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

We just have to do more.

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

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.

But we also know that professional training for teachers and school leaders can only go so far without support to help educators overcome the significant cost barriers to entering and staying in the profession.

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

It is my hope that we can work together on a bipartisan basis to help scale up this model.

I am particularly eager to learn more about the Australian apprenticeship system, which incentivizes new apprenticeship opportunities in high-demand occupations while also prioritizing the recruitment of underserved groups.

Today, we look forward to learning more about the apprenticeship systems of Australia, Germany, and Switzerland.

Today’s hearing is truly a unique opportunity for this committee to discuss best practices for strengthening government oversight, industry innovation, and educational alignment.

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