AACTE Held 100+ Congressional Meetings to Advocate for Educator Preparation on Capitol Hill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(June 5, 2025, Washington, D.C.) —AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) members held more than 100 meetings with members of Congress as part of its annual Day on the Hill on Wednesday, June 4, calling on federal lawmakers to preserve and expand funding for educator preparation program grants and student financial aid.

AACTE is the leading voice on educator preparation, representing more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States and abroad. Each year, its member institutions prepare over 120,000 educators, including teachers, school leaders, counselors, and higher education faculty, who serve in schools and communities nationwide.

This year’s Day on the Hill advocacy focused on securing federal support for programs that grow and sustain the educator workforce. AACTE members also championed funding for ongoing research into effective educator preparation practices.

“This historic Day on the Hill for AACTE is just one facet of our efforts to advocate for educator preparation,” said Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Ph.D., president and CEO of AACTE. “For more than 75 years, AACTE has worked to ensure that every PK-12 student has access to well-prepared educators. At a time when education is under increased scrutiny, we must demonstrate the impact of our work—and the real consequences of federal disinvestment in the future of the teaching profession.”

AACTE members presented their requests to the 107 congressional offices visited, which included funding for Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED), Teacher Quality Partnerships (TQP), Teacher and School Leader Incentive (TSL) Program, Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence grant program, and as well the preservation and expansion of key student aid programs and federal research on education.

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About AACTE

Established in 1948, AACTE is the leading voice in educator preparation. AACTE’s member institutions and programs prepare the greatest number of professional educators in the United States and its territories, including teachers, counselors, administrators, and college faculty. These professional educators are prepared for careers in PK-12 classrooms, colleges and universities, state and governmental agencies, policy institutes, and non-profit organizations. Learn more at aacte.org.