WASHINGTON, DC.  (Press Release)– When the new Congress is sworn in this January, it will have to tackle the nation’s most pressing matters, including education and the economy. The nation is on the road to economic recovery, but the economy is still shedding jobs, especially in the education sector. High unemployment rates and a record number of home foreclosures are wreaking havoc in communities across the country.

On education specifically, Congress will have to tackle two main issues—revising No Child Left Behind and setting spending priorities for critical programs and services affecting students and working families, programs such as early childhood education, Head Start, college loans for deserving students, and many others.

NEA President Dennis Van Roekel said:

“Election Day has come and gone, but the needs of our children remain the same. Students … wake up … still deserving the best our nation can offer them. Regardless of the outcome of the elections, every student still needs a great public school to fulfill his or her greatest dreams.

“NEA stands ready to work with the new Congress to put students first and ensure that education is the engine that moves America forward. We will work with all policymakers to maximize the achievement, skills, opportunities and potential of all students, to make sure they are prepared to become creative and productive citizens in our democratic society and diverse world.

“As the Election Day dust settles, millions of teachers and education support professionals will get up, roll up their sleeves and keep working hard to improve our public schools—one student  at a time, one school at a time, one community at a time.

“We challenge Congress to do the same. We look forward to working with the 112th Congress to continue our work transforming the nation’s public schools.”

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Preceding provided by National Education Association