DETROIT, MICH., April 19, 1945. SELMA BORCHARDT, Washington, D. C.: Executive board, Detroit Federation of Teachers, Local 231, confirm its support of S. 717. Urges all effort to secure its passage. Detroit local considers provision for standard distribution and administrative control included in S. 717 best of any proposed. The need for passage of sound Federal-aid bill imperative at this time. FLORENCE SWEENEY, President, Detroit Federation of Teachers, Local 231. CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS, Hon. H. ALEXANDER SMITH, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. HONORABLE SIR: In behalf of CIO members in central New Jersey, we urge you to use your best efforts to have S. 717 released from the committee so it can reach the floor for a vote. We strenuously urge that you vote for the bill. JAMES P. SWEENEY, Subregional Director. NEW JERSEY STATE FEDERATION OF TEACHERS, Trenton, N. J. To the Education and Labor Committee of the United States Senate: Since the hearing before your committee on Federal-aid bill S. 717 was called off because of the President's death, I am submitting the following for your consideration. I speak as the president of the New Jersey State Federation of Teachers, affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Labor. I was sent by the New Jersey State Federation of Teachers to testify in support of S. 717. The State Federation of Teachers consists of 14 locals in various parts of the State. I also carry endorsements of S. 717 from the following: President Louis P. Marciante, New Jersey State Federation of Labor, representing 300,000 workers; President W. Frank Gallagher, Central Jersey Industrial Union Council, CIO, representing 35,000 workers; President Joseph Landgraf, Mercer County Central Labor Union; James P. Sweeney, subregional director of the CIO; Judge George Pellettieri, chairman of the joint political action committee of the A. F. of L and CIO of Mercer County; President Michael Pinto, Amalgamated Local 731, United Automobile Workers, CIO; National Representative Charles Korace and National Representative Fred A. Clarici, United Steel Workers of America, District 7, representing 10,000 steel workers; Business Agent John Spain, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers, CIO, of Trenton, N. J., representing 3,000 workers; and Kenneth W. O'Dell, New Jersey assemblyman, of the insurance workers, a labor leader in Mercer County. We feel that Federal aid now is absolutely necessary, that S. 717 contains certain provisions which are found in no other Federal-aid bill, which are "musts" in any Federal-aid bill. One is the allocation of $225,000,000 to teachers' salaries. The quality of education depends largely upon the quality of the teaching. The fact that teachers are leaving in large numbers to go into more remunerative work and the fact that teacher-training colleges are decrying the décided fallingoff in their enrollment indicate the need of this provision to combat present and future teacher shortage. Even in the wealthy State of New Jersey, where the cost of the education program per enrolled pupil per year is as high as $304.33 (Medford Lakes, Burlington County), there are many districts which fall far short of a decent educational quality. (In Berlin Township, Camden County, $56.29 is the per-pupil cost.) Since there is at present no way to force the States to remedy this situation, certainly your committee would not wish to deny Federal funds to the children in communities unable to maintain decent school standards. This is not a question of preserving States' rights, but rather a question of the right of all of our children to a decent education, which is surely their birthright in our great country. We urge you, therefore, to adopt a Federal-aid bill containing the features so ably presented by Dr. Reeves for the American Federation of Teachers Commission. Respectfully submitted. President, New Jersey State Federation of Teachers. ADDIE L. WEBER, INDIANAPOLIS, IND., July 30, 1945. Senator JAMES MURRAY, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.: We are very much interested in the Mead-Aiken bill, S. 717, which grants Federal aid to education. The officers of the Indiana State Federation of Labor and affiliated local unions will appreciate your support of this bill. JOHN ACKER, Secretary-Treasurer, Indiana State Federation of Labor. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.: Please be informed that the West Virginia State Federation of Labor asks the support of S. 717, which grants Federal aid to education, following the policies adopted at the past convention of the American Federation of Labor. VOLNEY ANDREWS, Secretary-Treasurer, West Virginia State Federation of Labor. Senator JAMES E. MURRAY, HELENA, MONT., April 7, 1945. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.: The Helena Central Labor Council voted to ask you to definitely support Senate bill 717, the purpose of providing Federal aid to improved educational service. WILLIAM BROCKWAY, Secretary-Treasurer. BUTTE, MONT., April 5, 1945. Senator JAMES E. MURRAY, Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C.: We are much in favor of Senate bill 717, sponsored by American Federation of Teachers. We request you do all possible to get this measure enacted. BUTTE MINERS UNION No. —, BUTTE, MONT., April 10, 1945. Senator JAMES E. MURRAY, United States Senate, Washington, D. C.: We urge that you support S. 717 which we consider the fairest Federal aid to education bill so far introduced. Mrs. PAUL CONNON, President, Butte Central Council Parent-Teachers Association. CHILD WELFARE INFORMATION SERVICE, INC. This bulletin reports impartially on proposed and pending Federal legislation affecting children and youths in the areas of health, education, employment, recreation, and welfare. The CWIS takes no position for or against legislation Issued by the Child Welfare Information Service, Inc. (A voluntary nonprofit association supported by contributions and subscriptions). 930 F Street NW., Washington 4, D. C.