ALA, AASL Endorse the Bicameral Quality Educator Partnership Act

Washington — The American Library Association (ALA) and American Association of School Librarians (AASL) today announced their endorsement of the bicameral Quality Educator Partnership Act (QEPA). Introduced late last week in the U.S. Senate (S.5549) by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R.10530) by Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC), the bill’s provisions either directly specify the inclusion of school library media specialists or use the term “educator,” which, as defined, includes school library media specialists.

QEPA would address nationwide educator shortages by building federal infrastructure, removing barriers to the profession, expanding preparation pathways, and strengthening data and accountability. Notably, the bill also promotes efforts to make working in education a more attractive, affordable, and sustainable career options for today’s workforce.

ALA President Dr. Maria McCauley said, “Students in schools with effective school library programs learn more, get better grades, and score higher on standardized tests. ALA applauds Senator Reed and Representative Adams for the Quality Educator Partnership Act, which includes indispensable partners in high-quality education: school librarians and media specialists.” 

AASL President Dr. April Dawkins said, “Regardless of local title—media specialist, teacher-librarian, library information specialist—school librarians are essential educators. An investment in school librarians is an investment in student success, especially in high-need schools. AASL is proud to support the Quality Educator Partnership Act, which recognizes library media specialists as a valuable part of the educator pipeline and offers an opportunity to strengthen the school librarian workforce."

Among its key provisions, QEPA would establish a National Educator Service Corps to provide benefits to undergrad and postbaccalaureate students who commit to serving as a full-time teacher in a high-need field or as a library media specialist, at a qualifying high-need school. The bill would establish workforce development grants for states requiring them to promote new career redesign initiatives, which may include “targeted intervention by specialists such as librarians, instructional technologists, reading specialists...” and more. The legislation would authorize at least $500 million per year for the Corps activities.

Senator Reed said, “Our nation’s future is directly tied to the strength of our educators. Congress must step up to ensure we have teachers who are ready and able to equip our students with the skills they need to thrive in a challenging environment. The Quality Educator Partnership Act would do just that by creating new federal infrastructure, boosting investments, and expanding our ability to prepare teachers now and in the future.”

Congresswoman Adams said, “As an educator for 40 years, a city school board member, and now as the Ranking Member of the Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee, I’ve watched the national teacher shortage grow worse for decades… The Quality Educator Partnership Act gives the Department the tools and coordination it is missing, from new investment in recruitment to long-overdue standards for ed-tech integration. Educators, administrators, and students have waited long enough for this support.”

Key provisions of the bill include:

• Strengthening the educator pipeline by establishing a systemic approach to recruit, prepare, retain, and advance high-quality educators, prioritizing high-need fields and candidates from underrepresented backgrounds.
• Investing in workforce development through partnerships between colleges, school districts, and other stakeholders, promoting teacher residencies, Grow Your Own programs, mentoring, and evidence-based preparation models.
• Promoting innovative workforce design of the profession for long-term sustainability.
• Creating a new affordable pathway through a National Educator Service Corps providing tuition assistance, living stipends, and clinical residency stipends in exchange for service in high-need schools.
• Building federal infrastructure, including an Office of Educator Workforce and an Office of Educational Technology and Digital Literacy within the U.S. Department of Education.
• Improving data and accountability through better national data collection on educator preparation, workforce supply and demand, and program outcomes.
• Supporting evaluation and dissemination of evidence-based approaches through a National Center for Research and Technical Support on Educator Workforce Development and Design. 

QEPA is being co-sponsored by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) in the Senate, and Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-CT), and Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH) in the House. ALA and AASL encourages library advocates to engage with their representatives and senators to help build support for the bill.

QEPA is endorsed by the following organizations:

• 1890 Universities Foundation
• AACTE (American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education)
• ACTFL
• AILACTE
• American Association of School Librarians
• American Federation of Teachers
• American Library Association
• AMLE
• Center for Reaching & Teaching the Whole Child
• City Teaching Alliance
• Council for Academic Deans of Research Education Institutions (CADREI)
• Deans for Impact (DFI)
• ETS
• InnovateEDU
• International Society for Transforming Education (ISTE+ASCD)
• NACCTEP National Association of Community College Teacher Education Programs
• National Association for Family, School and Community Engagement (NAFSCE)
• National Association for Music Education
• National Association for School-University Partnerships (NASUP)
• National Association of Elementary School Principals
• National Center for Learning Disabilities
• National Center for Teacher Residencies
• National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
• National Principals Association
• Teach Plus
• TECSCU, Teacher Education Council for State Colleges and Universities
• Thurgood Marshall College Fund
• United Negro College Fund

About the American Library Association   
The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.