FY20 House Spending Bill Would Add $500 Million to Title II-A

Major national associations representing k-12 educators praised the House Subcommittee on Appropriations for Labor HHS Education for proposing a $500 million increase in fiscal year 2020 for Title II-A, the Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants.

This program provides states and school districts with funds to engage in professional learning, including allowing states to set aside funds to provide training and support specifically geared to principals and school leaders. 

For the first time in a decade, the one program focused on ensuring that educators have sufficient professional learning, including mentoring and coaching, is in line to receive a significant – nearly 25% -- increase in funding come next year. Even after Congress included a definition of professional development in 2015’s Every Student Succeeds Act that honors the kind of professional learning that teachers and leaders need and countless studies showed that educators are the most important factor in a child’s education, Title II-A funding has drifted steadily downward since 2010.

The decision by Subcommittee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and her subcommittee to reverse this trend and support a reinvestment in America’s educators shows that they understand the merits and value of Title II-A.

We thank them and urge the rest of the House and the Senate to follow their lead.

American Federation of School Administrators
ASCD
Learning Forward
National Association of Elementary School Principals National Association of Secondary School Principals New Leaders