Rallies Call Out Angle for Her Extreme Plans to Kill Department of Education
Reid has brought $445m in education funds to Nevada, saved thousands of teaching jobs through Recovery Act
LAS VEGAS – The Reid campaign previewed a new ad at education rallies in Reno and Las Vegas this morning with teachers, administrators, concerned parents and students who spoke out about the clear choice between Senator Reid’s record of improving Nevada’s education system and Sharron Angle’s extreme idea to kill the Department of Education, eliminating Pell Grants, resources for Nevada teachers, student services and even Title IX.
WATCH THE NEW AD
“If Sharron Angle had her way in eliminating the Department of Education, Nevada would get no federal funding for education and accountability standards would be thrown out the window,” said Reid communications director Kelly Steele. “Angle opposes the $445 million in education money Reid has brought to Nevada and the hundreds of teachers’ jobs he’s saved through the Recovery Act. When it comes to strengthening Nevada's classrooms and building a competitive workforce in our state, Sharron Angle just doesn't get it.”
"By eliminating the Department of Education, Sharron Angle would eliminate the Pell Grants I need to go to school," said Sebring Frehner, a student at the Nevada State College. "Her ideas about killing the Department of Education are not only extreme, but deeply personal to people like me. This is not a game. This is my life and my future. Sharron Angle doesn’t have the right to put that in jeopardy."
“In Sharron Angle’s Nevada, I’m out of a job,” said Bridget Zick, a Nevada Kindergarten teacher who spoke at the rally and is featured in the new ad. “She opposes the Economic Recovery Act and wants to kill the Department of Education, two of the reasons I’m not unemployed right now. She is simply out of touch with Nevada’s teachers and our students. Instead of working to improve our education system, she’s just making it worse.”
“While Senator Reid is fighting to build up Nevada’s education system, Sharron Angle seems determined to tear it down, leaving thousands of Nevada students without the resources they were counting on to get a quality education,” said Dr. Brian Cram, former Clark County Superintendent. “Eliminating the Department of Education means terminating programs like Pell Grants and Perkins Loans, ending Fulbright Scholarships, pulling the funding for early reading programs, and eliminating Title IX. In Sharron Angle’s Nevada, all of these opportunities are gone for Nevada's students.”
ANGLE WANTS TO ELIMINATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Angle In Her Own Words: “Federal Department Of Education Should Be Eliminated.” According to Sharron Angle’s website, she “believes that the Federal Department of Education should be eliminated.” [Sharron Angle Website, accessed 6/15/10]
Angle: “Not The Federal Government’s Job To Provide Education For Our Children.” During a May interview on KNPR’s State of Nevada, Angle was asked:
Becker: Would you eliminate the Department of Education or simply cut it back?
Angle: I would like to go through to the elimination. We start by defunding it, and the reason that we should eliminate it is because it’s not the federal government’s job to provide education for our children… [KNPR, State of Nevada, 5/19/10]
Angle Said She Would Eliminate Department Of Education. In a March 2010 e-interview with Nevada News and Views, Sharron Angle told the site her proposed federal cuts “Should include the Department of Education, Department of Energy …I include these cuts in my economic policy for taking back our government.” [Nevada News and Views, 3/22/2010]
Conservative Republican Senators Say Eliminating Department Of Education “Doesn’t Make Sense.” According to a June article in Politico, “Sharron Angle may quickly find that some of her more controversial views won’t fly in the Senate GOP Conference if she becomes Nevada’s next senator – even with some of the most conservative Republicans in the upper chamber…Small government conservatives said it doesn’t make sense to eliminate the Energy and Education departments – as she’s called for in the past.” [Politico, 6/15/10]
IN THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, HARRY REID HAS WORKED HARD TO HELP PROVIDED BADLY-NEEDED FUNDING TO NEVADA SCHOOLS
Nevada Has Already Received More Than $445 Million In Recovery Act Funding For Education. According to the Recovery Board website, Nevada has been awarded $445,250,354 in Recovery Act funding from the Department of Education. [Recovery.gov, State Funding Totals By Agency] Note: Angle opposed the Recovery Act, which means it she had gotten her way Nevada schools would have received zero dollars.
