Education

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), a leading proponent of equality in education, has introduced historic legislation—H. R. 4350, the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA)—that would protect Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) students by establishing a comprehensive Federal prohibition of discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity and provide victims with meaningful and effective remedies. Thus far, SNDA has 60 original co-sponsors.... Read more

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), a leading proponent of equality in education, today introduced historic legislation—H. R. 4530, the Student Non-Discrimination Act (SNDA)—that would protect Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) students by establishing a comprehensive Federal prohibition of discrimination in public schools based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity and provide victims with meaningful and effective remedies. Thus far, SNDA has 60 original co-sponsor... Read more

Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) released the following statements tonight in response to President Obama’s first State of the Union Address: "I agree completely with President Obama that the road to recovery begins with our economy. Today, big business and corporate lobbyists are working together to the detriment of the American people and the American economy. This was only made worse by the recent Supreme Court decision that opened the channels for unregulated use of corporate funds to influenc... Read more

Citing “relentless harassment and discrimination” and “life-threatening violence” faced by students “based on their sexual orientation,” U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) today introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act to prohibit such discrimination, as well as that based on gender identity, in public schools in the United States. The bill would require that no student in public schools be “excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under a... Read more

Today, Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., introduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act of 2010 (SNDA), H.R. 4530. The bill has 60 bipartisan co-sponsors and has broad support from over 15 civil rights and education organizations, including: The American Association of University Women, American Civil Liberties Union, American Counseling Association, Gay-Straight Alliance Network, GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders), GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network), Human Rights Campaign, Lamb... Read more

Rep. Jared Polis introduced a bill Wednesday to protect LGBT students against discrimination in schools. The Student Non-Discrimination Act will mimic Title VI, which banned discrimination in schools against racial minorities, as well as Title IX, which similarly protected girls and women from being excluded from programs and scholastic opportunities on the basis of their gender. It currently has 60 original cosponsors. “Every day innocent students fall victim to relentless harassment and discri... Read more

A gay U.S. House member on Wednesday introduced legislation that would provide added protection for LGBT students in schools throughout the country. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.), is known as the Student Non-Discrimination Act. The legislation would provide remedies for actual or perceived discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in both elementary and secondary schools. Polis’ bill, H.R. 4530, is based on Title IX of the Education Amendments of 19... Read more

The kids don’t seem to notice the quickly approaching storm and the wicked wind chill. With puffy jackets and youthful metabolism to warm them, they play and run and scream and giggle and play more, enjoying the playground before it is blanketed in snow. Inside, the songs of Grease whir from the auditorium’s backstage. A class across campus brainstorms adjectives for Macbeth. The school bell rings, and the hallways fill with kids, backpacks and banging lockers as though the classrooms are hemorr... Read more

Local charter school leaders reacted positively yesterday to federal legislation introduced by Congressman Jared Polis that would provide grants to expand high-quality charter schools. The All Students Achieving Through Reform (All-STAR) Act would establish a new competitive grant program for states, local education agencies, public charter school authorizers, and eligible non-profit organizations to expand and replicate existing successful charter schools. “To reclaim America’s leadership in ed... Read more

For education reformers who care about extending opportunity to every American family, these are exciting times. Congress has approved unprecedented funding to support our public schools, while at the same time driving much-needed and long-overdue reforms in states and districts across the nation through competitive grant programs like Race to the Top. Change is in the air and the upcoming reauthorization of Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) offers a historic opportunity to do the ri... Read more