Press Releases & Statements
AACTE Denounces Department of Education’s Decision to Limit Student Loan Access for Educators
Statement from AACTE President and CEO Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Ph.D. (April 30, 2026, Washington, D.C.) — AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) is strongly dismayed by the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to restrict access to federal student loans for students pursuing degrees in education. By adopting a definition that limits access to federal […]
AACTE Announces New Member Benefit That Expands Financing Options for Future Educators
New member benefit provides private loan options to help education students bridge funding gaps and complete their degrees (April 16, 2026, Washington, D.C.) — AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) announced today a new strategic partnership with College Ave, a leading provider of private student loans, aiming to expand financing options for students pursuing careers […]
AACTE, National Center for Teacher Residencies, and Deans for Impact Partner for Washington Week 2026
This signature advocacy event, June 1–3, will bring educator preparation leaders to Washington, D.C., for policy briefings and a Day on the Hill. (Washington, D.C., March 25, 2026) — Registration is now open for Washington Week 2026, taking place June 1–3 in Washington, D.C. This year’s event is being co-sponsored by AACTE (American Association of […]
AACTE, NCTR, and MACTE Update on 2025 Lawsuit to Protect Federal Funding for Educator Preparation Programs
Dear AACTE members, Last year, our organizations — AACTE, the National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR), and the Maryland Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE) — came together to challenge the abrupt and unlawful cancellation of federal grants by the U.S. Department of Education that support educator preparation programs across the United States. We […]
AACTE Issues Bold National Call to Action Urging Federal Leadership to Strengthen America’s Educator Workforce
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE This comprehensive framework outlines four federal levers to address teacher shortages, strengthen accountability, and ensure long-term sustainability of the educator workforce. (February 27, 2026, Washington, D.C.) — AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) today released a sweeping Call to Action urging federal leadership to address the nation’s deepening educator workforce […]
Stacey Edmonson Assumes Role as 2026-27 AACTE Board Chair
(Feb. 23, 2026, Washington, D.C.) — AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) today announced that Stacey Edmonson, Ed.D., dean of the College of Education at Sam Houston State University (SHSU), has assumed her role as chair of the AACTE Board of Directors for 2026–27, providing strategic leadership for the national association representing educator preparation programs across higher […]
AACTE Honors Outstanding Educators and Innovators with 2026 National Awards
(Jan. 22, 2026, Washington, D.C.) — AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education) is pleased to announce the 2026 recipients of its annual awards recognizing innovative research, exemplary practice, and outstanding leadership in educator preparation. Selected through a rigorous review process conducted by AACTE’s Programmatic Advisory Committees, this year’s honorees reflect the bold, forward-thinking contributions that […]
Statement by AACTE’s Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy on New ‘Professional Student’ Definition, Student Loan Eligibility
Recent headlines remind us that too many individuals still question whether educators, nurses, counselors, and social workers are truly professionals. This erosion of respect for those who care for, teach, and serve our communities is deeply troubling. It is also dangerous. When we diminish educators’ professional status, we undermine the very foundation on which our […]
Department of Education Dismantling Harms Students, Families, and Public Education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Statement from AACTE President and CEO Cheryl Holcomb-McCoy, Ph.D. (Nov. 19, 2025, Washington, D.C.) — The announcement yesterday that the Administration will transfer the management and oversight of billions of dollars in federal K-12 and higher education grants to the Department of Labor and other agencies was made with no consideration for […]
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