Recovery Act Funding Saved At Least 3,500 Nevada Education Jobs. In December 2009, the Review-Journal reported, “Nevada reports it has been able to save about 3,500 public education jobs because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to state and federal data that track stimulus-related job creation and retention. That represents more than 60 percent of all jobs in the state attributed so far to the Recovery Act … With a method suggested by federal guidelines and approved by Gov. Jim Gibbons' office, state education officials arrived at a figure by dividing the average salary and benefits of employees into the total pool of ‘fiscal stabilization’ money allocated this year to the K-12 and higher education systems, $139.6 million and $92.4 million respectively. That formula yielded ‘jobs saved’ numbers of nearly 2,100 at Nevada's public schools … and 1,500 at the state's colleges and universities. Even with stimulus funding, the state's K-12 and higher education budgets didn't show a net gain from previous years.” [Review-Journal, 12/10/09]
Recovery Act Funding Created Or Saved 1,400 Jobs In Clark County Schools, 1,100 In Las Vegas Alone. In November 2009, the Review-Journal reported, “The Clark County School District has saved or created 1,400 teaching and support staff jobs with federal stimulus funds, officials said Monday. The district is the state’s single largest recipient of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.” According to an October 2009 report from the White House Domestic Policy Council and the Department of Education 1,100 of those jobs were in Las Vegas Alone. [Review-Journal, 11/3/09; White House Domestic Policy Council / Department of Education Report, 10/19/09]
Nevada Stimulus Director: “We’ve Been Able To Save Jobs.” When asked about the 1,400 jobs saved or created in Clark County schools, Nevada Stimulus Director Charles Harvey said, “We utilized state fiscal stabilization funds to basically retain thousands of jobs within the school district. And so those are educators and administrators that are directly – those positions are directly tied to the stimulus funds that have been utilized. So we’ve been able to save jobs in that regard.” [KNPR, Charles Harvey Interview, 11/3/09]
Washoe County Schools Got More Than $6 Million In Recovery Act Funding That Created Or Saved At Least 84 Jobs. In May 2009, the Daily Sparks Tribune reported, “According to Kristen McNeill, director of state and federal programs for the WCSD, under a draft plan a portion of $6.1 million in stimulus funding specifically dedicated to Title I schools will save about 60 positions for one or two academic years and improve student achievement, especially among groups most in need of intervention and corrective action, such as low-income students and limited-English learners.” In October 2009 the Gazette-Journal reported, “Some of the $254 million Nevada is expecting in education funding from the federal government under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has already made a difference in Washoe County schools … About $6.2 million went toward hiring 24 intervention teachers, professional development, a home-visit pilot program, parent involvement, early childhood education, homeless student support, a $75 per pupil increase at each Title I school, dropout prevention and additional dollars for Bennett Elementary School in Sun Valley.” [Daily Sparks Tribune 5/19/09; Gazette-Journal, 10/7/09]
Washoe County School District Will Use Recovery Act Funds To Save Taxpayers Money By Adding Solar Power Technology To 40 Schools, Saving Each School An Estimated $14,000 Per Year. In a March 2010 Op/Ed, Washoe County School District Trustee Ken Grein wrote, “WCSD is showing it is possible to enhance education while simultaneously saving money and the earth through two new green initiatives taking place at local schools … About 40 schools are expected to receive a type of solar technology … Once installed, we expect them to generate free energy for 20 to 25 years. The initial cost of installation for the first few solar technology projects is being offset by economic stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Rebates from NV Energy's SolarGenerations program will then fund future projects at other schools. The anticipated savings per year, per school: $14,000.” [Gazette-Journal, 3/17/10]
Reid Joined Educators In Calling On Gibbons To Apply For Race To The Top Funding Last Year. In December 2009, the Review-Journal reported, “Momentum is growing to hold a special session of the state Legislature in coming weeks if only to change a law on teacher evaluations and make Nevada eligible for as much as $175 million in federal education grants. U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Nevada State Education Association President Lynn Warne today joined the bandwagon of people urging Gov. Jim Gibbons to include the grant item on the agenda if he calls the Legislature into session … In a letter to Gibbons, Reid urged the governor to include on the agenda of any special session an item to make Nevada eligible for as much as a $175 million Race to the Top federal challenge grant for education … Reid stated in a news release that this law could be changed in time to meet a Jan. 19 deadline to apply for the grant if the governor includes it on the agenda of a special session. ‘It is in our state’s interest to act as soon as possible to ensure that Nevada is able to apply,’ Reid said.” [Review-Journal, 12/2/09] Note: Sharron Angle opposedthe Race to the Top program altogether and would have opposed Nevada’s application in the first place.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS ALONE, REID HAS DELIVERED MORE THAN $4 MILLION DOLLARS FOR NEVADA SCHOOLS
