The educator pipeline is in crisis. America needs a national investment in educators. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 270,000 teachers are projected to leave the field each year between 2016 and 2026. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this decline, with BLS data confirming 600,000 public educators have left the profession between 2020 – 2022 alone. This workforce shortage is expected to grow as burnout and mental health needs go unmet. At the same time, student enrollments in educator preparation programs are plummeting. School districts across the nation are struggling to fill positions.

Past legislative proposals have focused on partial solutions when a comprehensive state-federal partnership is required to address the multifaceted challenges of educator shortages. States and local communities cannot fix the educator pipeline on their own. Now is the time to address financial barriers, diversify the profession, increase program capacity, and standardize educator preparation.

Using the adjacent email prompt, AASCU urges you to write to your federal elected officials and ask them to co-sponsor the EDUCATORS for America Act. This crucial piece of legislation would strengthen schools of education and help diversify the teaching corps by addressing the need for a national investment in the recruitment, preparation, and retainment of educators.

Recommended Points—Education in Crisis

• The country’s outlook is directly linked to the strength of the education profession.
• However, 270,000 teachers are projected to leave the field each year between 2016 and 2026.
• It is imperative that the nation strengthen its educator preparation programs and diversify the teaching corps.
• States and local communities cannot repair the educator pipeline on their own. They need increased and targeted federal engagement.
• Congress must protect and reinforce Title II of the Higher Education Act (HEA).
• Urge Congress to reauthorize the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program at Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).
   

The “ASK”—Co-sponsor the EDUCATORS for America Act: 

• Also known as S.1341 in the Senate and H.R.2992 in the House.
• Doubles TEACH Grants to $8,000 per year.
• Authorizes recruitment and completion grants to educator preparation programs.
• Includes the costs of education clinical experiences in the cost of attendance calculations when awarding financial aid.
• Provides educators and teachers in high-need fields credit toward their loan repayment as they serve and forgives the balance of their loans after five years; and
• Provides incremental credit to all other educators, providing loan forgiveness as they serve rather than waiting 10 years to earn forgiveness.