ACORN Rallies for NCLB Funding and Highly Qualified Teachers

In mid-March, in conjunction with its 12th annual Legislative and Political Conference, hundreds of ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) members rallied for full funding of the federal "NCLB" education law in Washington, DC. ACORN's message includes the belief that "Our children can succeed, but we are setting up our schools and our children for failure if we expect them to improve their performance without needed resources."

ACORN members also met with Education Department leaders to ask for concrete measures that will ensure that low-income and minority students are not taught by less qualified teachers than students in wealthier school districts.

ACORN describes itself as a community organization of low and moderate-income families who are members of neighborhood chapters in more than 60 cities across the country. ACORN's "Better Schools" campaign usually focuses on improving local community schools through equitable funding, smaller class sizes, lower teacher vacancy rates and more teacher development programs.

In addition to public education, ACORN is active on other issues, including housing, the minimum wage, and "predatory lending."

Prepared by Molly A. Hunter, March 30, 2004