2017: Schweikert 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, Schweikert 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]