On the Issues
Issues Related to Teachers
Teaching Fellows Act
In the 111th Congress, I reintroduced the Teaching Fellows Act, which would create two federal programs, both modeled after North Carolina initiatives, to encourage our best and brightest students to enter and remain in the field of teaching by offering scholarships, professional development opportunities, and mentoring. One program would offer fellowships and intensive training for students as they graduate from high school, while the second would encourage community college students to obtain four-year degrees and certifications to teach. Drawing upon my initiative and the work of others, provisions were included in the College Opportunity and Affordability Act (H.R. 4137) that would provide support for teacher recruitment and training programs across the country.
Keep Teachers Teaching Act
I also introduced the Keep Teachers Teaching Act, which would provide federal grants directly to states or school districts to develop innovative teacher retention programs. This bill has been incorporated into draft legislation to reauthorize and reform the No Child Left Behind Act, which is due for renewal.
Teacher Tax Relief Act
According to a study by the research firm Quality Education Data, a division of Scholastic, elementary school teachers collectively spend more than $1 billion each year on classroom supplies. The average elementary educator contributes $521 annually, with first-year teachers spending over $700 per year for classroom supplies. In 2002, Congress passed legislation which created a temporary tax deduction of up to $250 for teachers to help defray these out of pocket expenses. But we can and should do more for educators who make these financial sacrifices for the sake of our children’s education.
I have cosponsored the Teacher Tax Relief Act in past Congresses, which would increase the tax deduction for educators' out-of-pocket classroom supply expenses from $250 to $400 and make it permanent. The bill would also extend the tax deduction to cover out-of-pocket professional development expenses.
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