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Floor Speech

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Mr. REED. Madam President, it is time for a national investment in building a strong and resilient educator pipeline to ensure that all schools have the diverse, profession-ready teachers, principals, librarians, counselors, and other specialized instructional support personnel they need to support student development and academic achievement. Today, along with Senators Casey, Lujan, Van Hollen, Wyden, Stabenow, Merkley, and Heinrich, I am reintroducing the EDUCATORS for America Act to provide the blueprint for building this pipeline. I am pleased that Representative Alma Adams is introducing a companion bill in the other body.

For years, we have seen declines in enrollment in educator preparation programs. Now in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, schools are facing pervasive staffing shortages. An Education Week survey found that 40 percent of school district leaders and principals describe the shortages as ``severe'' or ``very severe.'' The National Association of Secondary School Principals reported that nearly 4 out of 10 principals expect to leave the profession in the next 3 years. We cannot afford to neglect the educator pipeline any longer.

As we work to replenish the ranks of our educators, we also have the opportunity to advance diversity in the profession. Multiple studies have shown that racial diversity can provide significant benefits to students. However, the gap between the demographic makeup of the student body and the education profession has been widening. Even though over 50 percent of students are people of color, a 2022 Department of Education report showed that 80 percent of public-school teachers identified as White, a figure that has barely changed since 2000.

The EDUCATORS for America Act calls for a $1 billion annual investment in the educator pipeline, divided evenly between State capacity building and direct support for educator preparation programs and partnerships with high-need school districts. It addresses the full scope of educator workforce development, including early outreach and career exploration, financial assistance, and wraparound supports for those pursuing education careers. It supports clinical preparation for teachers, principals, and other educators, as well as fostering faculty development, all with a focus on ensuring equity and diversity.

The EDUCATORS for America Act will also reduce financiq] barriers to pursuing careers in education. The legislation will double the value of the TEACH-- Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education-- grant to $8,000 per year and provide greater flexibility for meeting service requirements. It forgives loans for teachers, principals, and early childhood educators in high need schools after 5 years of service, and it establishes a new monthly credit for all other educators that will allow them to earn loan forgiveness as they serve instead of being forced to wait a decade before receiving any benefit.

The EDUCATORS for America Act reflects input from stakeholders across the field about what is needed to recruit, prepare, and support educators. To date, more than 50 organizations have endorsed it.

The Nation's outlook for the future is tied to the strength of the education profession. Our economic prosperity, the health of our democracy and civic society, and our ability to meet the challenges of climate change and the information age depend on our students having access to well-prepared and supported educators who reflect the diversity of the students they serve.

Today, the profession is in crisis. It is time to act. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the EDUCATORS for America Act and work with me to see that it is enacted into law. ______

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