Over the past few weeks, NCTE has issued two Action Alerts. In both instances, you have responded and the bills have moved in the direction we were hoping for. We are now appealing to you once again.
Here is another opportunity to act as the Senate continues to debate amendments to S. 1777, the Every Child Achieves Act of 2015.
Yesterday, Senator Al Franken (D-MN) introduced his bill, S.439, the Student Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination against LGBT students. In her synopsis of the day, Ellen Fern of Washington Partners wrote, “The most impassioned remarks came from Sen. Franken, who urged his colleagues to vote in support of his Student Nondiscrimination Act amendment (#2093) which would establish a federal prohibition against discrimination in public schools based on sexual orientation or gender identity and would also prohibit schools from discriminating against LGBT students or ignoring bullying and harassing behavior.”
NCTE has a long history of supporting ALL children, including those who are LGBT. In 2007, NCTE passed the Resolution on Strengthening Teacher Knowledge of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Issues. In 2010, it passed the Resolution on Social Justice in Literacy Education, and in 2011, the Resolution on Confronting Bullying and Harassment.
Senator Franken has 40 cosponsors for his bill. If you are so inclined, please see if your senators have signed on, and if not, consider asking them for their support. The Senate will be voting any day now on this important amendment, so we encourage you to call or write if you can by clicking onto this Action Alert.
Last week, we asked you to write your senators about resource equity, and over 600 letters were sent. A couple of weeks ago, we asked you to write your senators about Senator Robert Casey’s S. 311, the Safe Schools Improvement Act of 2015. As a result of your efforts, Senator Casey now has 38 cosponsors for his bill. Check this link to see if your senator has signed on. If he or she has not, please feel free to write again. This is the Action Alert which was issued a couple of weeks ago.
Thank you for all you do to create a safe, inclusive environment for all our students.