change Inc.

Suzanne McKechnie Klahr CEO & FounderBUILDRichard R. Buery, Jr. President & CEO

The Children’s Aid Society

Eric Schwarz Co-Founder & President Citizen SchoolsMichael Brown CEO & FounderCity YearMarc Freedman CEO & FounderCivic VenturesJ.B. Schramm Founder & CEOCollege Summit James L. Weinberg Founder & CEOCommongood Careers