Hurd’s bipartisan bill would bolster nation’s supply of English language teachers

U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), co-chair of the Congressional Hispanic Serving Institutions Caucus, last week introduced a bipartisan bill that would authorize grant awards to institutions of higher education to prepare more teachers for America’s growing numbers of English language learners.

“Texas is home to nearly one-fifth of our nation’s 5 million English language learners, yet has had a shortage of teachers for these students for nearly 30 years,” Rep. Hurd said on Tuesday. “This bill would create a grant program to address the teacher shortage by providing funds for teacher preparation programs at local colleges and universities to train future teachers of English learners.” 

Rep. Hurd cited data from the U.S. Department of Education showing that 32 states report shortages of teachers for English learners, subsequently resulting in a nationwide academic achievement gap between English language learners and their native English-speaking peers. 

The Reaching English Learners Act, H.R. 1153, sponsored on Feb. 13 by U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), would fund higher education programs that train aspiring teachers to provide better quality instruction for the non-native English-speaking student population, according to Rep. Hurd’s office. 

“Teachers are the foundation of our education system,” said Rep. Hurd. “By providing English learners with better prepared instructors, we increase our students’ chances of success, so they can complete their education and become valuable contributors of our workforce.”

Rep. Langevin pointed out that as the nation’s rising numbers of English learners continues to grow, H.R. 1153 could “provide crucial resources to ensure the teachers of tomorrow are equipped with the necessary skills to meet their needs and help them perform at high academic levels.”

Mike Flores, chancellor of the Alamo Colleges District in San Antonio, part of the congressman’s district, voiced support for H.R. 1153.

“Congressman Hurd has been a strong supporter of Hispanic-serving Institutions, which provide resources to the more than 90,000 students enrolled in the five Hispanic serving colleges in the Alamo Colleges District,” Flores said recently. “This legislation is another example of his commitment to education and the communities he serves.”

H.R. 1153 has been referred for consideration to the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee.