Biden rolls out plan to hike teacher pay in low-income schools

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Tuesday unveiled a wide-ranging K-12 and early education plan, targeted to increasing teacher pay, providing universal pre-K and leveling the playing field between rich and poor school districts. The former vice president aims to close an estimated $23 billion annual funding gap between majority white and non-white school districts by tripling federal grants to low-income districts under the Title I program, now funded at nearly $16 billion. The additional money would first be used to ensure teachers in low-income districts receive “competitive” pay, provide 3- and-4-year-olds with access to preschool and ensure districts put in place “rigorous coursework across all their schools, not just a few.” School districts would then be allowed to use the funds to meet other local priorities after those conditions are met. The plan also says Biden would work with states to provide universal pre-kindergarten for all 3- and 4-year-olds. Biden, now considered the Democratic field’s front-runner, is rolling out his plan in Houston during a town hall meeting that’s part of an elaborate teachers union endorsement process led by the American Federation of Teachers. He will be joined by his wife, Jill Biden, who has spent more than three decades in education. His rollout follows broad education proposals unveiled by other top candidates, including Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who also called for tripling Title I funding for low-income schools and for setting a minimum starting salary for teachers of $60,000. Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) proposed spending $315 billion over 10 years to boost teacher pay, while former San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro has called for giving teachers a tax credit of up to $10,000. The plan outlines a host of other ideas, including doubling the number of mental health professionals in schools, funding for public school infrastructure improvements, fully funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act within 10 years and vocational training and school vocational training. Biden also pledges to “defeat the National Rifle Association” to make schools safer by pushing legislation he helped author as a senator in 1994 to ban “assault”-style weapons and high-capacity magazines. The ban expired in 2004. Biden’s plan makes note of the wave of teacher strikes across the nation, praising teachers who have “heroically” organized walkouts and other actions to “stand up” for pay, benefits and resources for their students. In addition to increased pay, he pledges to invest in teacher mentoring and professional development while helping educators pay off student loans by fixing and simplifying the existing Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. “Teachers and school personnel do some of the most important and hardest work, but too often they aren’t rewarded,” the plan says. “As President, Biden will correct this wrong.” Biden also calls for improving teacher diversity by supporting more innovative approaches to recruiting teachers of color and building “the best, most innovative schools in the country” in low-income communities and communities of color. He pledges to provide grants to school districts to create and implement plans to diversify their schools, and he says he would reinstate Obama administration guidance that “supported schools in legally pursuing desegregation strategies and recognized institutions of higher education’s interests in creating diverse student bodies.” The Trump administration last year rescinded Obama-era guidance on the use of race in college admissions, and nixed documents encouraging schools to increase diversity through approaches such as school zoning. Article originally published on POLITICO Magazine Source: https://politi.co/2QxY4i7 Droolin’ Dog sniffed out this story and shared it with you. The Article Was Written/Published By: ngaudiano@politico.com (Nicole Gaudiano) ! #Headlines, #Democrats, #Education, #Election2020, #People, #Political, #Politico, #politics, #Trending, #Newsfeed, #syndicated, news http://bit.ly/2MgvS4Z
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