Bestselling Author James Patterson Asks Fans to Support Sens. Reed-Cochran’s ESEA
With Permission from the American Library Association

Today, the Senate will begin debate on modifying and reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the federal government’s principal education statute. First up will be a bipartisan amendment crucial to school library funding by Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Thad Cochran (R-MS).

Passing the “Reed-Cochran Amendment” (summarized here) will help save and expand school libraries in every state in the nation by explicitly authorizing school districts to use ESEA funds to develop and foster effective school library programs . . . programs with certified school librarians at their core.

The Amendment already has the backing of Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chair of the Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee that unanimously approved the basic bill now before the Senate (S. 1177, Every Child Achieves Act of 2015) . . . but the Reed-Cochran Amendment needs at least 48 more votes to pass.

Across the United States, studies have demonstrated that students in schools with effective school library programs learn more, get better grades, and score higher on standardized tests than their peers in schools without such resources.

Now is the time to speak up for our children!

The Reed-Cochran Amendment will provide vital assistance to local education authorities and schools in “developing effective school library programs to provide students an opportunity to develop digital literacy skills and to help ensure that all students graduate from high school prepared for postsecondary education or the workforce without the need for remediation.”

TODAY is the day! Please, take a moment to call your Senators’ offices NOW!

Just tell the staff member who answers that you urge the Senator to “vote YES on the Reed-Cochran Amendment to S. 1177!” It’s easy and it’s crucial. Please act now!

Read about the amazing grants James Patterson has given to education and our school libraries:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2015/06/30/did-james-patterson-give-money-to-your-school-library/
http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-patterson-school-library-grants-20150630-story.html
http://www.theguardian.com/books/2015/jun/30/james-patterson-school-libraries-grants-scholastic