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LDF commends the U.S. Senate HELP Committee for advancing reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).Ìý Passed on the heels of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, ESEA is the largest federal education funding bill.Ìý Since its expiration in 2007, Congress has yet to agree on a bill to reauthorize ESEA.Ìý LDF encourages a truly bipartisan and thoughtful reauthorization process.Ìý As the organization that litigatedÌýBrown v. Board of Education, LDF continues to advocate for equal educational opportunity for all of ¾«¶«Ó°Òµ’s public school students.

Today’s hearing, which can be accessedÌýÌýÌýis focused on teachers and school leadership.ÌýÌý The federal government plays an influential role in providing federal support to states that will strategically advance the development, recruitment, and retention of qualified teaching professionals for all students.Ìý Recent data show that students of color are disproportionately taught by inexperienced teachers; nearly 7 percent of the nation’s African ¾«¶«Ó°Òµn students (over half a million students) attend schools where more than 20 percent of the teachers have not met stateÌýlicensure or certification requirements.ÌýÌý

To improve educational outcomes and opportunity for all students, LDF urges the Committee to consider:

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