WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the U.S. House of Representatives prepares for action Thursday on President Bush’s No Child Left Behind education bill (H.R. 1), support for the plan is building by the minute across the political spectrum.

Ø Institute for Justice Hails H.R. 1 Supplemental Services Agreement. The conservative, pro-school choice Institute for Justice, led by Clint Bolick, released a memo today highlighting the supplemental services provision in H.R. 1 allowing federal dollars to flow to private, faith-based tutors. "Although the proposal for Title I vouchers has been dropped, the White House was able to secure agreement that children in failing schools can use their funds for private supplemental services, including religious providers. Given that Title I portability has never previously done well in Congress, this is a significant step forward," Bolick wrote today in a memo sent to school choice allies. The Institute also supports the private school choice demo amendment expected to be offered on the House floor by Majority Leader Armey, Conference Chairman Watts, and Chairman Boehner.

Ø NAM to Key Vote H.R. 1. Reflecting the strong support in the employer community for the President's bill, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has decided to "key vote" this week's House vote on H.R. 1. Late last week, TechNet, a network of more than 275 high tech leaders, endorsed H.R. 1.

Ø White House Reiterates Strong Support for H.R. 1. From this afternoon's White House Bulletin (5-15-01): "White House Domestic Policy Adviser Margaret LaMontagne held a press conference this morning with House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner to push for the education bill passed in Boehner's committee, HR 1. LaMontagne said HR 1 is a 'momentous and historic bill' that will produce the 'very robust, revolutionary change' in Federal education policy President Bush is seeking. She said the bill is 'very much true to the President's principles' and said the White House is 'very pleased with the progress that's been made' in the House, and said Boehner had done an 'excellent job managing this project'."

Ø State Education Leaders Embrace H.R. 1. The Education Leaders Council (ELC), a nonpartisan organization of reform-minded state education officials led by outgoing Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Graham Keegan and Texas Education Commissioner Jim Nelson, sent a letter today supporting passage of H.R. 1. ELC highlighted provisions that provide more flexibility to states and local school districts, strong accountability, more choices for parents, and support for charter schools. "We write on behalf of our fellow state education chiefs and ELC colleagues to support H.R. 1 and to applaud your efforts to remain true to the core principles of President Bush's 'No Child Left Behind' legislative proposal," ELC wrote.

Ø Home Schoolers Protected in H.R. 1. The Home School Legal Defense Foundation, with a membership that numbers 70,000 nationwide, Friday noted the many safeguards in H.R. 1 for home and private schools -- prohibiting mandatory national teacher testing or certification and exempting home and private schools from any testing mentioned in the ESEA, for example. The organization supports those provisions in H.R. 1 that directly concern their members.

Ø Charter Schoolers Laud Provisions in H.R. 1. The Charter Friends National Network, which connects more than 70 grassroots charter support organizations across the country, has lauded H.R. 1 for new funding for charter schools and its deference to states in defining charter school teacher certification requirements.