Media contact: Gail Paul, gail.paul@learningforward.org
Professional learning in the U.S. is facing a serious threat as the House Labor HHS Education Appropriations Subcommittee moved forward last week with its Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) funding bill, which would eliminate Title II-A, the nation’s primary federal investment in educator professional development.
“Eliminating Title II-A would strip districts across the United States of the resources they rely on to sustain high-quality professional learning, support new educator induction and mentoring, and strengthen school and district leadership pipelines,” said Frederick Brown, president and CEO of Learning Forward.
“These initiatives are proven to improve instruction and directly impact student success. It is vital that the subcommittee understand and recognize the role Title II-A plays in helping our students thrive in math, reading, and every other core academic subject,” said Brown.
The Senate has already advanced a more moderate proposal that preserves Title II-A, setting up a sharp divide between the two houses of Congress. With the fiscal year ending September 30, a Continuing Resolution (CR) will likely be needed to prevent a government shutdown, leaving the future of Title II-A to be decided in high-stakes negotiations.
“The elimination of Title II-A is not just a policy shift; it’s a direct threat to the infrastructure that supports great teaching and strong schools,” Brown added. “If we do not act, these cuts will reverberate through classrooms nationwide. Professional learning is not a luxury. It is the cornerstone of excellent teaching that leads to high achievement for all students.”
Brown took his message to Capitol Hill this week, meeting with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito’s (R-West Virginia) and Sen. Katie Britt’s (R-Alabama) staff to champion professional learning and its impact on student success. He expressed his thanks for the senators’ leadership of successful efforts to convince the Administration to release $7 billion in FY 2025 K-12 funds, including Title II-A dollars, that were withheld for more than three weeks in July.
Brown emphasized that every member of the professional learning community must actively engage with state legislatures and district school boards to highlight the importance of investing in educators. As federal support for these efforts becomes less certain, the responsibility increasingly falls on states and local communities to sustain and advance essential professional learning programs.
Learning Forward remains deeply committed to helping educators make the most of their professional learning resources. The latest issue of The Learning Professional shares practical strategies for navigating the current funding landscape and continuing to elevate teaching quality. We’re sharing innovative approaches to stretch every dollar and every minute, ensuring that professional learning remains effective, sustainable, and closely aligned with student success.
Take Action to Save Title II-A Funding
- Contact your members of Congress to oppose these cuts.
- Share your stories with Congress and the media about how Title II-A funding makes a difference in your classroom and school.
- Join Learning Forward’s A-Team advocacy efforts to help preserve this critical funding.
