Template School Board Resolution to Fund IDEA and Oppose School Vouchers
September 17, 2024
After contributing almost $200 billion of much-needed funds to public education since the COVID-19 pandemic, federal support will end on September 30, 2024. This short-term funding provided resources like tutoring, free summer schools, and mental health personnel.
Superintendents and school boards must advocate for continued federal funding and ensure funds go to public schools. As ESSER funding expires, it's crucial to urge the federal government to fully fund IDEA, keep public funds in public schools and call for adequate state funding. Nationwide, school board resolutions can highlight critical public school funding needs.
AASA is sharing two template school board resolutions that your district could consider passing:
- Urging full federal funding for IDEA
- Opposing state and federal funding for private school vouchers
Access the templates and instructions from the section below.
How to Use:
The template links in steps 1 and 2 will download as Microsoft Word documents.
- Download Template: Click here to download a resolution template of A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR FULL, PERMANENT FUNDING OF IDEA.
- Add Impacts of School Vouchers: If you wish to add language addressing the impact of school vouchers, download this document and copy the five (5) “WHEREAS” statements under OPTIONAL: VOUCHERS IMPACT LANGUAGE. Paste these into your Resolution document under the last “WHEREAS” and before “NOW, THEREFORE.”
- Insert District Information: Personalize the document to reflect your district. There are several areas indicated by [brackets] that require you to replace the text with your own. Use the chart below to serve as a guide:
| [School District] | Replace with the name of your school district, or other governing board that you are asking to pass this resolution. | |
| [$$$] | Find the amount of money your district received here. Click on your state, scroll down to “Sub-grantees” and search for your district. | |
| [XX] | Add in the percentage of students with disabilities that your district currently serves. This can usually be found on the district website or through a state database. | |
| Voucher Add-On | ||
| [Article and Section] And [Insert direct quote] | Use this document, starting on page five (5), to find the Article, Section, and direct quote of the educational provision language in your state’s constitution. | |
| [State/Commonwealth] | Apply whichever one fits for your geography! |
Once you have filled in all of the bracketed sections of your resolution, you are ready to go. Feel free to add your logo to the top of the document if you wish!
A few things to keep in mind as you work on your resolution:
Keep it simple: If you want to incorporate the various optional sections, consider consolidating or deleting a few of the WHEREAS statements so that the resolution isn’t too long. Two pages should be the maximum.
Local data: Do you have more local data or narratives that you think should be incorporated? Do it! The more justification you can provide, the better.
Remember your audience: The goal is to get this passed by the legislative body. As a legislative body, they may make edits or amendments to this resolution. Consider what they may be willing to do, and what you have the power to push them to do.
Empowering Your Grassroots Efforts
Please share your plans with the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools who helped develop this resource. The Alliance will map out where resolutions are introduced and passed, and are eager to lift up your grassroots efforts.
Need Support?
If you have questions, or are struggling to find relevant data for your resolution, please reach out to Sasha Pudelski at spudelski@aasa.org. We are happy to assist you in making your resolution fact based, data driven, and actionable.
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