Legislators Re-introduce EDUCATORS for America Act

On Monday, May 1, 2023, Senators Jack Reed (D-RI), Bob Casey (D-PA), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and Representative Alma Adams (D-NC) re-introduced the EDUCATORS for America Act. The bill is meant to strengthen the educator workforce, reduce teacher shortages, and support comprehensive educator preparation. 

The bill would authorize $1 billion annually, split between $500 million for grants to states and $500 million to enhance educator preparation programs. To address the widening gap between the demographic makeup of the student body and that of the education professionals, the bill would also reauthorize the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program for teacher preparation at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority serving institutions. 

CEC is proud to continue to endorse this legislation. In support of the EDUCATORS for America Act, CEC president Angie Jasper, Ed.D. remarked, “Senator Reed and Representative Adams have thoughtfully drafted a bill responsive to current needs within the educator profession by providing solutions that draw people to the profession, provide quality preparation, and support retention while targeting supports to new educators of color and educators with disabilities to ensure the field is more representative of the populations they serve. I further applaud them for prioritizing high-needs subject areas such as special education, which requires meaningful new investments to reverse the persistent shortages we face as a field.”

Find the news release here.