14 Dec2021
Action Needed: Urge Your Members of Congress to Co-Sponsor the Educators for America Act
Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Representative Alma Adams (D-N.C.) recently introduced the Educators for America Act, which would modernize Title II of the Higher Education Act and help ensure that future teachers are profession-ready to enter the classroom. The Educators for America Act was introduced after more than a year of consultations with experts in the educator field and partner organizations.
Action Needed
Now we must use our voice to build support and momentum behind the bill. Urge your representative and senators to co-sponsor the Educators for America Act via AACTE’s
Why does the Educators for America Act Matter to the Educator Preparation Community? The bill specifically calls for
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- Authorizing two, $500 million grant programs to support states in developing and implementing strategies to meet their educator workforce needs, as well as expanding partnership programs such as the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP)
- Reauthorizing the Honorable Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program to support historically Black colleges and universities and minority-serving institutions in expanding and strengthening their educator preparation programs
- Doubling TEACH Grants to $8,000 per year and providing additional protections and options to make becoming a teacher more affordable
Spread the Message on Twitter
You can also tweet your senators and representative with the same message. Here are sample social media posts:- [@legislator] I call on you to co-sponsor the Educators for America Act and build the capacity of educator prep programs and ensure all students have access to profession-ready educators.
- [@legislator] Do your part to double TEACH Grants to make becoming a teacher more affordable. Co-sponsor the Educators for America Act.
- I stand with HBCUs and minority-serving institutions and call on [@legislator] to co-sponsor the Educators for America Act and reauthorization of the Hon. Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program.
Tags: advocacy, federal issues, funding, teacher quality, workforce development