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| New Incentives for Title I School Teachers |
April 24, 2003 |
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Tax Credit for Title I School Teachers
Congresswoman Heather Wilson, along with 40 cosponsors from both political parties, are working on a bill that gives a 2,000 tax credit to teachers that work in Tittle I schools. There is a gap in the pay scale between Title I schools and those that aren’t; this bill called the Low–income Educator Assistance and Relief Now (LEARN) Act helps to close that gap so good teachers have more of an incentive to stay at these schools. Teachers, students and parents have offered their support in hopes that this bill is passed.
“There is no magic wand that will give us great schools,” says Heather. “But we can improve public education step-by-step. We’ve made tremendous progress with the No Child Left Behind Act that took effect more than a year ago, funneling an additional $57 million into New Mexico and changing the tools available to teachers and parents. But I think we can do even more. One obvious starting point is supporting our teachers.”
If enacted, the bill would provide a $2,000 tax credit to any teacher, instructor, counselor, principal, or aide who teaches in a Title I eligible school (a school with at least 40 percent of its students from families in poverty). This would be a huge step up for schools that continue to lose teachers due to the gap in pay scale compared to schools that are not considered Title I. Christine Trujillo, President of the New Mexico Federation of Educational Employees/AFT/AFL-CIO, says, “The Teacher Tax Credit Act of 2003 is an excellent step in trying to address the ever increasing teacher shortage problems in low income schools.”
Title I is the federal program for schools that have a high percentage of children that live in poverty. Currently there are 766 statewide Title I eligible schools in New Mexico, 134 being in Albuquerque. Nationally there are 44,877 Title I eligible schools. Before the Spring Recess, Congresswoman Heather Wilson joined 30 of her colleagues to reintroduce HR 1643. The bill is receiving a lot of support by Title I schools and other organizations like the New Mexico Federation of Educational Employees/AFT/AFL-CIO.
Cosponsors of Wilson’s LEARN Act as of April 22, 2003 include:
Rep Berry, Marion [AR-1] - 4/3/2003 Rep Boehner, John A. [OH-8] - 4/3/2003
Rep Boswell, Leonard L. [IA-3] - 4/3/2003 Rep Boucher, Rick [VA-9] - 4/3/2003
Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] - 4/3/2003 Rep Cardoza, Dennis A. [CA-18] – 4/11/2003
Rep Case, Ed [HI-2] - 4/3/2003 Rep Davis, Artur [AL-7] - 4/3/2003
Rep Davis, Lincoln [TN-4] - 4/3/2003 Rep Ehlers, Vernon J. [MI-3] - 4/3/2003
Rep English, Phil [PA-3] – 4/3/2003 Rep Etheridge, Bob [NC-2] - 4/3/2003
Rep Frost, Martin [TX-24] - 4/3/2003 Rep Graves, Sam [MO-6] - 4/11/2003
Rep Greenwood, James C. [PA-8] - 4/3/2003 Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 4/11/2003
Rep Hayes, Robin [NC-8] - 4/3/2003 Rep Holden, Tim [PA-17] - 4/3/2003
Rep Isakson, Johnny [GA-6] - 4/11/2003 Rep Johnson, Eddie Bernice [TX-30] - 4/11/2003
Rep Jones, Stephanie Tubbs [OH-11] - 4/3/2003 Rep Kennedy, Patrick J. [RI-1] - 4/3/2003
Rep Lucas, Ken [KY-4] - 4/3/2003 Rep McIntyre, Mike [NC-7] - 4/11/2003
Rep Millender-McDonald, Juanita [CA-37] - 4/3/2003 Rep Moore, Dennis [KS-3] - 4/3/2003
Rep Northup, Anne [KY-3] - 4/11/2003
Rep Pearce, Stevan [NM-2] - 4/3/2003 Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 4/11/2003
Rep Putnam, Adam H. [FL-12] - 4/3/2003 Rep Sandlin, Max [TX-1] - 4/3/2003
Rep Sherman, Brad [CA-27] - 4/3/2003 Rep Simmons, Rob [CT-2] - 4/3/2003
Rep Souder, Mark E. [IN-3] - 4/3/2003 Rep Stenholm, Charles W. [TX-17] - 4/3/2003
Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] - 4/11/2003 Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] - 4/3/2003
Rep Udall, Tom [NM-3] – 4/3/2003 Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2] - 4/3/2003
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