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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Pierluisi Introduces Legislation to Promote Teacher Exchanges

WASHINGTON, DC- With the formal support of important educational organizations like the American Federation of Teachers, the National School Board Association, and the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi introduced legislation today to promote exchange programs between teachers in the 50 states and Puerto Rico.

The bill was introduced with Mario Díaz-Balart, a Republican representing the 21st District of Florida, and is co-sponsored by Congressman Raúl Grijalva, a Democrat representing the 7th District of Arizona, who chairs the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s Education Task Force.

“Last Congress, I introduced similar legislation that obtained significant backing from my House colleagues, especially those on the Committee on Education and Labor. I have reintroduced this legislation with Congressman Díaz-Balart because I am convinced that it will benefit participating teachers and will have a direct, positive impact on students,” said Pierluisi.

“In addition, the Education Committee is in the process of reauthorizing the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, better known as the No Child Left Behind Act,” explained the Resident Commissioner.

The bill would make teacher exchanges between states and schools districts in different regions of the United States, including Puerto Rico, an allowable use of funds under Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

Teacher exchanges provide participating teachers with the opportunity to learn new instructional techniques, to gain exposure to different learning cultures and student populations, and to share the learning they acquire during the exchange with other teachers in their home districts once they return.

“This initiative will provide significant benefits to teachers in Puerto Rico. For example, under the program, English-language teachers on the Island will be able to improve their abilities and to learn new techniques in a state where English is spoken fluently. Students in Puerto Rico will also benefit from this program because they will have the opportunity to learn from a stateside teacher whose principal language is English,” said Pierluisi.

Teachers from Puerto Rico who participate in the exchange would continue to receive their salary and benefits from the Puerto Rico Department of Education.

Other organizations that support the bill include the ASPIRA Association, Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc., and the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.