A two-year, national effort led by the University of Northern Iowa and three national education organizations resulted in federal legislation introduced in December that creates a future vision for the federal role in educator preparation.
The EDUCATORS for America Act provides for more than $1 billion in grants to states and institutions focused on forging new pathways for educators and expanding grants and public service loan forgiveness. Woven throughout each section is a focus on equity and the diverse needs of educators.
“This represents a monumental step forward in the effort to grow, retain and diversify our nation’s educator workforce,” said President Mark A. Nook. “With our roots in educator preparation, UNI appreciates the opportunity to help advance national policy to invest in our nation’s educators and through them the quality of education our children receive.”