Education
Strong Support for Public Schools
Rep. Israel has a record of standing up for our public schools. He doesn’t believe in short-changing our children’s education or forcing local governments to pick up the tab for unfunded mandates, which causes 
them to raise property taxes to make up the difference. That’s why Rep. Israel has supported legislation to help keep teachers on the job and opposed efforts to reduce federal support for local schools.
Grow Your Own Teacher
Rep. Israel is the author of legislation to help improve schools in low-income and minority areas. In the 111th Congress (2009-2010), he introduced the Grow Your Own Teacher Act and plans to do so again during the 112th Congress (2011-2012).
Rep. Israel’s legislation will create pathways to teaching careers for low-income or minority students and role models for their students. Here’s how it works:
- Grow Your Own Teacher grants are awarded to partnerships of high schools and colleges.
- High schools with a large low-income student population and a significant disparity in student-teacher racial composition will identify and recruit students to receive college preparatory support and attend college.
- The college certifies the student in teaching, and the student, after graduating college and participating in a one year mentoring program with a veteran teacher, returns to the high school from which he or she graduated as a teacher.
- If he or she teaches in the school for five years, the Grow Your Own Teacher grant will be used to completely forgive the student loan debt of the teacher.
This program will put at-risk students on a path towards a teaching career in schools where they are needed most, and create much needed role models for their students. With Rep. Israel’s help, a Grow Your Own Teacher pilot program is currently underway on Long Island.
Greening Our Schools
Rep. Israel has long advocated for “greening” our schools in order to improve efficiency and reduce energy costs. In 2008, Rep. Israel and National Grid surveyed local schools about their energy efficiency. The survey found:
- Only one school district is using some form of alternative energy
- Only 16% of school districts are using the most efficient forms of fluorescent lighting
- 45% of the water heaters are more than 30 years old
- Twelve districts are planning to renovate or build new buildings
In 2009, Rep. Israel voted for and the House passed the 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act, which would authorize investments to modernize, upgrade and repair school facilities. If signed into law, this bill would provide $6.4 billion in year one to our nation’s schools for renovation, and repair. I believe that by greening our schools we can make a significant impact on the lives of students and teachers while lowering operational costs and helping the environment. Unfortunately, this legislation was not passed in the U.S. Senate.
You can find more information through the National Clearinghouse for Educational Facilities (NCEF), which has created a comprehensive website that tracks funding opportunities, data, research, and useful information related to green schools. NCEF is a program managed by the National Institute of Building Sciences, with support from the U.S. Department of Education.
College Affordability
Rep. Israel has been a leading voice in Congress on the issue of college affordability, introducing legislation to create a single super-sized tax credit to help off-set the costs of college and supporting legislation to make it easier to finance education. For more on college affordability, click here.
Strong Ties With Long Island Schools
Rep. Israel knows that local schools understand local needs best. If you would like him to visit your school, please contact our Long Island office at 631-951-2210.
Helpful Links
More on Education
Washington, D.C.—Today, Reps. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) and Peter King (R-Seaford) announced new legislation to provide school districts dealing with an influx of unaccompanied minors with emergency funding so they are able to maintain the same quality of education with the addition of new students.
Federal law, as upheld by the Supreme Court, requires all children residing in the United States be given access to a public elementary and secondary education, regardless of their immigration status. This is provided since education is the bedrock of America’s economic success.
Great Neck, NY— Today, Congressman Steve Israel (D-NY) joined 11 Long Island superintendents to announce legislation to reduce the number of tests students take. The Tackling Excessive Standardized Testing (TEST) Act would allow states to choose an alternative testing regiment for students in grades 3 through 8. The legislation was drafted based on feedback from local superintendents as to how testing can be effective and reflect students’ abilities without subjecting them to overtesting.
Rep. Israel and NYS Assemblywoman Rozic Announce Legislation to Defray Cost of College Prep Expenses
Douglaston, NY— Today, Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) and New York State Assemblywoman Nily Rozic announced state legislation to help New York’s middle-class families defray the cost of college preparation expenses, such as college admission tests like the SAT and ACT, preparation courses, application fees, and Advanced Placement (AP) exams. The legislation would allow families paying for college preparation expenses to qualify for a tax credit of up to $500 per child and could be taken for three years, as needed. This past May, Rep.
Washington, D.C. — Today Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington) announced the appointment of Glen Cove Councilman Efraim Spagnoletti to his Military Academy Nominations Selection Committee. In this role, Councilman Spagnoletti will be part of the committee that interviews and evaluates candidates for a Congressional nomination to one of the four U.S. military service academies that require a nomination.
Rep. Steve Israel Holds Congressional Arts Competition Awards Ceremony for Local High School Artists
“Every year the Congressional Arts Competition reminds me of the talent and abilities among our local high school students. I’m always proud to walk to the Capitol and see the artwork of one of our local Long Islanders on display. I commend the teachers and parents who have worked with these students and encouraged their passion for art,” said Rep. Israel.
“I commend the students and teachers of Brentwood North Middle School for proving to us that we can make a difference. Their efforts raised awareness of the tragic earthquake in Haiti and raised funds to help with the relief efforts. They learned a valuable lesson about community service and delivered results,” said Rep. Israel.
“Anytime there is a tragedy, such as the shooting in Tucson or the disaster in Japan, we need to ask ourselves: are we prepared? Because we know that emergency preparedness saves lives,” said Rep. Israel. “A Red Cross survey found that one in four people have found themselves in a situation where someone needed CPR. In Tucson, one intern’s knowledge of first aid helped ensure my friend Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ survival. I’m proud to join the Red Cross to talk about the importance of emergency preparedness and what we can do in Congress and in our community to be ready for any situation.”
Tuesday, Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington) supported legislation to stave off teacher layoffs on Long Island and around the country. The legislation -- which is fully funded by cracking down on offshore tax loopholes -- will help make up state and local budget gaps that require teacher lay-offs.
“I am deeply proud to be able to appoint Lasheca Lewis to the House of Representatives Page Program. In her application essay Lasheca wrote, ‘I come from nothing, but in a few years from now I am going to be something very big.’ She wants to achieve the same level of greatness as Thurgood Marshall and Sonia Sotomayor and I have no doubt that she will succeed. Lasheca has faced unimaginable challenges, but despite everything she has excelled at school and in her community. I am certain that she will also excel as part of the Congressional Page Program. Lasheca also told me that she wants to be in Congress one day. I just hope she decides to run after I’ve left office because I know she’ll be successful at anything she works hard for,” said Rep. Israel.