The America Forward Education Coalition announced today that seven nonprofit organizations, all leading innovators in the education sector, have joined their campaign for immediate Congressional action on ESEA.  ACCESS, Admission Possible, BUILD, Civic Ventures, Common Good Careers, Jumpstart, Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship have joined the coalition united behind the principles outlined in the policy paper, “America Forward on ESEA: Competition, Flexibility, and Data-Driven Results.”

A coalition of 21 major education nonprofit organizations, the America Forward Education Coalition sent a letter to Congress on Monday requesting immediate reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).  Citing the “economic imperative and moral obligation to ensure every student has access to an excellent education and the chance for a successful life,” the Coalition expressed concern that federal inaction on the issue of education reform “is hampering education innovation and stalling proven strategies that would ensure opportunity for millions of students.”

In the letter that was sent to all Members of Congress, the America Forward Education Coalition outlined the need for the reauthorization of ESEA to include increased accountability and transparency, guaranteed access to effective teachers and school leaders, support of entrepreneurship within the education sector and catalytic investment in successful education solutions.  It also advocated for increased flexibility paired with accountability and transparency standards that allow for locally determined solutions while holding school districts and schools accountable for achieving results with the local partners of their choosing.

“We are pleased to see the growing support of a united policy platform as it relates to national education reform,” said America Forward Executive Director Deborah Smolover.  “We believe we will continue to see recognition that we must mobilize across the nonprofit education sector to ensure federal action is taken to improve the standards of education for future generations of America’s children.”

The letter and policy platform is supported by the nearly 50 member organizations of the America Forward Coalition.