by Brian Washington
Up to 1,400 teachers in Nevada may return to the classroom for the 2010-11 school year, thanks, in part, to U.S. Representative Dina Titus. Representative Titus voted to approve federal funding to prevent education layoffs across the country and in Nevada that could have resulted in severe consequences for students, including larger class sizes and the elimination of programs and subjects such as art, music and foreign languages.
The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act, which Congress approved in August, also included money to help cushion a budget shortfall that threatened state spending on health care needs for Nevada’s poorest residents.
‘With Nevada facing significant budget shortfalls, these funds, which are only for teachers and Medicaid, will help fill the gaps, keeping 1,400 teachers in the classroom and supporting the state’s most vulnerable citizens,’ said Titus, who also pointed out the legislation reduces the deficit by $1.4 billion over 10 years.
Titus has also authored a bill designed to provide educators with a $250 to $500 tax deduction for ‘out-of-pocket’ classroom expenses. Her bill sought to make the deduction a permanent part of federal tax codes. Titus’ bill has garnered 26 co-sponsors and is currently with the House Ways and Means Committee.
Nevada voters elected Titus to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008. She serves on several education-related committees and sub-committees including Education & Labor, Early childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, and Higher Education. Her support for educators stems from her time spent as a professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas, where she taught for 10 years.
After leaving the university, she decided to pursue a life-long interest that was born out of her childhood growing up in Tifton, GA. Her grandfather owned a restaurant located across from the courthouse. The spot proved to be a popular place where community officials would gather to get a bite to eat and discuss politics the latter caught Titus’ attention.
During a tele-town hall in April, she told NEA members in Nevada that she welcomed their input on federal education policy and wants to hear from more educators, especially when it comes to transforming our public schools.
‘As my colleagues and I work to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, better known as the No Child Left Behind Act, it is critical that I hear from the teachers and principals that have seen firsthand what works and what doesn’t,’ said Titus.
As Congress begins debate on reauthorizing No Child Left Behind, we need to make sure Titus and other members of Congress know where educators stand on this issue. Stay tuned to Education Votes to get the latest information on NCLB and how you can get involved to make sure this law works for students, educators, and our public schools.
