AACTE Statement on DeVos’s Proposal to Arm Teachers
AACTE President/CEO Lynn M. Gangone and the AACTE Board of Directors issued the following statement today regarding the Trump administration’s proposal to use federal funds for placing guns in schools:
“AACTE strongly opposes U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s consideration to arm teachers in the classroom as this will endanger the safety of both students and educators. Teacher preparation programs across the nation ensure profession-ready educators are prepared to create safe learning communities where children can learn without fear.
No federal funds, including those provided by Title IV of the Every Student Succeeds Act, should be used to train or arm current and future teachers. The Title IV funds should remain dedicated to providing a well-rounded education for all students, increasing access to mental health counseling, establishing dropout prevention programs, and improving school conditions for learning.
AACTE calls on our nation to examine national and state policies on access to weapons in order to ensure school safety for all children in America.”
See also the AACTE Statement on School Safety released earlier this year.
Tags: advocacy, federal issues
