Thompson: Join a telephone town hall to discuss education issues before Congress

We know it’s September when school buses return to the neighborhoods and students eagerly head back to the classroom. This month traditionally brings a sense of optimism and excitement for the year ahead.

But public schools across the country — both rural and urban — are facing challenges from teacher shortages to budgetary cuts to overcrowding. Schools, which should inspire students to achieve success, broadly seem to be in a state of crisis.

I have served on the House Committee on Education and Labor since I was first elected to Congress, and — as a product of public schools and former school board member — these issues are near and dear to my heart. Just this summer, I hosted a roundtable discussion at my Bellefonte District Office with educators throughout Pennsylvania’s 15th Congressional District. I am always in awe of the experience, passion and commitment Pennsylvania’s teachers bring to educating the next generation. However, they need the tools necessary to create an environment where students can thrive.

Primary among these concerns was staffing shortages. We know there’s a need for teachers and substitute teachers, but there’s also a shortage of school nurses, education support professionals and bus drivers. An increasing number of educators who are eligible to retire plan to do so this year.

We successfully replaced No Child Left Behind because federally mandated testing was consuming instruction time, leaving basic life skills, and investments in music, the arts, career and technical education and physical education by the wayside. While we’ve reduced federal mandates, Pennsylvania must do a better job of allowing teachers to teach and not just prepare for standardized testing. Outcomes remain the best metric for gauging student success.

Budgetary challenges have always pressured schools, but they should not be a reason to push students through programs before they are ready to graduate. We must ensure students graduate when they are prepared, not because funding has strings attached.

I have also been engaged with numerous concerned parents who indicated their involvement is being limited like never before. For these reasons, I am a proud supporter of the Parents Bill of Rights, which lays out clear authorities for parents when providing input for their children’s education. Chief among these principles is a parent’s right to review school curriculum, reading materials and state academic standards. Parents have always been an integral part of public schools and they should always have the right to lawfully engage with their local school boards and educators, including full transparency on a school’s spending, budget and expenditures. Importantly, parents and students must have peace of mind that schools are safe and a positive environment for learning.

Teachers and parents can be powerful allies in ensuring a student’s educational needs are met at school and home. Administrators and school boards should welcome input from parents on a child’s full educational experience, which includes questions ranging from curriculum to safety and everything in between. America’s public school system is the great equalizer in this country. We must reclaim the power of public education to ensure that every student has an opportunity to grow and be ready for the real world, whether that is career and job readiness or pursuing post-secondary degrees. Going into this school year, I remain committed to advocating at the highest levels of government to ensure that every young learner has a fair shot at success and recognizing their true potential.

That’s why on the evening of Wednesday, Sept. 7, I will be hosting a live telephone town hall to further discuss education issues before Congress. 15th District constituents are welcome to join, by dialing 855-710-6228 on Wednesday at 6 p.m. More information can be found on my website www.Thompson.house.gov.

Finally, I hope everyone in the community takes extra care this month to slow down on the roads for our school buses and to be mindful in our neighborhoods and at crosswalks. I wish parents, teachers, faculty, staff, and most of all our students, a wonderful start to the school year.