NCSS Loses another Opportunity to Lobby for NAEP

Since 2004 FCSS has lobbied NCSS on the need to provide equity on NAEP through its periodic, independently tested Civics, U.S. History and Geography assessments. At one time the NCSS Board of Directors actually passed a motion to have the organization lobby in behalf of a bill that would address this inequity and which has been repeatedly introduced in the last four Congresses. The email below represents one of the few times that NCSS members have been alerted to the fact such a bill is in existance or is even desirable.

Although a memo from NCSS lobbying firm "Washington Partners" briefly addressed the general provisions of the bill and members were urged to read the bill in its entirety, there was no separate legislative alert from NCSS calling for members to support the bill. Nor was a rationale as to why the measure might be important included. Nor was it mentioned that the bill has languished in the last three Congresses due to lack of national support for the measure. Equally baffling is how NCCS can continue to ignore attempts to rectify our inferior status on NAEP by not specifically drawing its members attention to the provisions of these bills in Congress. [Incidentally, the bill calls for hundreds of millions of dollars for continued training of social studies teachers -- in addition to the almost half billion Congress has already spent in that area-- but ignores the rather paltry amount of $7 million per year for two years for the NAEP assessment. The NAEP provision may finally pass now that it's strategically included with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of other "pork" and Congress is in the mood to gleefully spend our children's and grandchildren's inheritance.]

Many FCSS members remember that because Florida has never held accountable on NAEP or any other national assessment, former governor Jeb Bush could without fear of consequence sign into a law a measure that eliminated American History and American Govenment as graduation requirements for all Florida students. Again, if Florida is never to be held 'accountable' for students' knowledge of Civics or American History, why continue to require these subjects of all students? As a result, for two years Algebra was the only course that all Florida public school students had to successfully complete for graduation!

If S659 passed Congress this year, it would compare up to ten states on student performance in U.S. History and Civics on the 2010 NAEP assessment, and thus send the message to all governors that these courses are vital and that their state may one day be held accountable for the civic mission of its public schools!

One has to wonder what's going on at NCSS at this time of national crisis not to specifically point this out to its members through every opportunity? When will NCSS finally urge its affiliates to fight for S659?
(editor's comment: Jack Bovee)
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mailto:level.egis@ncss.org
Sent: Tuesday, March 24, 2009 10:18:51 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern
Subject: [Ncss-legis] Advocacy News: Alexander, Byrd, and Kennedy Introduce History and Civics Education Bill!

NCSS is pleased to share the attached brief memo from Washington Partners on the introduction of S.659--a bill to improve the teaching and learning of American history and civics--by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Robert Byrd (D-WV) and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) on Thursday, March 19.

Largely based on the History and Civic Achievement Act that was introduced in the 110th Congress by Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) in the House and by Senators Alexander and Kennedy in the Senate, the bill connects to NCSS advocacy efforts in the last Congress and is of great interest to the social studies. Please be sure to read the brief report for complete details.

The bill was referred to the Senate HELP Committee after its introduction and has not yet been made publicly available. As the details and future of this legislation become clearer, NCSS will be working with Washington Partners to express our continued support and determine how we can best assert our voice to improve its prospects. (Note the lack of any 'call to action' here?)