As Congress prepares to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), NAESP's Advocacy and Government Relations team is working to ensure that the new law meets the needs of the whole child and gives all principals the opportunity to create lasting foundations for learning in our schools.

1. Read the letter NAESP sent to the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee concerning ESEA reauthorization—May 7, 2010
2. Read the letter NAESP sent to the chairman and ranking member of the House Education and Labor Committee concerning ESEA reauthorization—March 26, 2010
3. Read NAESP's general recommendations for ESEA reauthorization—January 29, 2010

NAESP is advocating the inclusion of two specific policy proposals in a reauthorized ESEA: 

1. Investing in Early Childhood Development: Research has proven that success in K-12 education starts before students enter the classroom, and ESEA reauthorization must  include standards that provide guidance to principals about developing effective pre-kindergarten through grade three alignment.   
2. High-Quality Mentoring Programs for Principals: Mentoring programs are critical to the development of strong, effective principals, and ESEA reauthorization must include new policies that support high quality leadership mentoring programs and sufficiently instill standards of performance in the principalship.