Rep. Chu Reintroduces Legislation to Connect High-Need Schools with Quality Teachers

Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) reintroduced the Equal Access to Quality Education Act. This bill works to close the education gap by helping high-need schools attract, train, and retain the best teachers. Rep. Chu released the following statement:

“A good education is the pathway out of poverty, but the inequities that plague our education system are keeping millions of students off that path entirely. The disparity can be glaring – especially when it comes to one of the most important factors in shaping a child’s future: teachers. According the Department of Education Office of Civil Rights, schools with mostly African-American students are twice as likely to have teachers with only one or two years of experience, compared to predominately white schools in the very same district.. Inexperienced and under-prepared teachers are correlated with the lowest academic achievement scores, both of which are concentrated in schools with the highest minority students. These disparities create the largest barriers to success for students who are already in need. It is unconscionable for Congress to continue to let these inequalities exist.

“That is why I am re-introducing the Equal Access to Quality Education. This bill creates a partnership between high-need schools and schools with teacher training programs to provide supports for new teachers. It will also help teachers from minority communities succeed while decreasing turnover in high-need schools. Together, the programs in this bill will ensure that students regardless of income or race have access to teachers who are fully prepared to meet their needs.”

Along with Rep. Chu, the other cosponsors of the Equal Access to Quality Education Act are Reps. Mark Takano (CA-41), Corrine Brown (FL-5), Danny Davis (IL-7), Madeleine Bordallo (GU), Ruben Hinojosa (TX-15), Mike Honda (CA-17), Ted Lieu (CA-33), and Dina Titus (NV-1).