Education
Topics:
»»Teacher Training »»Teacher Retention »»Nutrition »»Education Costs »»Related Press
________________________________________________________________________
"Keeping America competitive will help create good jobs and ensure our ability to compete in a global marketplace. That process begins with a high-quality educational system and continues with new ideas and increased investments in people here at home."
— Congressman Bart Gordon
Properly educating America’s youth will enable them to obtain tomorrow’s jobs and ensure America remains competitive in the global marketplace. Strong math and science skills will be necessary for the jobs of the future, and it is essential that we have the best-trained minds teaching the nation’s children these skills.
Strengthening the Training of Teachers
According to a 2005 National Academies report, 68 percent of 8th grade students in the United States received math instruction from a teacher who lacked a degree or certification in the field (National Academies report). The report also revealed that 93 percent of students in 5th-9th grades received physical science instruction from teachers without a certification in the subject matter. In response, I have authored landmark legislation, the America COMPETES Act, which was signed into law on August 9, 2007. One of the legislation’s valuable education programs, the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship (program summary), was fully funded in FY2009, receiving $115 million. The program helps prepare thousands of new teachers by offering scholarships to students who major in math or science and education and commit to becoming teachers upon graduation. In the months to come, as funding levels for 2010 are decided, I will work to secure the money needed to continue the Robert Noyce Program (press release).
Improving the Retention of Teachers
A 2006 Congressional Research Service report estimates that approximately one-third of K-12 teachers leave the profession within five years of being hired. In certain schools, the five-year retention rate is as low as 50 percent. The five major federal grant and loan programs aimed at teacher recruitment and retention are the Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants, Loan Forgiveness for Teachers, Teacher and Principal Training and Recruitment Fund, Troops to Teachers, and Transition to Teaching. To supplement these programs, I support the Keep Teachers Teaching Act (bill summary). The legislation will provide competitive grants to states, nonprofits, local educational agencies and higher education institutions to develop teacher retention programs. I also support the National STEM Education Tax Incentive for Teachers Act (bill summary). The legislation will provide certain full-time elementary and secondary teachers of math, science, engineering, or technology courses a refundable tax credit for 10 percent of their undergraduate tuition up to $1,000 in any taxable year.
Strengthening Nutrition and Physical Education Standards
According to a 2005 U.S. Government Accountability Office report, the number of overweight children aged 6 to 11 has more than tripled over the past three decades. However, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s nutrition requirements for schools have not been updated since 1979. I am a strong advocate for the Child Nutrition Promotion and School Lunch Protection Act (bill summary). The legislation will require the USDA to update its nutrition standards for foods sold in schools, including food in school vending machines, snack bars, and a la carte lines. I also support the FIT Kids Act (bill summary). The legislation will set national physical education goals and measures each state’s progress toward meeting them.
Reducing the Cost of College Education
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the average cost of college for a student in 1995 was $8,800 per year (tuition, fees, and room and board). Today, the average cost has risen by 30 percent to $14,629 per year. However, college financial aid (both loans and grants) has not increased in conjunction with the dramatic rise in the cost of college during the past decade. I supported the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was signed into law on February 17, 2009. The legislation increases the higher education tax credit to a maximum of $2,500 and makes it partially refundable, which will help nearly 4 million low-income students who previously did not have access to the credit. The legislation also provides an increase to Pell Grant scholarships, raising the maximum value to $5,550 in 2010, and adds $200 million to the College Work-Study program. In addition to the Pell Grant increases, the American Recovery Act made additional investments in our nation’s education system (summary of funding), which I supported.
>> Recent Education Press:
