Legislative Alert
Major policy initiative to fund educator professional development
Companion bills named the "Teacher and Principal Improvement Act" have been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and Senator George LeMieux (R-FL), and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY). These proposed bills take bold steps toward ensuring that every educator engages in effective professional learning every day so that every student achieves.
You can help make these bills become law. These bills:
- Redefine "Professional Development" in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). For too long, the definition of "professional development" in ESEA has not been conducive to good practice. The bills replace the current definition of professional development with one that aligns to National Staff Development Council's (NSDC) vision for effective professional learning.
- Provide funding to build educator and system capacity for professional learning and financial support for the implementation of effective professional learning.
Read the one-page summary of the proposed legislation
Ask your senators and House representatives to support these bills. It is important that Members of Congress hear from as many people as possible. This link to the NSDC legislative advocacy site makes it easy for you to ask your senators and House representative to be cosponsors.
NSDC advocacy link
Just enter your zip code.
For Senators, the subject field should read: "Please cosponsor the Teacher and Principal Improvement Act."
For House Representatives, the subject field should read: "Please cosponsor the Great Teachers for Great Schools Act."
Drop a Thank-You to the legislators.
Sponsors of these bills are acting in your best interest. Use these links to say thanks to them. Put Teacher and Principal Improvement Act in the subject field.
Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy