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Press Releases
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For Immediate Release
February 7, 2008
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PRICE: TEACHING SCHOLARSHIPS BOOSTED IN HOUSE BILL |
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Washington, D.C. - Congressman David Price (D-NC) today lauded House passage of legislation to help college students who want to become teachers. Inspired by North Carolina’s successful Teaching Fellows Program, Price began working over 7 years ago to establish a federal scholarship program that would reward students who commit to serve as teachers.
The House bill would establish a new Teacher Quality Partnership grant program to recruit students into the field of teaching. The grants would be used for scholarships and professional development activities to help produce highly qualified teachers who are committed to their profession. In return for the support they receive, the teachers would pledge to serve at least 3 years in high-need public schools after completing a 1-year teaching residency program. Community colleges that partner with 4-year institutions for teacher development would also be eligible to administer scholarships to prospective teachers. Separately, the bill would also authorize up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness for educators and others who enter vital public service jobs.
“We have been plowing this field for years with congressional leaders who were not altogether receptive to the demands of teacher recruitment in this country. But today, under new leadership, we have the opportunity to make real progress on this critical issue,” Price said. “When I first introduced my Teaching Fellows Act in February 2001, I spoke of an impending national shortage of 2.5 million teachers over the next decade, with a shortage of 80,000 in North Carolina alone. The shortage is now upon us and our communities are already feeling the pinch. We can’t wait any longer to enact this bill.”
The new financial aid initiative forms part of the College Opportunity and Affordability Act (H.R. 4137), which is also known as the Higher Education Act Reauthorization bill. It would reauthorize the range of federal programs that provide financial assistance to students attending college, including the Pell Grants, Perkins Loans, and college readiness programs like TRIO and GEAR UP. (For more information on the bill, click here).
Price said the bill on the House floor today builds upon the already strong education record of the 110th Congress. Last August, the America COMPETES Act was signed into law, which established additional scholarships and professional development activities to boost the number of science and math teachers in the country. One month later, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act became law. Between cutting the interest rates on subsidized student loans in half and greatly increasing the Pell Grant award, that legislation represented the single largest investment in higher education since the GI bill.
“America’s children are her greatest resource,” Price said, “and robust support of public education is essential to ensure that our young people can fulfill their potential and our country can maintain its competitive edge. Today we are taking steps to make college more affordable and bolster our K-12 teaching force with highly qualified educators.”
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