NSBA Letter in Support of TEACH Grants: July 11, 2007
July 11, 2007
Member
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Re: TEACH Grants in H.R. 2669, the “College Cost Reduction Act of 2007”
Dear Representative:
On behalf of the 95,000 school board members who serve the nation’s 48 million students in our local public school districts, the National School Boards Association (NSBA) urges your support for the TEACH Grants that are included in H.R. 2669, the “College Cost Reduction Act of 2007,” which is scheduled for floor action today. The grants represent a step forward in assisting local school districts in their efforts to recruit and retain qualified teachers of high-need subjects in high-need schools.
As written, H.R. 2669 includes tuition aid up to $16,000 over 4 years for high-achieving undergraduate students who commit to teaching a high-need subject, such as math, science, or a foreign language, or teach students with disabilities or English Language Learners (ELL), in a high-need school for at least 4 school years, and includes up to $8,000 over 4 years for graduate students who make the same commitment. We are pleased that the legislation specifically requires applicants to be among the highest achieving students while working toward their teaching certificate, and that it encourages mid-career professionals with subject matter expertise to pursue a graduate degree in conjunction with a teaching certificate. These provisions can help ensure that our highest-need schools and districts have increased access to the best and brightest new teachers.
While hiring decisions remain the responsibility of local school districts, it is an appropriate role for Congress to assist the neediest schools in their recruitment and retention efforts by offering meaningful incentives, such as the TEACH Grants, to prospective teachers. If you have any questions or wish to discuss this issue further please feel free to contact Marcus Egan, Director of Federal Affairs, at (703) 838-6707 or megan@nsba.org.
Sincerely,
Michael A. Resnick
Associate Executive Director