{\pwd2\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang1033{\fonttbl{\f0\froman\fprq2\fcharset0 Times New Roman;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue0;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs20 Subj: Ed Facts - 7/28/00\par Date: 7/28/00 1:59:40 PM Pacific Daylight Time\par From: frcpub@frc.org (Family Research Council)\par \par Here is this week's issue of Ed Facts. To see the on-line\par version, please visit:\par \par http://www.frc.org/subscribe/docs/ed04g.html\par \par ---------------------------------------------------------------\par \par RELEASED-TIME EDUCATION ENABLES PUBLIC SCHOOL\par STUDENTS TO RECEIVE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION\par \par The current notion that religion can be separated from the rest of life has\par led to a general acceptance of the idea that religion should stop at the\par schoolhouse door. How can parents counter the effects of a "value-neutral"\par education that actually instills the principles of secularism?\par \par Released-time education - letting students attend religion classes off campus\par during the school day - is one alternative. The Supreme Court has declared\par released-time programs constitutional, and many communities have successfully\par implemented them. While released-time instruction does not resolve the\par underlying religious tensions in public education, it is a stride toward more\par appropriate recognition of students' religious nature, thus offering aid to\par those struggling with the character crisis\par in our current education system.\par \par FRC's latest pocket policy Time for God gives the historical background of\par released-time education, explores the ways that various communities have\par adapted it to suit their needs, and offers practical help for those seeking\par to start their own released-time programs.\par \par ACTION: Order a copy of Time for God: Accommodating Religious Free Exercise\par through Released-Time Education for a suggested donation of $1.50. Call\par FRC's order line at 1-800-225-4008 and ask for item BR99H2.\par \par CONGRESS GOES TO RECESS WITHOUT EDUCATION\par SPENDING BILL\par \par Congress began its month-long recess today without a conference report on the\par 2001 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations bill.\par Differences of opinion between Congress and the President on how to spend\par federal education monies prevented quick passage of the compromise report.\par Among the points of contention between the two parties are requests for the\par funding of school construction, class-size reduction measures, after-school\par programs, and national testing development.\par \par The House-Senate conference committee will resume negotiations of the\par education spending bill in early September. The full House and Senate must\par approve the final conference report before the bill can be sent to President\par Clinton.\par }