Delaney Strengthens Local Teacher Training Programs in Federal Education Bill

WASHINGTON – Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) successfully amended House legislation to improve teacher training and retention. During consideration of the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (H.R. 5), Delaney offered an amendment that improves training and retention programs by allowing state and local governments to use Pay for Success initiatives to improve outcomes and save money.

Also known as Social Impact Bonds, Pay for Success programs use evidence-based policies and private capital to improve outcomes and reduce long-term costs. In this model the government only pays for success, not failure. According to the Alliance for Excellent Education, educator turnover costs states millions of dollars each year, including an estimated $20 million dollars in Maryland. By improving job training and retention efforts, education will improve and overall costs will go down. 

 “Our values demand that every student has access to a world-class education. One of the most straightforward things we can do in pursuit of this goal is to support teachers and make sure that great teachers stay on the job,” said Congressman Delaney. “Teacher turnover is a drain on schools and a drain on resources. My bipartisan amendment will give state and local governments another tool in the toolbox to support teachers, expanding training programs and boost retention efforts. The Pay for Success model can help bring us a triple bottom line: better outcomes in the classroom, more support for teacher training, reduced long-term costs.”

The Delaney Amendment was cosponsored by Rep. Todd Young (IN-9) and Rep. Jared Polis (CO-2) and passed on the House floor by a voice vote.

The text of the Delaney Amendment to H.R. 5 is available here. Video footage of the floor proceedings is online here. For more information on Pay for Success programs, click here.

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