Education Department Continues Push to Invest in Highly Effective Educators and Address Teacher Shortage


 Education Department Continues Push to Invest in Highly
Effective Educators and Address Teacher Shortage

The U.S. Department of Education is continuing to take action to support and invest in the teaching profession and address the teacher shortage
many schools and districts across the country face. The Supporting Effective Educator Development (SEED) grant program is now accepting applications for efforts that increase the pipeline of highly effective educators.

The SEED program will award $65 million to support the implementation of evidence-based practices that prepare, develop, or enhance the skills of educators. These grants also will enable recipients to develop, expand, and evaluate practices that can serve as models that can be sustained, replicated, and scaled. This program is part of the Biden-Harris
Administration’s broader commitment to supporting targeted efforts that will provide comprehensive, high-quality pathways, such as residency and Grow Your Own programs, for educator preparation and
development programs focused on building a more diverse educator pipeline and combating the teacher shortage nationally.
Last week, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona expanded on President Biden’s call for more people to enter the education profession by calling on states, districts, and institutions of higher education to use American Rescue Plan funds to invest in teacher pipeline programs.

“We know that in order to improve education across the country and meet our students where they are, we must invest in teacher professional learning, recruitment, and retention. This past year, we heard from our educators, parents, and leaders that investing in teachers is investing in students. We are ready to act on that!” said Secretary Cardona.

“This grant competition will support institutions of higher education, national nonprofits, and other eligible partners that provide teachers and school leaders with effective strategies for building inclusive, unbiased, and safe learning environments that support the academic, social, and emotional needs of every student. Building an education system that is the best in the world requires an investment in our dedicated teachers.”

As states, districts, and schools are working hard to address the impact of COVID-19 on students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs, many of them are facing significant challenges in attracting
and retaining teachers. Preexisting teacher shortages in critical areas such as special education; multilingual education; science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM); career and technical education; and early childhood education have only been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—directly impeding student access to educational opportunity.

The SEED program fosters the use of rigorous evidence-based practices in selecting and implementing strategies and interventions that support educators’ development across the continuum of their careers. Support
for educator preparation programs and high-quality professional development are vital to ensure that all students have access to well-prepared and qualified teachers, principals, and other school leaders. These programs invest in educators who are effective and likely to stay in the profession. Research shows that existing educator shortages
disproportionately impact students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, students with disabilities, and, often, rural communities.

To learn more about the SEED program, please visit: https://oese.ed.gov/offices/office-of-discretionary-grants-support-
services/effective-educator-development-programs/supporting-
effective-educator-development-grant-program/. The FY 2022 SEED grant competition will close on June 3, 2022.

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