[NFBMO] Legislative Update and Action Needed

Roger Crome r_crome1 at msn.com
Sat Mar 17 00:43:34 UTC 2018


Good evening everyone:
SB 681, the National Media Reading Assessment Bill, has passed through the Missouri Senate and is on its way to the House.  A significant  part of the legislation is setting the standard at a minimum of using the National Media Reading Assessment.  Unfortunately, the version which has passed the Senate and is on its way to the House does not include the National Media Reading Assessment.  This potentially weakens the effectiveness of the bill bhy leaving the determination of research based in the hands of the educators that have ignored the necessity of Braille for far too long.

Your advocacy is needed, and it is a delicate balance.  We need the committee to understand that SB 681, as it stands, is not good enough.  We need an amendment to the bill that includes language that dictates that the minimum standard to be used for a reading assessment should be the National Media Reading Assessment that, at this time, is the only standardized method of determining the most effective method of reading to learn.  The delicate part of this balance is to assertively state that, without the National Media Reading Assessment included, we do not feel it will do any good.  It is imperative for them to add an amendment including the National Media Reading Assessment.  Progress is being made, and we do not want to stop the train, but we also do not want a bill to pass that does nothing to enhance the literacy of blind children.

Below is the contact information for the committee that will be considering SB 681.  Please right a personal note or call the members and encourage them to add in the National Media Reading Assessment.

Missouri House of Representatives
Elementary & Secondary Education

Kathryn Swan - Chair (r)
Kathryn.swan at house.mo.gov<mailto:Kathryn.swan at house.mo.gov>
573-751-1443

Rebecca Roeber - Vice Chair (r)
Rebecca.roeber at house.mo.gov<mailto:Rebecca.roeber at house.mo.gov>
573-751-1456

Judy Morgan (D)
Judy.morgan at house.mo.gov<mailto:Judy.morgan at house.mo.gov>
573-751-4485

Ira Anders (D)
Ira.anders at house.mo.gov<mailto:Ira.anders at house.mo.gov>
573-751-5701

Kurt Bahr (r)
Kurt.bahr at house.mo.gov<mailto:Kurt.bahr at house.mo.gov>
573-751-9768

Gretchen Bangert (D)
Gretchen.bangert at house.mo.gov<mailto:Gretchen.bangert at house.mo.gov>
573-751-5365

Jay Barnes (r)
Jay.barnes at house.mo.gov<mailto:Jay.barnes at house.mo.gov>
573-751-2412

Chuck Basy (r)
Charles.basye at house.mo.gov<mailto:Charles.basye at house.mo.gov>
573-751-1501

Ingrid Burnett (D)
Ingrid.burnett at house.mo.gov<mailto:Ingrid.burnett at house.mo.gov>
573-751-3310

Shamed Dogan (r)
Shamed.dogan at house.mo.gov<mailto:Shamed.dogan at house.mo.gov>
573-751-4392

Mark Matthiesen (r)
Mark.matthiesen at house.mo.gov<mailto:Mark.matthiesen at house.mo.gov>
573-751-4163

Bryan Spencer (r)
Bryan.spencer at house.mo.gov<mailto:Bryan.spencer at house.mo.gov>
573-751-1460

David Wood (r)
David.wood at house.mo.gov<mailto:David.wood at house.mo.gov>
573-751-2077



Committee Contact: Janet Land
573-751-1443

Thank you for all of your hard work.

Roger Crome
NFB of Missouri
Governmental Affairs Chair







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