President Bush believes that quality teachers are the cornerstone of a good education.
Speaking at Eden Prairie High School in Minnesota, President Bush outlined his initiative to provide a quality teacher in every classroom in America. Using the new provisions in the No Child Left Behind Act in conjunction with his budget request, the federal government will invest more than $4 billion in 2002 alone to improve teacher quality and strengthen teacher recruitment throughout America.
Background on the President’s Commitment to Preparing Tomorrow’s Teachers
As a cornerstone of education reform, the historic No Child Left Behind Act that President Bush signed into law in January 2002, requires that by the end of the 2005-2006 school year there be a “highly qualified” teacher in every classroom.
Over the next decade, school districts will need to hire 2.2 million additional teachers. But states and school districts face the challenge of attracting a greater quantity of people to the teaching profession while also ensuring teacher quality.
A survey by the Department of Education found that fewer than 36 percent of current teachers feel “very well prepared” to implement curriculum and performance standards, and less than 20 percent feel prepared to meet the needs of diverse students or those with limited English proficiency. While states and educational organizations have begun to pursue different ways to recruit and train high quality individuals to become teachers, more help is needed.
Through both the No Child Left Behind Act and President Bush’s budget, states and local school districts will have multiple tools to help them meet new teacher quality requirements. Altogether, programs that are part of the President’s commitment to teacher quality will provide states and districts with more than $4 billion in federal funds in 2002 alone. Key parts of the President’s efforts to ensure a quality teacher in every classroom include:
- Providing State Grants to Recruit and Train Teachers: A $2.85 billion flexible grant program, funded in FY2002, will provide states with resources to recruit and train teachers and principals. This represents an increase of 35 percent over FY2001 levels, and the President’s FY2003 budget sustains this level of funding.
- Recruiting High-Quality Individuals to Become Teachers: President Bush proposes record level support for programs that provide innovative ways to recruit new teachers into the teaching profession, including the Troops to Teachers program, Transition to Teaching Program, and Teach for America.
- Expanding Programs to Train Teachers in Specific Subject Areas: President Bush proposes to strengthen programs to help train teachers in specific areas of need, including early childhood education, reading instruction, bilingual education, special education, math and science, history, and technology.
- Implementing the Teacher Protection Act: This new law ensures that teachers, principals, and other school professionals can undertake reasonable actions to maintain order and discipline in the classroom without fear of litigation.
- Creating a New Teacher Tax Deduction: The President’s FY2003 budget calls for a new teacher tax deduction to help teachers defray out-of-pocket classroom expenses of up to $400. The cost of this initiative is $16 million in FY2004 and $577 million over the first five years.
- Providing Expanded Student Loan Forgiveness for Teachers: President Bush’s plan will expand student loan forgiveness up to $17,500 for math, science and special education teachers who commit to teach in high-need schools for five years. The total cost of this initiative is $45 million in FY2003 and $112 million over five years.
