|
WASHINGTON, DC -- Representative George Miller (D-CA) announced today that his new bill to attract highly qualified teachers to the nation’s poorest schools has earned endorsements from over 15 major education organizations.
Miller, who developed the legislation over the last several months, formally introduced it today. Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced companion legislation in the Senate today as well.
“Teacher quality is the single most important factor in determining a child’s success in school,” said Miller, the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. “Imagine a time when every classroom – even the toughest classrooms in the poorest schools – is taught by a highly-qualified teacher. With this legislation we can take a giant step toward that goal.
“I am honored to have the support of Senator Kennedy and Senator Durbin for this important bill as well as the backing of so many leading education institutions and organizations,” said Miller. “Their unified support demonstrates a collective sense of urgency about the task of attracting highly qualified teachers to the toughest schools in the coming years – and to keeping them there. I hope that my other colleagues, in both parties, will join this effort this year and help make a difference for our nation’s schoolchildren.”
The legislation, called the Teach Act of 2005, will help to increase the supply of excellent teachers, ensure that children are taught by teachers with expertise in their subject area, build a teaching career ladder, identify and reward the best teachers, and retain the best teachers and principals.
Miller, one of the four principal co-authors of the No Child Left Behind Act, first unveiled his multi-faceted proposal at the National Press Club on May 24 upon the release of a major new study by the National Academy of Education on the benefits of improving teacher quality for K-12 students. Miller said today that his bill has since earned the backing of 15 leading education organizations, representing a broad spectrum of viewpoints.
The endorsements come from: Alliance for Excellent Education; American Federation of Teachers; Business Roundtable; Center for American Progress Action Fund; Children’s Defense Fund; Education Trust; New Leaders for New Schools; National Council of La Raza; National Council on Teacher Quality; National Education Association; New Teacher Center at UC Santa Cruz; Operation Public Education; Teach for America; Teacher Advancement Program Foundation; and The Teaching Commission.
Miller also released information on funding for the bill today. It doubles the federal investment in improving teacher quality by providing an additional $3.4 billion. That funding includes:
- $2.2 billion for premium pay for teachers in high-need schools;
- $300 million for state-of-the-art teacher induction programs;
- $200 million for recruiting math and science teachers;
- $200 million for building teaching career ladders;
- $200 million for developing data systems and training teachers in their use;
- An increase of $100 million over current funding for improving accountability in teacher preparation programs;
- $100 million for improving principal training;
- $50 million for improving professional development for veteran teachers; and
- $50 million for peer mentoring and review programs for veteran teachers.
The $3.4 billion does not include additional funding for up-front tuition assistance for outstanding college undergraduates who promise to go into teaching, nor for student loan forgiveness for veteran teachers. The cost of those provisions would depend on the number of students and teachers who apply for and receive up-front tuition assistance or loan forgiveness.
### |
