(Alexandria, VA) – The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is pleased to announce that Mark Jones, a resident of Washington, DC, and a member of the District of Columbia State Board of Education has been chosen to serve on the NASBE Governmental Affairs Committee (GAC), the entity responsible for developing federal policy recommendations and communicating with Congress and federal officials about the education reform priorities of state boards of education.
The Governmental Affairs Committee helps state board members understand, influence, and plan for federal education policies. In its efforts to affect national education policymaking, NASBE works to ensure that it represents the views of its members to the executive and legislative branches of the federal government, as well as to associations representing governors, state legislators, school administrators, principals, local school boards, teachers, and parents.
“In this time when many education budgets remain unstable and there has been substantial turnover in political leadership, it is critical that lawmakers in Washington and at the state level understand the vital and sustained role of state boards of education,” said NASBE Executive Director Brenda Welburn. “In the last year, the recommendations of the GAC were reflected in the U.S. Education Department’s own blueprint for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the tireless work of committee members in educating members of Congress helped save dedicated federal funding for student health programs. These are two examples of how the Governmental Affairs Committee amplifies NASBE’s collective voice to lawmakers and the Administration. We look forward to the input and guidance the GAC will deliver to NASBE and state boards as these processes move forward.”
As a member of the 19-member panel, Mr. Jones will meet with other state education leaders, national policymakers, federal lawmakers, and education reform experts during a yearlong series of meetings, events and communications to share their state’s experiences and perspective, analyze federal education initiatives, promote state board of education priorities, and serve as a state education resource to congressional offices and staff.