-BERNARD LOCKER, executive director. ISSUE NO. 13 APRIL 3, 1945. Federal Aid for Education, S. 717, by Senator JAMES M. MEAD (New York) and Senator GEORGE D. AIKEN (Vermont). Referred to Committee on Education and Labor This bill, which is sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers, establishes a permanent program of Federal financial aid for education. As was reported in issue No. 12, page 70, the Senate Committee on Education and Labor is expected to resume its hearings during the second week of April on the subject of Federal aid for education. These hearings will be devoted to a consideration of S. 717 which is summarized below. The hearings held thus far by this committee have been devoted to a consideration of S. 181, a bill sponsored by the National Education Association to establish a program of Federal financial aid for public elementary and public secondary schools. (For summary of S. 181, see issue No. 4.) Appropriations.-The bill authorizes the following three appropriations to be allocated among the States (including the District of Columbia, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and Guam): 1. $300,000,000 a year to raise substandard educational conditions in public and nonpublic schools, of which not less than $225,000,000 is earmarked for public school teachers' salaries. 2. $100,000,000 a year for current expenditures for special educational facilities and services in public and nonpublic schools. 3. $150,000,000 a year to provide financial assistance for needy students attending public and nonpublic schools. Title I-General provisions Administration.-Administrative responsibility for the Federal program is vested in a newly created National Board of Apportionment consisting of five representative citizens to be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The United States Commissioner of Education would serve both as Secretary of the National Board and as its chief administrative officer, and through the United States Office of Education he would administer the several programs authorized in this act. Up to one-half of 1 percent of the funds appropriated under title II may be used for Federal administrative expenses. Policies, rules, and regulations.-The National Board is empowered 1. To formulate policies for the allocation of funds among the States "in the manner prescribed under each such title." (These requirements are given in the summary of each title under the heading, "Allocation Among States"; and 2. To make necessary rules and regulations. The National Board is required to make public its plan for the allocation of funds under this act. State control of education. The bill states that it is the intent of Congress "to reserve explicitly to the States and their local subdivisions the organization and administration of schools, the control over the processes of education, the control and determination of the curricula of the schools, the methods of instruction to be employed in them, the selection of personnel employed by the State and its agencies, and the selection of textbooks and materials of instruction * * *.” State acceptance plans.—In order to qualify for Federal funds, a State-through its legislature-must 1. Accept the provisions of this act and provide for the administration of Federal funds; 2. Designate the State treasurer, or corresponding official in the State, as trustee for these Federal funds; 3. Establish or designate a State educational authority (a) to administer the Federal funds; (b) to audit the expenditure of Federal funds received and apportioned both to local school jurisdictions and other educational agencies; (c) to make reports to the National Board with respect to the plans and purposes of expenditures of funds received under this act and of the program of education. 4. Provide, if separate schools are maintained for separate races (a) that there be allotted to such schools a proportion of the Federal funds that is not less than the proportion that the minority racial group in the State bears to the total population of that State; and (b) that there be no reduction in the proportion of State and local expenditures for educational purposes during the fiscal year "ended in 194-" for public schools for minority races; and 5. Provide that Federal funds shall be made available in every part of the State and to every State-approved educational agency in need thereof without discrimination or prejudice in regard to race, creed, or status of any person or agency in the State authorized to receive Federal funds under the provisions of this act. Acceptance without legislative enactment.-The Governor of any State may take the above action 1. Until the State legislature takes such action; or 2. Until 6 months after the adjournment of the first regular session of the legislature following the enactment of this act; whichever of the above two conditions first occurs. State acceptance plans must be made public.—The plans required of any State authority under any provision of this act must be published by the State authority receiving such funds within 30 days after such funds are made available. Nonpublic schools.-Under specified conditions this bill provides for the distribution of Federal funds to nonpublic schools which are defined as follows: * any school not operated for profit which complies with the minimum educational requirements of the State." Each State which submits a State acceptance plan must inform the National Board whether or not it is prohibited by law or otherwise from distributing funds to nonpublic schools. (Many States are prohibited by constitutional and legislative provisions from disbursing funds to private and parochial schools.) Appointment of trustee.-In each State which is prohibited from disbursing to nonpublic schools Federal funds appropriated pursuant to this act, the National Board would appoint a trustee "who shall have the duty of receiving and disbursing the portion of the funds allocable to such States which the National Board determines should be disbursed to nonpublic schools." Each trustee would be appointed from among not less than three persons nominated by the Governor. A trustee would be entitled to necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his functions and compensation as determined by the National Board. Allocation of Federal funds for nonpublic schools.