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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Mike Storm |
State Rep. James Roebuck |
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Hearing focuses on Roebuck-Evans
teacher recruitment and retention package
PHILADELPHIA, April 10 – The House Education Committee today heard input at Benjamin Franklin High School in Philadelphia on several legislative proposals introduced by state Reps. James Roebuck and Dwight Evans, both D-Phila. Evans is chairman of the Appropriations Committee, which has the lead role in the House in drafting the annual state budget.
“We must step up efforts to help our struggling school districts attract and retain qualified teachers,” said Roebuck, chairman of the Education Committee. “Too many of our students lose out on a quality education because their teachers are constantly coming and going.
“Our proposals would help schools recruit qualified teachers and provide relevant induction programs to make sure new teachers can hit the ground running in their new environments. After all, a good teacher is one of the most important elements in helping our students succeed.”
The committee hearing focused on Roebuck and Evans’ teacher recruitment and retention package, which includes H.B.s 919, 921, 922, 923 and 924. The legislative package would address several issues through multiple initiatives:
- Target loan forgiveness to math, reading, computer science, science and special education teachers who serve in low-income urban and rural public schools.
- Award one-time signing bonuses to first-year teachers who fill vacancies in critical shortage positions.
- Establish an Urban Educators Recruitment Program to provide scholarships to college students who commit to teach for at least five years in an urban public school with qualified teacher shortages.
- Create the Call Me Mister Program to provide tuition grants for African-American males who wish to complete a teacher training and certification program to become public elementary school teachers.
- Establish a second Governor’s School for Teaching in Philadelphia to provide professional development for educators.
Committee members also took comments on Roebuck’s Beginning Educator Support and Training proposal, which would require teacher induction programs for new teachers. The BEST induction program would be required for new teachers in economically disadvantaged school districts with high turnover rates for beginning educators.
The bills have been referred to the House Education and Appropriations committees for consideration.
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