Federal Policy Review Assignment

.docx

School

Liberty University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

643

Subject

Political Science

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by novayaw83

Federal Policy Review 1 Federal Policy Review Assignment Sylvia Sessoms Liberty University EDUC 643 Professor Hutter 02/04/2024

Federal Policy Review 2 Former educator and administrator, Miguel Cardona is the twelfth United States Secretary of Education. He has served under Joe Biden since 2021 and is also a member of the Democratic Party. Furthermore, he has earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Central Connecticut State University in 2001 and a Doctor of Education in 2011. His focus has been closing the gaps between English language learners and their peers. Following the pandemic, Cardona laid out his visions for recovery which included broader investments in America’s education system to ensure all students can succeed and thrive. In his address, he discussed key strategies the Department and schools must take to help students, educators, and school communities continue to recover from the pandemic. As well as address inequalities that have long existed in the education system. His goals are to ensure quality education for every student, facilitate a healthy and safe transition back to in-person education, and correct the “educational inequalities” that exist along racial, economic, and social lines. As secretary, Cardona has prioritized closing the digital divide and homework gap. As well as creating equitable access to college and career programs and making higher education affordable. Secretary Cardona has proposed several measures to make higher education more affordable. One of his key proposals was to increase the maximum Pell Grant by $2,175 over the 2021-2022 award year through a combination of discretionary and mandatory funding. This alone helped an estimated 6.7 million students from low- and middle-income backgrounds overcome financial barriers. In a recent interview, Cardona addressed the biggest issues facing American education and how his department is addressing them. On November 17, 2023, Miguel Cardona discussed

Federal Policy Review 3 with The View hosts teacher shortages, banned books, antisemitism and protests on college campuses, and the effects of the pandemic on classrooms across the country. Joy Behar, former educator and current The View host, expresses the rising struggles educators are facing because of curriculums that have become a “political midfield” and the continuous effects of the pandemic. To which she adds that teachers aren’t getting paid enough for their efforts to overcome these challenges. In response, Cardona affirms these concerns and expresses that his department is working to lift the profession. He explains that they are working to fight for competitive salaries, better working conditions, and teacher voice. Cardona also adds that in over thirty states teachers have to file for government assistance. According to a report by the National Education Association, teachers are making $3,664 less than they did a decade ago. Which has led to a decline in teacher retention and a shortage of qualified teachers in many areas of the country. Research shows that increased teacher salaries prompt higher quality students to seek careers in education. Teacher pay increases also lowers teacher turnovers, keeping talented and experienced teachers content in their jobs. Which results in more educator continuity for students and builds more trust amongst the two. Better working conditions are another factor that improves teacher retention rates. According to a survey conducted by the California Teachers Association and UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools, better pay and working conditions are key to preventing educators from leaving the profession. The survey also identified a variety of changes that could alleviate teacher burnout and improve retention, such as smaller class sizes, more support services for students, better staffing, and a more manageable workload. However, the top change reported was teacher compensation.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help