Collins offers bipartisan measure to increase U.S. numbers of qualified principals, teachers

The United States needs more qualified principals and educators, particularly in rural areas and across several specializations, says U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). 

Sen. Collins introduced the bipartisan Preparing and Retaining Education Professionals (PREP) Act of 2019, S. 752, sponsored on March 12 by U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to bolster the quality of the nation’s teachers and school leaders while improving institutional aid, according to the congressional record. 

“Teacher and principal shortages at schools across the country, particularly in rural areas in the State of Maine, impede our students’ ability to reach their full potential,” Sen. Collins said. “This bipartisan bill would increase access to high-quality teacher and leader training programs and extend federal support for recruiting well-prepared educators for areas affected by teacher shortages.”

If enacted, S. 752 would encourage partnerships between school districts and local community colleges and universities to educate future teachers across specialization shortage areas, including special education, English language, science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), and in career and technical education (CTE), according to a summary provided by Sen. Collins’ office.

Additionally, S. 752 would increase access to teacher and school leader residency programs and preparation training, she said. 

“As schools across our nation continue to face growing class sizes, many are struggling with a shortage of qualified teachers,” especially in rural communities, said Sen. Kaine. “By creating high-quality teacher residency programs like Grow Your Own and increasing support for these programs at Minority Serving Institutions, this bill will help provide schools and districts with the teachers to prepare students for future success.” 

In fact, according to a September 2016 report published by the Learning Policy Institute entitled “A Coming Crisis in Teaching? Teacher Supply, Demand, and Shortages in the U.S., said that there are “four main factors that are driving the emerging teacher shortage: A decline in teacher preparation enrollments, district efforts to return to pre-recession pupil-teacher ratios, increasing student enrollment, and high teacher attrition.”

Teacher shortages are higher in special education and subject areas like STEM and CTE — fields that are critical for U.S. economic success, according to the report.  

S. 752 already has garnered the support of groups including the Maine Principals’ Association, the Council of Chief State School Officers, the American Federation of Teachers, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and Advance CTE, among others.

The bill has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee.