Jay Inslee: Washington's 1st Congressional District

Issues

Inslee ReIntroduces "Teachers for Tomorrow" Bill

9 July 2003

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee reintroduced his “Teachers for Tomorrow” legislation today. Inslee’s legislation would help increase the number of highly skilled teachers in our public schools and give financial assistance to teachers for their professional development.

“Today I proudly introduce the Teachers for Tomorrow Act of 2003, legislation to address the serious shortage of teachers in our nation’s schools,” said Inslee. “There are vacant teaching positions in the First Congressional District, and nationwide, we will need over two million teachers over the next ten years. More teachers are retiring than we can hire, and only half of teachers in urban public schools continue to teach after five years. We must provide incentives to encourage our best and brightest students to choose teaching as a long-term career. I hope that by forgiving federal loans, this legislation will draw more successful students into the teaching profession, and help to retain their experience. The Teachers for Tomorrow Act of 2003 provides a sensible solution to our teacher shortage and gives higher priority to education in our communities.”

Inslee’s legislation would expand a successful loan forgiveness program by granting 100 percent federal loan forgiveness for all teachers, over five years. For teachers of disabled students, specialty subject areas, or in certain high poverty school districts, it would guarantee loan forgiveness over three years. Local schools would maintain the ability to make hiring, firing, and other decisions as they see fit. Loan forgiveness would also be granted for continuing education loans, in order for teachers to continue their own education. Finally, rather than allowing these financial incentives to unfairly push teachers into a higher tax bracket, any loan forgiveness would be granted tax neutral status.