ldunbar@nul.org

New York, NY, March 30, 2000–Hugh Price, President of the National Urban League, was elated to learn that the Republican Leadership had pulled HR 7, the "Education Savings and School Excellence Act" from today\'s House floor schedule.

"Education Savings Accounts (ESA) are not the answer to what ails public education," Price said. "Such programs shift precious public resources to non-public schools that are completely unaccountable to taxpayers results. As evidenced by today\\\'s decision, Congress realizes that our children\\\'s future depends on improving public education, and rather than siphoning money away from the schools that provide it, we must overcome the problems facing them."

With more than 95 percent of school-age African-American children enrolled in our public schools, the African-American community has a vested interest in having access to schools organized and outfitted for learning. The League is hopeful that Congress will immediately consider the bipartisan school construction bill by Representative Johnson-and Rangel, H.R. 4094.

"Students cannot be expected to learn to their full potential in overcrowded classrooms or in buildings that suffer from extensive disrepair, or without state-of-the art technology necessary to keep pace with the skill requirements of the 21st century," Price said. "A number of federal reports have documented the poor infrastructures of most of America\\\'s 80,000 elementary and secondary schools. The largest proportion of crumbling schools are found in central cities serving 50% or more children of color, and 70% or more poor children."

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The National Urban League is aggressively working to put the school construction bill, HR. 4094 on a fast track to the House Floor. According to Hugh Price, all 115 urban league affiliates will meet Monday, April 3 to discuss strategies for keeping ESA off the House schedule and to move the Johnson-Rangel school construction bill.

Founded in 1910, the National Urban League is a nonprofit organization whose 115 affiliates in 35 states and the District of Columbia provide direct services focused on empowering African-Americans to achieve economic, academic and racial equality. The League’s headquarters is located at 120 Wall Street in New York City.