Washington D.C., Oct 6, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Assistance to schools affected by the hurricanes should be provided equitably to all, without regard to the type of school, the secretary for education at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) told the education committees in Congress.
“The hurricanes did not distinguish between public, private or religious schools at any level: pre-school, elementary, secondary, or postsecondary,” said Sr. Glenn Anne McPhee, OP, in a letter sent Oct. 5 to all members of Congress. The House Education and the Work Force Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee will be evaluating the portfolio.
She said she has “significant reservations” about the decision by Congress to use No Child Left Behind as a model for providing aid.
"Eligibility to receive assistance should not require a means test or a minimum number of displaced or impacted students enrolled in a school,” said Sr. McPhee. “That assistance should be crafted in such a way as to enable schools to meet the wide list of needs of displaced children."