Teachers to Linda McMahon: Fund special education, raise pay, and support marginalized students

A survey conducted by Teacher Tapp, a platform designed to gather insights from educators nationwide, announced that 87 teachers believe public education requires more equitable funding, stronger support for special education, and higher teacher pay. Teacher Tapp made that announcement in a blog post.

According to People Magazine, Linda McMahon has committed to returning control of education to the states and reducing federal oversight. She aims to promote school choice and parental involvement while dismantling centralized systems. As part of Donald Trump's agenda, she plans to ultimately shut down the Department of Education.

Exceptional Children reports that in Fiscal Year 2024, the federal government allocated $14.2 billion to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This includes IDEA Part B grants for states, marking a modest $20 million increase from FY 2023. Funding for IDEA Part B preschool and Part C infant and toddler programs remained flat at $420 million and $540 million, respectively. Support for personnel preparation, gifted education, and special education research programs also held steady at prior-year levels.

The Teacher Task Force highlights that increasing teacher salaries can positively impact student performance. A study published in the Journal of Public Economics found that a 10% increase in teacher pay led to a 5-10% improvement in student achievement, indicating a correlation between teacher compensation and educational outcomes.

The Texas Education Agency found that the federal Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program offers up to $17,500 in loan forgiveness for eligible teachers who have completed five consecutive years of service in low-income schools. However, many educators find these benefits insufficient to offset their total student loan debt, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive relief measures.

Teacher Tapp conducts short, anonymous daily surveys to capture educators' perspectives across the nation. The platform aims to drive evidence-based conversations among policymakers and school administrators by providing insights into teaching realities.