AFT President Speaks Out Against Education Programs Cuts
Back-to-school address describes current school year as a ‘landmark' moment

Chicago -- In a national back-to-school address, American Federation of Teachers President Sandra Feldman took state and federal political leaders to task for a "disastrous pattern of cutbacks" in education and urged them to invest in early childhood education programs as an important step to further closing the achievement gap.

Feldman discussed the consequences of the severe budget cuts that students and teachers face as they return to school, which come at the same time that tough federal accountability measures go into effect. 

Feldman spoke at a breakfast hosted by the Chicago Teachers Union and Leadership for Quality Education, an organization of business leaders involved in improving education in the Chicago area. 

"For education, it is a landmark moment--a moment when we could be building on the progress that has been made--or a lost opportunity that will damage the foundation of public education," Feldman said.

The AFT president acknowledged the budget crisis but called on states to "reorder their priorities."  The combination of state budget shortfalls, President Bush's unfulfilled promises of increased federal funding for schools and students, and the effect of the administration's massive tax cuts for the wealthy, is taking a heavy toll on public schools across the country, she said. 

"Our schools, teachers and students are being asked to do far more, but they are being forced to do so with far less," Feldman said.

She also focused on the budgetary challenge that comes with meeting our national security needs in Iraq, Afghanistan and at home, but stressed that a nation as great as ours should and could do that while also investing in our country's domestic programs.

"I look forward to the day when Iraq is stable and Iraqi students have the opportunity to learn in classrooms that don't teach hatred and bigotry, but truth and democracy," she said.  "But I also look forward to the same kind of commitment to making sure that this country's infrastructure and future--for education and all public services--are solid and secure."

Feldman highlighted the success that many urban schools have had in closing the achievement gap between rich and poor children.  According to a recent study, nearly 90 percent of urban districts reported an increase in math scores, and more than half of all urban schools made academic gains greater than their state average.  In the past four years, participation by disadvantaged students in Advanced Placement classes also rose by 101 percent, compared to a 48 percent increase by the overall student population.  The AFT president reported that 87 percent of Chicago's 450,000 public school students come from low-incomes homes--nearly four times the national average.

Feldman devoted a large portion of her address to the essential role of early childhood programs in shrinking the achievement gap, noting that they are sound investments for cash-strapped states.  Every dollar invested in high-quality preschool is money well spent because students require less remedial education, commit fewer criminal acts and achieve more economic success. "We can't afford not to invest in these programs," Feldman said.

She encouraged states to implement Kindergarten-Plus, an AFT initiative that extends full-day kindergarten to poor children during the summer months before and after the regular kindergarten year, as an effective way to help reduce the achievement gap early on.  New Mexico recently became the first state to offer Kindergarten-Plus, and several states have pending legislation for their own programs.  Illinois is the only other state that has passed the legislation into law.  It is currently awaiting funding.

 "We know how to break the cruel cycle that traps so many youngsters from an early age. And we have the teachers with the skills and dedication to do it," said Feldman.  "What really is lacking is the political will necessary to provide the resources and the leadership that will do it."

For more information on Kindergarten-Plus, go to
http://www.aft.org/topics/ece/downloads/KPlusQ%26A.pdf

For a copy of the full text of AFT President Sandra Feldman's speech go to
http://www.aft.org/presscenter/speeches-columns/speeches/feldman071003.htm

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The AFT represents more than 1.3 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers, paraprofessionals and other school support employees, higher education faculty, nurses and other healthcare workers, and state and local government employees.