Sec. 2. Findings
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Congress finds as follows: Teachers, because of their position in the classroom, often see important opportunities to improve student learning most directly and thus have a unique perspective from which to create practical solutions to help students succeed. According to a Scholastic and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation poll, 69 percent of teachers feel that their voices are heard in their school, but only one-third feel heard in their district, five percent in their State, and two percent at the national level.
The failure to leverage teachers’ expertise has a negative impact on teacher engagement in education reforms and misses a critical opportunity for administrators and policymakers to draw on knowledge and expertise from the classroom that can help address critical education needs and challenges. Empowering teachers to lead beyond the classroom, without necessarily leaving the classroom, will demonstrate the trust and respect for teachers, as professionals, that they deserve and will help improve teaching and student outcomes.