FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, June 4, 2004

House Supports Goals of Congressman Tierney’s Alternative Paths to Teaching Act

Washington, DC-- At a time when enrollment in schools is increasing and faculty shortages are plaguing districts across the country, recently, the United States House of Representatives reaffirmed their support for the goals of Congressman John F. Tierney’s (D-Salem) Alternative Paths to Teaching proposal by including similar language within the House-passed version of the Teacher Training Enhancement Act of 2004 (HR 4409). Tierney is the only member of the New England Delegation serving on the House Education and Workforce Committee.

This is the second time during the 108th Congress that the House of Representatives has endorsed a concept similar to Congressman Tierney’s Alternative Paths to Teaching Act. On July 9, 2003, the House of Representatives passed the Ready to Teach Act of 2003 (HR 2211), which is identical to the Teacher Training Enhancement Act of 2004 that passed the House on June 2, 2004. Both support Tierney’s Alternative Paths to Teaching and serve to reauthorize Title II of the Higher Education Act, which establishes grant programs to support teacher quality and requires schools of education to be held accountable for the quality of their graduates.

“Parents, school administrators, and researchers agree: the quality of teachers in classrooms determines the quality of education our children receive,” said Tierney. “In 2003, when Congressional Republicans brought this issue before the House Education and Workforce Committee, it was in need of some improvement. Recognizing how important good teacher training is to every student in America, we worked together in a bipartisan manner to enhance the legislation and, evident by the wide support for both HR 2211 and HR 4409, our cooperation was successful,” said Tierney.

Congressman Tierney’s Alternative Paths to Teaching Act encourages America’s best and brightest students to enter the teaching profession in order to ensure fully qualified teachers in every classroom. One key focus of the Alternative Paths to Teaching Act provides paid-time off for new teachers to participate in mentoring programs that have been proven to increase teacher retention rates and help rookies become more effective. Tierney’s legislation would also give incentives to both recent college graduates and mid-career professionals looking to enter the teaching profession.

Looking toward the sections of the Higher Education Act remaining to be reauthorized, Tierney expressed concern that the Republican leadership in the House may be returning to a partisan approach. So far, Republicans are presenting a bill without input from Democrats and most stakeholders are objecting to its provisions.

“As the House Education and Workforce Committee moves forward with reauthorizing the remaining titles of the Higher Education Act, it must focus on finding real solutions to improving access and affordability to colleges and universities. Our students deserve nothing less,” concluded Tierney.

###