(Note: these are all funds that Sharron Angle wouldn’t fight to deliver for Nevada’s students and teachers)
Reid Delivered $425,000 For Improved Science Education Technology For Nye County. In FY 2010, Reid secured $425,000 for the Nye County School District that “will be used to purchase interactive science curriculum and equipment for several rural middle schools in the district,” according to Reid’s office. “This funding would enhance the curriculum for several thousand middle school students.” [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Press Release, 12/13/09]
Reid Delivered $143,000 For Career Education Programs In Nye County Schools. In FY 2009, Reid secured $143,000 for the Nye County School District “for a Creative Learning SmartLab at Pahrump Valley High School designed to help students learn about different careers,” according to the Pahrump Valley Times. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Pahrump Valley Times, 5/18/09]
Reid Delivered $350,000 For Educational Equipment For Lyon County Schools. In FY 2010, Reid secured $350,000 for the Lyon County School District For career and technical education equipment. [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]
Reid Delivered $24,000 For Early Education In Lincoln County. In the FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill, Reid secured $24,000 to expand early education services in the Lincoln County School District for low-income students. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Release, 3/19/09]
Reid Delivered More Than $600,000 For Technology Upgrades In Elko County Schools. In FY 2009, Reid secured $618,000 for technology upgrades to enhance distance education services in the Elko County School District. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Release, 3/11/09]
Reid Delivered More Than $400,000 For Arts Education In Clark County. In FY 2009, Reid secured $409,000 for the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas to develop an arts education program for teachers and students at the K-12 levels. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]
Reid Delivered $600,000 For Gifted Education In Clark County. In FY 2010, Reid secured $600,000 for Clark County Schools for a school for highly gifted students. [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]
Reid Delivered More Than $850,000 For Dropout Prevention In Washoe County. In FY 2009, Reid secured $856,000 for dropout prevention programs in Washoe County. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]
Reid Delivered $1 Million For Teacher Training And Development In Washoe County. In FY 2010, Reid secured $500,000 for Washoe County Schools to implement a new teacher induction and mentoring program to help support novice teachers and $500,000 for K-12 instructional coaches to foster professional development and help improve student achievement in the district. [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Press Release, 12/13/09]
Reid petitioned directly to Secy Duncan asking him to support the application
http://reid.senate.gov/newsroom/pr_100524_reidletteronracetothetop.cfm
Rallies Call Out Angle for Her Extreme Plans to Kill Department of Education
Reid has brought $445m in education funds to Nevada, saved thousands of teaching jobs through Recovery Act
LAS VEGAS – The Reid campaign previewed a new ad at education rallies in Reno and Las Vegas this morning with teachers, administrators, concerned parents and students who spoke out about the clear choice between Senator Reid’s record of improving Nevada’s education system and Sharron Angle’s extreme idea to kill the Department of Education, eliminating Pell Grants, resources for Nevada teachers, student services and even Title IX.
WATCH THE NEW AD
“If Sharron Angle had her way in eliminating the Department of Education, Nevada would get no federal funding for education and accountability standards would be thrown out the window,” said Reid communications director Kelly Steele. “Angle opposes the $445 million in education money Reid has brought to Nevada and the hundreds of teachers’ jobs he’s saved through the Recovery Act. When it comes to strengthening Nevada's classrooms and building a competitive workforce in our state, Sharron Angle just doesn't get it.”
"By eliminating the Department of Education, Sharron Angle would eliminate the Pell Grants I need to go to school," said Sebring Frehner, a student at the Nevada State College. "Her ideas about killing the Department of Education are not only extreme, but deeply personal to people like me. This is not a game. This is my life and my future. Sharron Angle doesn’t have the right to put that in jeopardy."
“In Sharron Angle’s Nevada, I’m out of a job,” said Bridget Zick, a Nevada Kindergarten teacher who spoke at the rally and is featured in the new ad. “She opposes the Economic Recovery Act and wants to kill the Department of Education, two of the reasons I’m not unemployed right now. She is simply out of touch with Nevada’s teachers and our students. Instead of working to improve our education system, she’s just making it worse.”
“While Senator Reid is fighting to build up Nevada’s education system, Sharron Angle seems determined to tear it down, leaving thousands of Nevada students without the resources they were counting on to get a quality education,” said Dr. Brian Cram, former Clark County Superintendent. “Eliminating the Department of Education means terminating programs like Pell Grants and Perkins Loans, ending Fulbright Scholarships, pulling the funding for early reading programs, and eliminating Title IX. In Sharron Angle’s Nevada, all of these opportunities are gone for Nevada's students.”
ANGLE WANTS TO ELIMINATE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Angle In Her Own Words: “Federal Department Of Education Should Be Eliminated.” According to Sharron Angle’s website, she “believes that the Federal Department of Education should be eliminated.” [Sharron Angle Website, accessed 6/15/10]
Angle: “Not The Federal Government’s Job To Provide Education For Our Children.” During a May interview on KNPR’s State of Nevada, Angle was asked:
Becker: Would you eliminate the Department of Education or simply cut it back?
Angle: I would like to go through to the elimination. We start by defunding it, and the reason that we should eliminate it is because it’s not the federal government’s job to provide education for our children… [KNPR, State of Nevada, 5/19/10]
Angle Said She Would Eliminate Department Of Education. In a March 2010 e-interview with Nevada News and Views, Sharron Angle told the site her proposed federal cuts “Should include the Department of Education, Department of Energy …I include these cuts in my economic policy for taking back our government.” [Nevada News and Views, 3/22/2010]
Conservative Republican Senators Say Eliminating Department Of Education “Doesn’t Make Sense.” According to a June article in Politico, “Sharron Angle may quickly find that some of her more controversial views won’t fly in the Senate GOP Conference if she becomes Nevada’s next senator – even with some of the most conservative Republicans in the upper chamber…Small government conservatives said it doesn’t make sense to eliminate the Energy and Education departments – as she’s called for in the past.” [Politico, 6/15/10]
IN THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES, HARRY REID HAS WORKED HARD TO HELP PROVIDED BADLY-NEEDED FUNDING TO NEVADA SCHOOLS
Nevada Has Already Received More Than $445 Million In Recovery Act Funding For Education. According to the Recovery Board website, Nevada has been awarded $445,250,354 in Recovery Act funding from the Department of Education. [Recovery.gov, State Funding Totals By Agency] Note: Angle opposed the Recovery Act, which means it she had gotten her way Nevada schools would have received zero dollars.
Recovery Act Funding Saved At Least 3,500 Nevada Education Jobs. In December 2009, the Review-Journal reported, “Nevada reports it has been able to save about 3,500 public education jobs because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to state and federal data that track stimulus-related job creation and retention. That represents more than 60 percent of all jobs in the state attributed so far to the Recovery Act … With a method suggested by federal guidelines and approved by Gov. Jim Gibbons' office, state education officials arrived at a figure by dividing the average salary and benefits of employees into the total pool of ‘fiscal stabilization’ money allocated this year to the K-12 and higher education systems, $139.6 million and $92.4 million respectively. That formula yielded ‘jobs saved’ numbers of nearly 2,100 at Nevada's public schools … and 1,500 at the state's colleges and universities. Even with stimulus funding, the state's K-12 and higher education budgets didn't show a net gain from previous years.” [Review-Journal, 12/10/09]
Recovery Act Funding Created Or Saved 1,400 Jobs In Clark County Schools, 1,100 In Las Vegas Alone. In November 2009, the Review-Journal reported, “The Clark County School District has saved or created 1,400 teaching and support staff jobs with federal stimulus funds, officials said Monday. The district is the state’s single largest recipient of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding.” According to an October 2009 report from the White House Domestic Policy Council and the Department of Education 1,100 of those jobs were in Las Vegas Alone. [Review-Journal, 11/3/09; White House Domestic Policy Council / Department of Education Report, 10/19/09]
Nevada Stimulus Director: “We’ve Been Able To Save Jobs.” When asked about the 1,400 jobs saved or created in Clark County schools, Nevada Stimulus Director Charles Harvey said, “We utilized state fiscal stabilization funds to basically retain thousands of jobs within the school district. And so those are educators and administrators that are directly – those positions are directly tied to the stimulus funds that have been utilized. So we’ve been able to save jobs in that regard.” [KNPR, Charles Harvey Interview, 11/3/09]
Washoe County Schools Got More Than $6 Million In Recovery Act Funding That Created Or Saved At Least 84 Jobs. In May 2009, the Daily Sparks Tribune reported, “According to Kristen McNeill, director of state and federal programs for the WCSD, under a draft plan a portion of $6.1 million in stimulus funding specifically dedicated to Title I schools will save about 60 positions for one or two academic years and improve student achievement, especially among groups most in need of intervention and corrective action, such as low-income students and limited-English learners.” In October 2009 the Gazette-Journal reported, “Some of the $254 million Nevada is expecting in education funding from the federal government under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has already made a difference in Washoe County schools … About $6.2 million went toward hiring 24 intervention teachers, professional development, a home-visit pilot program, parent involvement, early childhood education, homeless student support, a $75 per pupil increase at each Title I school, dropout prevention and additional dollars for Bennett Elementary School in Sun Valley.” [Daily Sparks Tribune 5/19/09; Gazette-Journal, 10/7/09]
Washoe County School District Will Use Recovery Act Funds To Save Taxpayers Money By Adding Solar Power Technology To 40 Schools, Saving Each School An Estimated $14,000 Per Year. In a March 2010 Op/Ed, Washoe County School District Trustee Ken Grein wrote, “WCSD is showing it is possible to enhance education while simultaneously saving money and the earth through two new green initiatives taking place at local schools … About 40 schools are expected to receive a type of solar technology … Once installed, we expect them to generate free energy for 20 to 25 years. The initial cost of installation for the first few solar technology projects is being offset by economic stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Rebates from NV Energy's SolarGenerations program will then fund future projects at other schools. The anticipated savings per year, per school: $14,000.” [Gazette-Journal, 3/17/10]
Reid Joined Educators In Calling On Gibbons To Apply For Race To The Top Funding Last Year. In December 2009, the Review-Journal reported, “Momentum is growing to hold a special session of the state Legislature in coming weeks if only to change a law on teacher evaluations and make Nevada eligible for as much as $175 million in federal education grants. U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Nevada State Education Association President Lynn Warne today joined the bandwagon of people urging Gov. Jim Gibbons to include the grant item on the agenda if he calls the Legislature into session … In a letter to Gibbons, Reid urged the governor to include on the agenda of any special session an item to make Nevada eligible for as much as a $175 million Race to the Top federal challenge grant for education … Reid stated in a news release that this law could be changed in time to meet a Jan. 19 deadline to apply for the grant if the governor includes it on the agenda of a special session. ‘It is in our state’s interest to act as soon as possible to ensure that Nevada is able to apply,’ Reid said.” [Review-Journal, 12/2/09] Note: Sharron Angle opposedthe Race to the Top program altogether and would have opposed Nevada’s application in the first place.
IN THE LAST TWO YEARS ALONE, REID HAS DELIVERED MORE THAN $4 MILLION DOLLARS FOR NEVADA SCHOOLS
(Note: these are all funds that Sharron Angle wouldn’t fight to deliver for Nevada’s students and teachers)
Reid Delivered $425,000 For Improved Science Education Technology For Nye County. In FY 2010, Reid secured $425,000 for the Nye County School District that “will be used to purchase interactive science curriculum and equipment for several rural middle schools in the district,” according to Reid’s office. “This funding would enhance the curriculum for several thousand middle school students.” [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Press Release, 12/13/09]
Reid Delivered $143,000 For Career Education Programs In Nye County Schools. In FY 2009, Reid secured $143,000 for the Nye County School District “for a Creative Learning SmartLab at Pahrump Valley High School designed to help students learn about different careers,” according to the Pahrump Valley Times. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Pahrump Valley Times, 5/18/09]
Reid Delivered $350,000 For Educational Equipment For Lyon County Schools. In FY 2010, Reid secured $350,000 for the Lyon County School District For career and technical education equipment. [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]
Reid Delivered $24,000 For Early Education In Lincoln County. In the FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill, Reid secured $24,000 to expand early education services in the Lincoln County School District for low-income students. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Release, 3/19/09]
Reid Delivered More Than $600,000 For Technology Upgrades In Elko County Schools. In FY 2009, Reid secured $618,000 for technology upgrades to enhance distance education services in the Elko County School District. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Release, 3/11/09]
Reid Delivered More Than $400,000 For Arts Education In Clark County. In FY 2009, Reid secured $409,000 for the Smith Center for the Performing Arts in Las Vegas to develop an arts education program for teachers and students at the K-12 levels. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]
Reid Delivered $600,000 For Gifted Education In Clark County. In FY 2010, Reid secured $600,000 for Clark County Schools for a school for highly gifted students. [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]
Reid Delivered More Than $850,000 For Dropout Prevention In Washoe County. In FY 2009, Reid secured $856,000 for dropout prevention programs in Washoe County. [FY 2009 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill]
Reid Delivered $1 Million For Teacher Training And Development In Washoe County. In FY 2010, Reid secured $500,000 for Washoe County Schools to implement a new teacher induction and mentoring program to help support novice teachers and $500,000 for K-12 instructional coaches to foster professional development and help improve student achievement in the district. [FY 2010 Labor, HHS and Education Appropriations Bill; Reid Press Release, 12/13/09]
Reid petitioned directly to Secy Duncan asking him to support the application
http://reid.senate.gov/newsroom/pr_100524_reidletteronracetothetop.cfm
