NCTE Shares Support for the RAISE Act
New federal legislation introduced will boost teacher compensation and professional support
NCTE commends US Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and US Representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), John Larson (D-CT), and Mark Takano (D-CA) for reintroducing legislation to boost teacher compensation, recruitment, and ongoing professional learning support. The Respect, Advancement, and Increasing Support for Educators (RAISE) Act, would provide educators with refundable tax credits at a minimum of $1,000 and as much as $15,000.
NCTE has worked with Senator Booker’s office on various versions of this groundbreaking legislation in support of teachers since 2017. “Through refundable tax credits, the RAISE Act will help boost the compensation of early childhood, elementary, and secondary school teachers. Depending on the level of poverty in the schools educators serve, public school teachers would be eligible for a tax credit up to $15,000. The bill would also double the educator tax deduction, which teachers can use to offset the cost of school supplies, and expand eligibility to early childhood educators” (Booker, 2022).
NCTE Executive Director Emily Kirkpatrick endorses the legislation. “NCTE has given feedback and support to this legislation, which has carried a variety of names over recent years. The time is now to pass this legislation and provide real support to teachers in this country through refundable tax credits, modern teacher recruitment and retention, as well as professional learning over a teaching career. We commend Senator Booker for his consistent leadership over time and for recruiting an impressive base of support in the House and Senate this year.”