-In determining the amount of Federal funds to be allocated to nonpublic schools the board must take into consideration the extent to which "the burden of the educational needs of the State are borne by nonpublic schools." States not to reduce appropriations.-Federal funds may only be allotted to those States which meet the following two conditions: 1. The amount provided from States revenues for all public elementary and public secondary school purposes must be not less than either: (a) The total amount; or (b) The amount per pupil in average daily attendance actually spent for such purposes in the fiscal year ended June 30, 1942. 2. Neither the State nor any subdivision or agency thereof which avails itself of any benefits under this act shall pay salaries less than the monthly salary being paid on the date of the enactment of this act for any stated type or form of teaching. The State authority may apply to the National Board for exceptions to this provision to meet emergencies. State administrative expenses.-Each State is permitted to use up to 1 percent of the Federal funds received by it under this act to assist in paying the administrative expenses of the State department of education. Buildings for educational purposes.-While this bill does not make any appropriation for the "construction or equipment" of buildings for educational purposes, it does set up the following conditions for the use of Federal funds which may be appropriated by Congress for this purpose. No such funds would hereafter be paid to any— 1. State or its local subdivisions until the State educational authority has approved the plans which will provide that the proposed buildings shall be located and constructed to meet the educational needs of the community; or 2. Nonpublic educational agency unless it has formulated and submitted to the National Board its plans for meeting such educational needs. The National Board would transmit plans submitted to it for the location and construction of buildings for educational purposes to the Federal agency authorized to disburse or approve the disbursement of funds for such purposes. Title II—Funds to raise substandard educational opportunities Appropriation. An appropriation of $300,000,000 a year is authorized to be appropriated under this title for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1946, and for each succeeding year. Purpose.-The bill provides that the $300,000,000 appropriation under this title may be used for the payment of current educational expenditures for any or all of the following purposes: 1. To eradicate illiteracy. 2. To keep schools open for a term of not less than 9 months or to make provisions for the education of pupils affected by closed schools. 3. To reduce overcrowded classes by the employment of additional teachers. 4. To make possible the payment of adequate salaries of teachers in public elementary schools, which may include kindergartens and nursery schools, and public junior and senior high schools and junior colleges. Allocation among States.-The bill requires that the National Board determine the relative need for funds and allocate funds among the several States in accordance with their findings. In determining such need the National Board is required to take the following factors into account: 1. The findings and recommendations of the Secretary of the Treasury relative to the ability of each of the several States and its local subdivisions to provide adequate educational facilities. 2. The nature and extent of educational inequalities and relative substandard conditions afforded in the several States, especially in the rural areas. 3. The findings of the Director of the Census as to the estimated number of persons in each State between the ages 5 and 20, inclusive. Limitations on use of funds. Of this $300,000,000 appropriation, the bill requires that not less than $225,000,000 must be used to supplement the appropriations currently made by each State for payment of salaries of teachers in public elementary schools, which may include kindergartens and nursery schools, and public junior and senior high schools and junior colleges. The bill specifies that none of the funds authorized under this title may be used for the payment of salaries of teachers in nonpublic schools in any State where the State is prohibited from disbursing funds to such schools. Title III-Special educational services Appropriation.-An appropriation of $100,000,000 a year is authorized to be appropriated under this title for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1946, and each succeeding year. Purpose. This $100,000,000 appropriation may be used for both public and nonpublic schools for the payment of current educational expenditures for “educational facilites and services, such as transportation for educational purposes, library facilities, textbooks and other reading materials, visual aids and other instructional materials, school health programs and facilities, and other necessary educational projects * * Allocation among States.-The National Board would allocate these funds among the States as follows: 1. Fifty percent on the basis of the total population of each States as estimated by the Bureau of the Census. 2. Fifty percent on the same basis provided under title II. Title IV-Assistance to needy students Appropriation.-An appropriation of $150,000,000 a year is authorized to be appropriated under this title for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1946, and each succeeding year. Purpose. The purpose of this appropriation is to provide needy students with financial assistance to enable them to continue their education. Benefits may be offered in the form of scholarships, stipends, or compensation for work performed for public or nonprofit agencies. However, the combined period of edu |