Bill to Aid Gulf Coast Area Schools and Colleges Announced in House

Thursday, March 1, 2007

WASHINGTON, DC -- Lawmakers announced legislation today to address a severe teacher shortage in schools in New Orleans and surrounding areas and to provide funding to schools and colleges in those areas to help them pay off debt and meet other challenges they've faced in the year and a half since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast. 

Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Reps. Charlie Melancon (D-LA) and William Jefferson (D-LA) introduced the legislation, called the Revitalizing New Orleans by Attracting America's Leaders (RENEWAAL) Act of 2007.

"For a year and a half, schools in New Orleans and its surrounding parishes have waited in vain for much of the help they need to get back to the business of educating the thousands of students returning to the area with their families," said Miller. "We should not only get schools these resources, but also help them to become models for other schools around the country. This legislation would help schools attract highly qualified teachers and principals, laying the groundwork for improving student achievement. It would also help colleges recruit students and begin to pay off the debt they've accrued as a result of Hurricane Katrina. These things are critical to having vibrant systems of K-12 and higher education; and those education systems are critical to a vibrant future for New Orleans and other Gulf Coast communities."

"In the wake of Katrina, one of the biggest obstacles our city has faced is attracting professionals, like excellent teachers, to come back to New Orleans," said Rep. Jefferson. "Getting Louisiana's education system working again at full capacity should be one of Congress' top priorities. Chairman Miller, Congressman Melancon and I are determined to not only re-open all of New Orleans' public schools in an expedited fashion, but we also seek to improve their quality drastically.  This all starts with strong teachers.  The more impressive the teachers--the more successful the graduates. This bill would be a key incentive in luring such professionals to the Greater New Orleans area."   

"Teachers and administrators across the Gulf Coast have performed heroically in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said Rep. Melancon.  "So many have worked tirelessly, under extremely difficult conditions, to get their schools up and running so families can return home and begin rebuilding their lives.  Good schools are part of the bedrock of our communities and the RENEWAAL Act will give these dedicated educators a helping hand in recruiting and retaining top quality teachers and principals.  I am proud to join Chairman Miller in introducing this important legislation that will help our entire education system recover from the hurricanes and return to some degree of normalcy."

The RENEWAAL Act provides incentives to qualified educators and principals that stay in or return to the New Orleans area public schools and commit to work there for at least three years.  Highly qualified teachers could receive an annual bonus of up to $10,000, while principals who have a demonstrated track record of success with improving urban schools could qualify for a bonus of up to $16,500 a year.  The bill would also assist these educators with a relocation bonus ($2,500), housing grants ($500 a month) and student loan forgiveness (up to $7,000 a year). 

In addition, higher education institutions that are still struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina would receive help in recruiting and retaining faculty and students.  Universities that were closed for 30 days or more and continue to sustain lost revenue and enrollment would receive payments to help with faculty salaries and incentives for retaining faculty.  Also, students may be eligible for grants that choose to attend these institutions.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Tom Kiley / Rachel Racusen
2181 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
202-226-0853