Giving Preschool Teachers More Education Opportunities (H.R. 3357)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is H.R. 3357?
(Updated July 18, 2017)
This bill would give early childhood education teachers their own educational resources. H.R. 3357 would offer grants (through the Secretary of Education) to enhance the "credentials,
compensation, and professional development" of early childhood educators.
All 50 states would have the opportunity to apply for federal grants to fund things like:
- Scholarships for preschool teachers pursuing bachelor's degrees in early childhood education or closely related fields.
- Support for preschool teachers to earn a credential or official license that demonstrates their knowledge of early childhood education (if they have a bachelor's degree that is not in a closely related field.
- Raises for teachers who are working on (or already earned) a degree in early childhood education.
- Providing preschool teachers and teacher assistants with ongoing opportunities to develop their skills as early childhood educators.
Preschool teachers/teaching assistants must be employed in an early childhood education program to benefit from these grants. States that want to apply for a grant would have to create and present a plan for an "early childhood professional development system."
Argument in favor
By better preparing early childhood educators, we are setting up American preschoolers for success later in life.
Argument opposed
Why should taxpayers have to foot the bill for preschool teachers to pursue their academic careers?
Impact
Early childhood educators, their programs, and preschool students.
Cost of H.R. 3357
The CBO does not have a cost estimate at this time.
Additional Info
In Depth:
When states receive grants and extend benefits to early childhood educators, this bill requires that they maintain their fiscal effort — or the amount of revenue that the government collects from them — at levels greater than or equal to the previous year.Sponsoring Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) noted her press release in support of the bill:
On the other hand, critics of this bill (and federal funding for early childhood education in general) point to studies that say the enhanced learning outcomes from even the best federal preschool programs fade for students by third grade. Others cite serious methodological flaws in studies that try to link preschool programs to fewer behavioral problems, higher graduation rates, and reduced crime rates later in life.“Further strengthening our country’s preschool workforce is essential to providing our kids with a solid foundation for success and the first rate childhood education they deserve. It is also a critical step toward the realization of high quality Pre-K for all American children. Only by investing in our kids can we ensure the future prosperity of America, and guarantee that it remains the strongest and most productive nation in the world.”
Media:
Sponsoring Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) Press Release(Photo Credit: Flickr user Robyn Jay)
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