Education policy contact: Melinda George, Chief Policy Officer, Learning Forward

Melinda.george@learningforward.org

Media: Gail Paul, gail.paul@learningforward.org

Full committee markup to Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024 slated for July 27, 2023, 10:30 AM, ET

Educator shortages will intensify and student learning recovery will stall if the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee fails to retain and fully fund Title II-A in its fiscal year 2024 spending bill, warned the nation’s leading professional learning association.

In letters to Sen. Patty Murray, Committee chair, and Sen. Susan Collins, vice chair, Learning Forward CEO Frederick Brown requested the Senate preserve K-12 education in its bill and specifically called out the dangers of underfunding Title II-A, the primary source of federal funding for educator professional learning.

Earlier this month, U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee majority members approved the elimination of the Title II-A funding from fiscal year 2024 onward.

“The House’s decision to end direct federal support for professional learning would have devastating consequences for our students and erode the foundation of public education in America,” Brown wrote. “Title II-A funding supports evidence-backed professional learning opportunities that are helping educators meet the pandemic-induced challenges none of us ever prepared for or expected to face.”

Read Brown’s letter to Sen. Murray and Sen. Collins, here.

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Learning Forward is an independent, nonprofit, international membership association of learning educators committed to one vision in K-12 education: Every educator engages in exemplary professional learning, so every student excels. To realize that vision, Learning Forward pursues its mission to set the standard for professional learning and build the capacity of educators to equitably serve all students. Information about the organization, its Standards for Professional Learning, its membership, services, and products are all available from www.learningforward.org. Find more advocacy for Title II-A funding here www.poweredbytitleii.com.