AACTE Statement on DeVos’s Proposal to Arm Teachers

(August 29, 2018, Washington, D.C.) On behalf of the Board of Directors of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), President and CEO Lynn M. Gangone issued the following statement today regarding the Trump administration’s proposal to use federal funds for placing guns in schools:

“AACTE strongly opposes U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’s consideration to arm teachers in the classroom as this will endanger the safety of both students and educators. Teacher preparation programs across the nation ensure profession-ready educators are prepared to create safe learning communities where children can learn without fear.

No federal funds, including those provided by Title IV of the Every Student Succeeds Act, should be used to train or arm current and future teachers. The Title IV funds should remain dedicated to providing a well-rounded education for all students, increasing access to mental health counseling, establishing dropout prevention programs, and improving school conditions for learning.

AACTE calls on our nation to examine national and state policies on access to weapons in order to ensure school safety for all children in America.”

See also the AACTE Statement on School Safety released earlier this year.

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About AACTE: The Leading Voice on Educator PreparationThe American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education is a national alliance of educator preparation programs dedicated to high-quality, evidence-based preparation that assures educators are profession-ready as they enter the classroom. Nearly 800 member institutions include public and private colleges and universities in every state, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands and Guam. Through advocacy and capacity building, AACTE promotes innovation and effective practices that strengthen educator preparation. Learn more at www.aacte.org.