Bipartisan Legislation Aims to Retain Experienced Teachers and Support Student Success

Representative John W. Mannion has introduced the bipartisan Teachers Are Leaders Act to bolster professional development opportunities for experienced teachers, ultimately benefiting students and classroom instruction. The legislation aims to empower teachers to lead in their school districts and communities, providing mentorship opportunities, engaging families, and strengthening curriculum to support student success. The bill is supported by several education organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), and National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP).

Key Takeaways:

• The Teachers Are Leaders Act would expand the Department of Education's Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program to provide grant funding for teacher leader programs focused on professional development for current teachers.
• The legislation aims to address the educator shortage by providing opportunities for experienced teachers to grow as leaders, mentor colleagues, and strengthen their schools.
• The bill would focus on areas like curriculum development, family and community engagement, and peer coaching to expand leadership opportunities for educators.
• The legislation is led by Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) and cosponsored by Representatives Mannion, Chuck Fleischmann (TN-03), Lauren Underwood (IL-14), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).
• The bill is supported by several education organizations, including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), National Education Association (NEA), National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), Third Way, and the American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA).

Statistics:

• The Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) program has provided grant funding to connect local schools with colleges and universities for teacher preparation and professional development for new teachers.
• According to the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the United States needs to recruit and retain an additional 300,000 teachers over the next decade to meet the growing demand for secondary education.
• The National Education Association (NEA) reports that almost 60% of teachers are considering leaving the profession in the next five years due to lack of support and resources.

Sources:

• Office of the MP John W. Mannion
• The Hill
• American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
• National Education Association (NEA)
• National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)
• Third Way
• American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA)
• Representative John W. Mannion Press Release