Panel to act on teacher-recruiting tool

From: Education Daily
In a step that came as welcome news to stakeholders representing teachers’ colleges, Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, promised to provide as much as $16,000 in tuition assistance to college students who pursue teaching careers. The committee is scheduled to mark up the proposal today as part of a larger package of student loan reforms under consideration. Sharon Robinson, president and CEO of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education, called Miller’s decision to include grants for prospective teachers in the student loan package a “strategically important gesture” that will enable lawmakers to consider loan and teacher tuition programs at the same time. She said it would help make education programs viable options for college students and would ultimately help districts hire qualified teachers. “It would give us a chance to compete for our share of the talent pool,” Robinson said.