***MEDIA ADVISORY*** Subcommittees To Examine Opportunities to Strengthen the Teaching Profession

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***MEDIA ADVISORY*** Subcommittees To Examine Opportunities to Strengthen the Teaching Profession

The following was published by the House Committee on Education and Labor on Feb. 25, 2014. It is reproduced in full below.

On Thursday, February 27 at 10:00 a.m., the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, chaired by Rep. Todd Rokita (R-IN), will join the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training, chaired by Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), in holding a hearing entitled, “Exploring Efforts to Strengthen the Teaching Profession." The hearing will take place in room 2175 of the Rayburn House Office Building.

Too often, bureaucratic hurdles, onerous requirements, and outdated mandates stand in the way of attracting talented young educators to the nation’s schools. Higher education institutions also struggle with copious reporting requirements that have little to do with preparing effective teachers for the classroom.

Fortunately, there is a growing movement to change the status quo and improve teacher preparation programs. State and local education leaders are collaborating with postsecondary institutions to develop and implement innovative reforms that are helping to transform teacher and school leader preparation and revamp educator licensure and certification systems.

As the committee continues working to strengthen the nation’s K-12 and higher education systems, Thursday’s hearing will provide members an opportunity to discuss efforts to support a new generation of effective educators in the nation’s schools. To learn more about Thursday’s hearing, visit /hearings. WITNESS LIST

Dr. Deborah A. Gist

Commissioner

Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Providence, RI

Dr. Marcy Singer-Gabella

Professor of the Practice of Education

Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN

Dr. Heather G. Peske

Associate Commissioner for Educator Quality

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Malden, MA

Ms. Christina Hall

Co-Founder & Co-Director

Urban Teacher Center

Baltimore, MD

Source: House Committee on Education and Labor