Kirk commended for education fight

I am writing to commend Mark Kirk for his essential work on education for the underprivileged. Impact aid is the money the federal government pays to schools that educate high numbers of military students. Impact aid is essential to school districts in disadvantaged areas like North Chicago, which are cash strapped to begin with and can ill afford to educate additional students. Before Congressman Kirk came into office, these school districts received only $600 per student in impact aid, and they were in danger of losing even that. Congressman Kirk worked with senators Durbin and Obama and increased that aid from $600 per pupil to $6,000.

Congressman Kirk also revived the "Families Involved in Reading Stories Together." This program teaches Latino parents to read and speak English. That way they can get involved in their children's educations and help keep them in school. Study after study has shown that the best way to lift someone out of poverty is to give them a good education. Congressman Kirk is working to ensure that the American dream stays alive in communities like North Chicago. That is why he was endorsed by the National Education Association, and that is why we must keep him in office.

Harold Morrison

Lake Forest