Thomas Mott Osborne: “I think it is well-written and well-received by everyone concerned, so I would like to express my support for H.R. 3076.…”

“I think it is well-written and well-received by everyone concerned, so I would like to express my support for H.R. 3076. H.R. 1, better known as No Child Left Behind, certainly raises the bar regarding teacher qualifications. And so to do this, we will need to improve our teacher training programs at the postsecondary level. We are currently experiencing a teacher shortage crisis of tremendous magnitude across the country, especially in the areas of math, science, special ed, and bilingual language teachers. This bill will especially improve teacher training in these underserved areas. Another area of the legislation that really appeals to me is that it provides for some competitive grant programs to encourage innovation and reform in higher education. So often, in our teachers' colleges, we see things done the same way they were done 20 years ago, and so I think this is badly needed, to have some innovative creative ideas. So I think this is an excellent piece of legislation, Mr. Speaker. I endorse it wholeheartedly.”