Supporting the goals and ideals of National Middle Level Education Month.

IV 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 226 Supporting the goals and ideals of National Middle Level Education Month. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 14, 2023 Mr. GRIJALVA (for himself and Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of National Middle Level Education Month. Whereas the National Association of Secondary School Prin- cipals, the Association for Middle Level Education, and the Alliance for Excellent Education have declared the month of March 2023 as National Middle Level Edu- cation Month; Whereas schools that educate middle grades students play a critical function in the Nation’s educational system in that they are responsible for educating young adolescents between the ages of 10 and 15 (grades 5 through 9) that are undergoing rapid and dramatic changes in their phys- ical, intellectual, social, emotional, and moral develop- ment; VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:11 Mar 15, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR226.IH HR226 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 226 IH Whereas each day over 19,000,000 young adolescents en- gaged in school deserve the educational components that research and practice have shown to help middle grades students achieve, including— (1) challenging and engaging instruction; (2) teachers and administrators who are knowledge- able and prepared to provide young adolescents with a safe, challenging, and supportive learning environment; and (3) organizational structures that banish anonymity and promote personalization, collaboration, and social eq- uity; Whereas neuroscience indicates that the majority of middle grades students are in a critical stage of brain develop- ment that promotes productive adulthood; Whereas the habits and values established during early ado- lescence have a critical, lifelong influence that directly impacts the future health and welfare of the Nation; Whereas research has found that the academic achievement of eighth grade students has a larger impact on their readiness for college by the end of high school than any- thing that happens academically in high school; Whereas research has found that middle level education is underfunded, creating a ‘‘missing middle’’ in Federal education funding; Whereas in order to improve graduation rates and prepare students to be lifelong learners ready for college, career, and citizenship, a deeper public understanding of the dis- tinctive mission of middle level education is necessary; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:11 Mar 15, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR226.IH HR226 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 226 IH Whereas the month of March 2023 has been declared as Na- tional Middle Level Education Month by numerous edu- cational groups: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 2 Middle Level Education Month; 3 (2) honors and recognizes the importance of 4 middle level education and the contributions of those 5 who educate this unique age group; and 6 (3) encourages the people of the United States 7 to observe National Middle Level Education Month 8 by taking opportunities to engage with schools that 9 educate middle grades students and celebrate the 10 schools that are responsible for educating the Na- 11 tion’s young adolescents. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:11 Mar 15, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR226.IH HR226 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS