Press Release - Etheridge Announces Legislation to Help Teachers

News Release
Congressman Bob Etheridge
North Carolina

August 9, 2004

Contact: Sara Lang
Phone: (202) 225-4531

Etheridge Announces Legislation to Help Teachers

RALEIGH - As teachers across North Carolina head back to school, U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge today announced legislation to help those who teach North Carolina's low-income and at-risk students. Etheridge announced his support for the "Low-income Educator Assistance and Relief Now Act," also known as the LEARN Tax Credit. LEARN would provide a $2,000 federal tax credit to full-time educators who teach in Title I schools.

"For the children who walk through the doors of our schools, the teachers who will greet them will play a critical role in determining their futures," Etheridge said. "These education professionals make the difference for the success or failure of our schools and our children. Low-income schools rely even more heavily on quality teachers for the success of their students, and stubborn achievement gaps persist between our wealthiest schools and those of more modest means. Low income schools often have the most difficult time finding and keeping quality teachers. And I'm sure many teachers frequently have to reach into their own pockets to pay for classroom supplies that the school budget just can't cover. I want to help; Congress should help; and LEARN will help."

This credit would compensate the teachers who work in areas where children need the most help and assist those schools in attracting and retaining quality teachers. According to the Schools and Staffing Survey from the Department of Education, the average salary for teachers at schools with 60 to 70 percent of their students on free or reduced priced lunches is $37,173. The average salary for teachers at schools with less than 30 percent of their students on free or reduced priced lunches is $42,623.

The credit would also help compensate teachers for the schools supplies and classroom materials that they purchase out of their own pockets. Studies have shown that teachers spend, on average, between $400 and $600 each year on their students and classrooms.

Etheridge was joined at the press conference by Mr. Eddie Davis, a high school English teacher and president of the N.C. Association of Educators (NCAE), and teachers from around the Triangle.

Title I is the largest federal education program and is intended to help ensure that all children have the opportunity to obtain a high quality education and reach proficiency on challenging state academic standards and assessments. Title I provides federal funding for schools to help students who are behind academically or at risk of falling behind. Nearly 1,100 North Carolina schools receive Title I funding, almost half of all the state's schools.