Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (MA-09) today called on House Republicans to fully fund the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act, legislation that governs education reform and funding.  Since it was signed into law in 2001, the No Child Left Behind Act has been under-funded each and every year, by a total of $56.8 billion.  The cuts have been deepest for after-school programs, teacher training, educational technology, and Title I assistance for disadvantaged children.  This year is no different.  Education funding in the proposed Republicans’ FY 2007 Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill again falls short of the levels set forth by No Child Left Behind.

“Education is the great equalizer, and it is vital to the future success of our children,” said Congressman Lynch.  “We are doing a serious disservice to America’s children by not living up to the promises made in the No Child Left Behind Act.”

If the Republican education funding bill becomes law, students in Massachusetts will indeed be left far behind.  For example, 31,419 children in Massachusetts will be denied the after-school programs promised by NCLB.  Massachusetts will receive $15.5 million less than we were promised in educational technology grants and $8.5 million less for teacher training.  Intensive reading and math instruction will be denied to 55,738 disadvantaged Massachusetts students.

“The cities and towns of Massachusetts, and across this country, are struggling to provide the services they need to without raising taxes on residents,” said Congressman Lynch.  “They cannot and should not be expected to shoulder the burden of yet another unfunded mandate by the federal government.  If Republicans are serious about education reform, they need to get serious about education funding.”

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