As Teacher Appreciation Week approaches, the Biden-Harris Administration has laid out a new blueprint aimed at empowering educators across the country—this includes bolstering efforts to attract and keep talent in the classroom, shining a light on loan forgiveness progress for educators, and pushing for more special education professionals in schools, as per a recent announcement on the White House website.
The Administration's fresh initiatives are a response to deep-set challenges in the educational sector, exacerbated by the pandemic, an issue the President has been vocal about since assuming office. Teachers and other educational staff must receive competitive payment and work in environments that respect them and nurture students. Today, a landmark celebration is set to take place at the White House with First Lady Jill Biden hosting a State Dinner in honor of Missy Testerman, 2024's National Teacher of the Year, alongside a representation of top teachers from across the country.
A report from the White House details significant achievements under the Biden-Harris Administration's watch, including the encouragement of higher teacher pay, which 30 states and the District of Columbia have heeded, the reparation of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program aiding nearly 876,000 borrowers, including teachers, and the rebound of school staffing to surpass pre-pandemic levels—a mix of educators and support staff like social workers and nurses have been boosted by 40 and 25 percent respectively.
To keep up this momentum, the Administration is launching a new technical assistance center that pledges to back states in bettering teacher recruitment and retention. Alongside this move, the Department of Education will present data illustrating the spread of $62.8 billion in approved debt relief facilitated by the PSLF program alterations; this relief sweep affects educators in all Congressional districts who have dedicated ten years to public service amid loan repayment journeys. Additionally, there's the ringing in of a $25 million increase in funding earmarked under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act—an effort to counteract the dearth of specialized educators amid rising demand.
The Administration's support for educators since its inception has been robust and multifaceted, maintaining a strong workforce with the addition of 638,000 education jobs since President Biden took office, the increase in funding by $112 million for educating and supporting teachers, steps to promote educator diversity to the tune of nearly $450 million in grants, and a surge in quality teacher preparation programs across 34 states and territories. Moreover, almost $160 billion in student debt forgiveness for about 4.6 million borrowers is part of the Administration's commitment to reducing teachers' financial pressures. As part of their ongoing campaign to elevate the teaching profession, they have also spearheaded initiatives to increase teacher pay and furnished extensive guidance on using federal resources for developing educator skills and expertise, all geared towards addressing the varied and acute teacher shortages that are especially felt in low-income and minority student districts.
