Learning Forward Advocacy
On March 9, President Biden unveiled his budget request for fiscal year 2024. The major disappointment is that the administration included no increase for Title II-A, the only federal program devoted exclusively to supporting professional learning activities.
The administration’s budget signals that Title II-A is not a priority. This does not set us up well to seek an increase in funding from Congress and could even mean a target on the funding when Congress is looking for cuts. That’s why we need to let Congress know right now that this funding is vital to educators and students across the United States, and that members of Congress must make it a priority.
The administration’s budget snub comes hard on the heels of a paltry increase last year, and at a time when educators need more support than ever, as we work to recover from the impacts of the Covid pandemic, meet students’ growing needs, and navigate nationwide teacher shortages.
We need to let Congress know right now that this funding is vital to educators and students across the United States. Click To Tweet
While the appropriations timeline is still up in the air, we should see House and Senate appropriations subcommittees hold hearings on the budget later this spring and early this summer. The appropriations process will likely differ from the past few years, with new rules that were negotiated by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, during his bid to become speaker. These rules ultimately mean that multiple subcommittees involved in appropriating funding must all pass an increase in Title II-A, so we can’t afford to convince only some people of the vital importance of this funding.
Act now in support of Title II-A
We cannot be complacent, and we cannot wait. No increase – or, even worse, a cut – in Title II-A funding jeopardizes a program that equips educators to meet students’ ever-growing needs and improves their working conditions to help stabilize this essential workforce.
Look for Learning Forward’s March 10 advocacy alert that will help you act. We need you to act quickly and send an email to your members of Congress with just one click. Additionally, if you are a district leader, teacher, instructional coach, or teacher mentor, we are asking you to fill out a five-minute, anonymous survey so that we can advocate quickly on behalf of this critical program. (Click here if you are a district leader. Click here if you are a teacher, instructional coach, or teacher mentor.)
Questions? Contact Melinda George, Learning Forward’s Chief Policy Officer, at melinda.george@learningforward.org.
Visit Learning Forward’s advocacy page here.
Learning Forward’s Powered by Title II campaign website puts all of the information, tools, and advocacy tutorials in one easy to access online location to enable educator advocates reach their Members of Congress and help convince them to support more Title II funding. On this site, advocates will find:
- The latest news on Title II
- Background facts, stories, research, and data on Title II
- A storytelling tool to assist you in researching and explaining how Title II supports your school district
- Sample letters, talking points, tweets and more to support your advocacy
Evidence, evidence, evidence
Evidence of impact is not optional. From your ESSA plans to Title II to talking with your district superintendent, everyone wants to know when professional development is making an impact and how you know. Learning Forward is here to help. We invite you to join your peers from across the U.S. to share your successes here.
Tell us what Title II funds in your school or district, and most important, what outcomes you see as a result. Outcomes might include improved graduation rates or assessment scores, improvements for specific populations of students, or other indicators that students are experiencing more meaningful learning.
ESSA Toolkits
A New Vision For Professional Learning: A Toolkit to Help
States Use ESSA to Advance Learning and ImprovementSystems. This toolkit helps leaders leverage professional learning as
an essential tool in overcoming systemic inequities and guaranteeing
excellence for all.
Agents for Learning Toolkit: A Guide to Amplifying Teacher
Voice and Stakeholder Engagement. This toolkit suggests ways to cultivate teacher voice and agency in policy decisions and the implementation of professional learning.
This webinar, originally created for our Virtual Advocacy Day, includes advocacy strategies and tips that are applicable to any advocacy effort. Watch to hone your skills, build confidence, and get excited about being an advocate.
Past advocacy updates:
Three things happening on Capitol Hill
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President’s budget jumpstarts FY23 education funding process
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Learning Forward Advocacy
Powered by Title II
Communities & members
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Need help?
Melinda George
Chief Policy Officer
Washington, DC
Email Melinda
800-727-7288