
Despite the proven impact of principal and teacher quality on student achievement, funding for the Title II of the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) has remained below adequate levels in recent years. Congress authorized this critical program to states for the purpose of preparing, training, recruiting, and retaining high-quality teachers, principals, assistant principals, and other school leaders.
Title II suffered a $294 million cut in FY 2017, which brought the funding amount far below the $2.295 billion authorized level under ESSA. That cut remained in place for the FY 2018 and 2019 budgets, as well. Without the full authorized funding, the program cannot achieve its full effectiveness.
This June, however, the House of Representatives passed a significant $500 million increase to the program. That additional funding would have a major impact on expanding access to quality professional development programs for educators across the country. We need you to contact your representatives and senators now and ask them to support the new $2.6 billion funding level for Title II that's been proposed.