One of the issues that hasn't come up is actually gun violence and the impact that has on students.

It is hard to believe that some have already forgotten the lessons we have learned from the BP oil spill disaster. It was only a few years ago that we saw millions of gallons of oil being spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, and, sadly, many…

How could we move some of those reforms into being something that is helpful in schools?

I am wondering where you all feel this comes in and whether you believe...arming teachers is part of the solution.

As a nation, we must do better.

For decades, Congress has recognized its responsibility to eliminate cost barriers to serving as a teacher, particularly regarding student loans.

The gap between teacher wages and the wages of other college graduates is wider than it's ever been.

Despite the clear benefits of strong school leadership for both teachers and students, school leader preparation receives little attention compared to teacher preparation.

It is critically important that we figure out a way to deal with these issues.

Today, we are not only discussing the need to invest in teacher preparation, but also the need to invest in school leader preparation.

This gap is particularly devastating for teachers of color, who already shoulder disproportionately more student debt than their white peers.

I am pleased that we are having today's hearing on how to best support our educators and provide our children with high-quality classroom and school instruction.