1619 Act

Support S.4193, the 1619 Act, which authorizes $10 million dollars over 5 years to support African American History education programs through workshops and professional development activities for public school educators; expands the National Museum of African American History and Culture professional development programs, through activities such as local, regional, and national workshops, teacher trainings with African American history education partners, and engagement with local educational agencies and schools; requires the museum to maintain a website where public school educators can find curriculum materials and best practices on African American history; authorizes the United States African American History and Culture Council to help develop the competitive criteria for grants, select the content for the website, and lead fundraising efforts for the program; encourages State education agencies to work with schools and take advantage of the program; and prioritizes grants to schools with no current African American history education programs Support Student Debt Cancellation, Not just Suspensions in any COVID-19 legislation. Support S. 4360, the Counseling not Criminalization in schools Act, to address the needs of marginalized students, ensure schools are welcoming for students, and improve academic outcomes by diverting Federal funding away from school-based law enforcement and toward services that are evidence-based, inclusive, racially and gender responsive, and trauma informed services Support substantial funding specifically for K-12 education and higher education, in an upcoming legislative package designed to address the continuing challenges and aftermath presented by COVID-19 Support a Department of Education Civil Rights Data Collection that is comprehensive, timely, and accessible to all. Support public education and oppose mechanisms to spend public dollars on private schools, including through private school voucher programs. Support urge all students, educators, and families to rally to advance inclusive and welcoming environments in all schools that celebrate and affirm LGBTQ+ students and staff. Support H,R, 8474, the Jobs and Justice Act, which is an omnibus bill to advance Black families, with provisions to combat the spread of COVID-19, advance economic and educational opportunities, address health disparities, reform the criminal justice system from end to end, and expand access to the ballot. Support immediate and comprehensive action to ensure equal educational opportunity during the COVID-19 public health crisis and beyond. Support an aggressive, bold, effective and comprehensive stimulus package to provide relief for much of the needless suffering and a myriad of areas that is occurring across our nation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Oppose the U.S. Department of Educations (Department) interim final rule (the Rule), CARES Act Programs; Equitable Services to Students and Teachers in Non-Public Schools (Docket ID ED-2020-OESE-0091), published in the Federal Register on July 1, 2020. The Rule compels public school districts to illegally divert essential CARES Act funds for public schools for the benefit of private schools, or face unlawful limitations on the way that those funds can be spent in public schools. Both options provided to districts are in direct contravention of the CARES Act. The Rule subverts the will of Congress and harms American children in public schools. Support H.R. 2574, the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act which would restore the right to individual civil actions in cases involving disparate impact in public education, thus empowering parents and communities to address - through robust enforcement - racial inequities. Support HR 2639, the Strength in Diversity Act which uses federal resources to promote and support school districts in developing, implementing, or expanding voluntary diversity initiatives they already have in place.