U.S. Senate education committee seeks input

Educator Preparation | Certification Congress | Federal
Date Posted: 2/17/2018
The U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP), the committee that oversees federal policy pertaining to prekindergarten through post-secondary education, is seeking input from stakeholders as it works to rewrite the Higher Education Act (HEA). Included within the HEA are programs aimed at recruiting, preparing, and retaining high quality teachers in classrooms throughout the country, but the U.S. House of Representatives has made initial moves to eliminate those programs.
The HEA contains several key programs pertinent to educators: the Teacher Quality Enhancement program, which supports strengthening educator preparation programs that work to fill high-needs schools and fields; TEACH grants, which invest in students training to be teachers; and various loan forgiveness programs specific to educators.
While the U.S. Senate HELP Committee works to develop its version of a bill to rewrite the law, on the other side of the Capitol the U.S. House of Representatives is waiting to debate its own. The House proposal, which has already advanced out of that chamber’s education committee, would eliminate Title II of the HEA, where these programs focused on educator preparation and retention are housed.
Stakeholders like ATPE are concerned that the elimination of such programs would set back efforts to attract and retain strong educators in the profession. Check back next week for more on ATPE’s submitted comments to the committee and other key legislators. For those interested in submitting their own comments and suggestions, do so by emailing the U.S. Senate HELP Committee at HigherEducation2018@help.senate.gov. The deadline to submit comments is Friday, February 23.
CONVERSATION
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

10/07/2025
From The Texas Tribune: Texas selects company that will help develop its school voucher program
Finance and technology company Odyssey will help design the application process, manage payments and review complaints for the state’s education savings accounts.

10/03/2025
Teach the Vote’s Week in Review: Oct. 3, 2025
The Texas comptroller’s office holds a hearing on proposed ESA rules; ATPE weighs in. Plus: Register to vote in the Nov. 4 election by Monday, Oct. 6.

10/01/2025
From The Texas Tribune: Texans ask for eligibility fixes, stronger accountability in school voucher program
For the first time since Texas authorized the program, the state heard public testimony from people concerned about pre-K funding, special education provisions and data reporting.