2017: Fitzpatrick Voted To Disapprove A Rule Requiring States To Rank
Teacher's Preparatory Schools And Publically Release Information Such As
Recent Graduation Retention; Only Schools That Have Been Effective For
Two Out Of The Previous Three Years Can Receive TEACH Grants. In
February 2017, Fitzpatrick voted for disapproving a rule via the
Congressional Rule Act that required states to annually evaluate teacher
preparation programs via the Congressional Review Act. According to
Congressional Quarterly, "This resolution disapproves the rule issued by
the Education Department on Oct. 31, 2016, relating to teacher
preparation programs (commonly known as the Teacher Preparation Issues
Rule) that requires states to annually evaluate the effectiveness of
teacher preparation programs at institutes of higher education and to
publicly report this information. The measure provides that the rule
will have no force or effect." The vote was on the resolution. The House
adopted the resolution by a vote of 240 to 181. The president later
signed the legislation into law. [House Vote 85,
2/7/17; Congressional
Quarterly, 2/3/17;
Congressional Actions, H. J. Res.
58]
The Rule Required That States Annually Evaluate Teacher's
Preparation Schools And Publically Report Information Such As
Placement And Retention Rates; Programs Must Be Ranked On Three
Levels Of Performance. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The
Education Department in October 2016 issued its final rule on
Teacher Preparation Issues. The rule requires states to annually
evaluate the effectiveness of teacher preparation programs at
institutions of higher education and to publicly report on: the
placement and retention rates of graduates in their first three
years of teaching, including placement and retention in high-need
schools; feedback from graduates and their employers on the
effectiveness of the program; student learning outcomes; and other
program characteristics, including assurances of program
accreditation and that graduates can meet rigorous exit
requirements. States may require additional measures of efficacy,
and programs must be ranked on at least three levels of performance,
with states required to provide technical assistance to
low-performing programs to help them improve." [Congressional
Quarterly, 2/3/17]
TEACH Grants Could Only Be Provided To Schools That Have Been
Effective For Two Of The Past Three Years Under The Rankings.
According to Congressional Quarterly, "Under the rule, federal TEACH
grants could be provided only to students in teacher preparation
programs that are rated by the state to have been effective for at
least two of the previous three years. (Students who receive TEACH
grants must agree to serve as full-time teachers at low-income
schools teaching in a high-need field for at least four academic
years within eight years of graduating.)" [Congressional Quarterly,
2/3/17]
2011: Obama White House Noted That In The Previous Decade, The
Majority Of States Did Not Rate A Single Teacher's Preparatory
Program As Inferior. According to the Atlantic, "In 2011, U.S.
Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called it 'laughable' that in the
prior decade the majority of states had failed to rate even one
teaching preparation program as inferior. On Tuesday, the White
House released draft regulations that are no joke for the nation's
teacher colleges and could result in a loss of federal funding if
their graduates fail to do well on the job. In his conversation with
reporters Tuesday to announce the proposed changes, Duncan noted
that when it comes to cracking down on inferior teacher prep
programs, 34 states are in the midst of a 12-year draught." [The
Atlantic,
11/27/14]
The Teacher Education Assistance For College And Higher Education
(TEACH) Grant Program Provides $4,000 Per Year Grants To Students
Who Will Teach For Four Years At Schools That Serve Low-Income
Families. According to StudentAid.gov, "The Teacher Education
Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant Program
provides grants of up to $4,000 per year to students who agree to
teach for four years at an elementary school, secondary school, or
educational service agency that serves students from low-income
families and to meet other requirements." [StudentAid.gov,
10/16]