Chairman Miller Statement on Spending Measures in the CR
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, released the following statement after the House passed the Continuing Resolution (C.R.) that would allow continued government operations through March 4, 2011. Among other spending provisions, the bill will fully fund the Pell Grant scholarship and also includes language that clarifies the definition of a “highly qualified teacher” (HQT).BACKGROUND ON HQT : Current law requires teachers to have a full state license as one part of achieving a “highly qualified teacher status.” In 2004, the Department of Education issued a regulation allowing teachers pursuing alternative certifications to remain in the classroom for up to three years until their certification is complete. In October, the 9th circuit court of appeals struck down that regulation. The language included in the CR will temporarily maintain current practice with regard to highly qualified teachers for the next two school years.
PELL GRANT: “For millions of students, the Pell Grant scholarship makes a college degree a reality. This investment keeps our promise to America’s students and families. It’s a critical investment in our students and the future of this country that this Democratic Congress has proudly supported time and time again.”
HQT: “Every child in this country, including students with disabilities and English Language Learners, not only needs, but deserves, access to an outstanding teacher. Without a great teacher, students often fall behind but in a great classroom. With a dynamic teacher, students are able to grow, thrive and succeed. Unfortunately, our current measures of teacher quality are inadequate and have not been proven to be as effective. looking very closely at this issue as we work in a bipartisan way to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. I applaud the brave parents who took action to bring this issue to level where it is today.
“The 9th circuit decision could cause major and unpredictable disruptions to schools across the country if it was to be implemented before Congress can fully address issues of teacher preparedness, effectiveness and access in the reauthorization of the ESEA. The language included in the CR is only the beginning of the conversation about the shift we need to make in our schools in regards to teachers and the measures of teacher quality. I look forward to continuing our efforts to rewrite ESEA in the next Congress.”
Next Article