New Advocacy Resource: TEACH Grant Vignettes
As reauthorization of the Higher Education Act (HEA) continues in Congress, AACTE is unveiling a new resource to support members in their advocacy efforts with members of Congress. The TEACH Grant Vignettes, collected in 2017 and 2018, provide powerful narratives on the significance that the Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) grants have on access and financial assistance for teacher candidates.
Here is a sample vignette from an undergraduate grant recipient at Northern Kentucky University:
I am from a small town in southeastern Kentucky, the kind you hear about people never leaving. I left my small town to pursue a high school mathematics education degree at NKU, on scholarship. When I decided that the students that really needed me were those in middle grades, who often get the short end of the stick, I changed my major. I have worked incredibly hard in my college career to become the best teacher I can be; not for myself, not for the money, but for the students that deserve it. I hope one day to teach the underserved populations in Eastern Kentucky; none of that would be possible without the TEACH Grant I received. Help us continue to make a difference.
The vignettes can be accessed in AACTE’s Resource Library and are sorted by state, institution name, and student name. Please make use of them in your communications or meetings with congressional offices, particularly as HEA reauthorization is being considered in Congress. Currently, the House bill to reauthorize HEA would eliminate the TEACH grant program, but your voice could help to ensure the continuation of this vital program for educator preparation (you may also want to include AACTE’s overview document for TEACH grants).
If your institution accepts TEACH grants and is interested in also submitting vignettes for advocacy use, please contact gra@aacte.org.
Tags: advocacy, federal issues, funding
