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An Example of a Letter to Mail, Fax, or E-mail Your Representative Regarding the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (H.R. 1)

Mailed or Faxed Correpondence...

To A Representative:

The Honorable (full name)
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Representative (last name):

The No Child Left behind Act of 2001 (H.R. 1) fails to offer vouchers to low-income parents who have children in poorly performing public schools. However, the bill would give qualified low-income parents vouchers they could use to enroll children in private, remedial tutoring services. Unfortunately, the measure lets schools fail for four years before any vouchers are given to parents.

Straight A's, which would give states virtually unfettered freedom to shift money not only between programs but between districts for states that agree to meet high specified goals for student performance, is not included in the bill.

Furthermore, states would be allowed to measure student performance using different tests during different years. For example, states could not accurately compare results of these disparate exams because schools would be allowed to use local exams one year and commercially available national tests the next.

I urge you to withdraw your support for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Although the measure does yield greater accountability, its testing provision would not provide accurate information on the results their efforts are achieving and parents are not offered enough choice so their children have greater opportunities to achieve. The academic ills of American schools can only be cured by fundamental reform that strives to increase academic achievement through less regulation, accountability and academic achievement through school choice.

Thank you for your effort to stop this bill.

Sincerely,

(Your Name*)

*Be sure to include your complete address in the letter.

E-mail Correspondence...

The following format should be used in the body of your message:

Your Name
Address
City, State  Zip Code

Dear (Title) (last name),

The No Child Left behind Act of 2001 (H.R. 1) fails to offer vouchers to low-income parents who have children in poorly performing public schools. However, the bill would give qualified low-income parents vouchers they could use to enroll children in private, remedial tutoring services. Unfortunately, the measure lets schools fail for four years before any vouchers are given to parents.

Straight A's, which would give states virtually unfettered freedom to shift money not only between programs but between districts for states that agree to meet high specified goals for student performance, is not included in the bill.

Furthermore, states would be allowed to measure student performance using different tests during different years. For example, states could not accurately compare results of these disparate exams because schools would be allowed to use local exams one year and commercially available national tests the next.

I urge you to withdraw your support for the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Although the measure does yield greater accountability, its testing provision would not provide accurate information on the results their efforts are achieving and parents are not offered enough choice so their children have greater opportunities to achieve. The academic ills of American schools can only be cured by fundamental reform that strives to increase academic achievement through less regulation, accountability and academic achievement through school choice.

Thank you for your effort to stop this bill.

Sincerely,

(Your Name)

REMINDER: It is proper to address the Chair of a Committee or the Speaker of the House when writing them as...

Dear Mr. Speaker:

or

Dear Mr. Chairman or Madam Chairwoman:

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