Durbin, Smith, Schneider, Stevens Introduce Bill To Address Teaching Shortages In High-Need Schools
The Retaining Educators Takes Added Investment Now (RETAIN) Act would create a fully refundable tax credit for educators
WASHINGTON – During Teacher Appreciation Week, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Representative Brad Schneider (D-IL-10), along with U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and U.S. Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), today introduced bicameral legislation, the RETAIN Act, that would address the severe nationwide shortage of early childhood and K-12 teachers that disproportionately impacts students from low-income backgrounds, students of color, and students from rural communities. Exacerbated by low pay, school leadership instability, and poor teaching conditions, schools in low-income communities struggle to retain experienced, qualified education professionals. On average, teachers are paid 23.5 percent less than other college graduates working in nonteaching fields, and teachers in low-income schools are paid less than teachers in more affluent schools.
The RETAIN Act creates a fully refundable tax credit for teachers, paraprofessionals, school-based mental health providers, and school leaders in Title I schools, as well as for educators, program providers, and program directors in early childhood education programs funded by Head Start, Early Head Start, and Child Care and Development Block Grants. The tax credit increases at key points in a teacher’s career to incentivize retention.
“Each day, teachers are shaping the minds of the next generation, but they are not paid enough for the valuable work they’re doing. Hoping to make ends meet for their families, high-quality and experienced teachers are incentivized to move to more affluent, higher paying districts. The impact on Black and Brown students and low-income and rural communities is particularly drastic, with many students in the greatest need having the least resources available to them,” Durbin said. “This Teacher Appreciation Week, I’m introducing the RETAIN Act to help address teaching disparities by incentivizing teachers and other educational professionals to make careers in areas with the most need.”
“Schools across the nation are facing teacher shortages that need to be met with decisive action. We must invest in those who teach our kids and attract the talent that will provide high quality education for future generations. I’m proud to join Sen. Durbin and Rep. Stevens in uplifting educators, enriching classrooms, and fostering a thriving school system that empowers teachers and students alike,” said Schneider.
“Every student should have access to a quality K-12 public education and part of that is paying teachers more,” said Smith. “Teachers rise to the challenge, working hard to meet the academic and emotional needs of their students, but they remain largely underpaid. This contributes to teacher shortages, which disproportionately affect students from low-income backgrounds. That is just wrong. The RETAIN Act will help raise teacher pay, help schools overcome these shortages and ultimately help ensure students get the best education possible.”
“Across my home state of Michigan, we have felt the devastating effects of teacher shortages,” said Stevens. “Low-income schools in particular struggle to retain and recruit the teaching talent that their students so desperately need. I am proud to be a part of this bicameral effort to support and retain teachers and other professional in our Title I schools.”
Educators increasingly are unwilling to teach in difficult working conditions at current compensation levels. Across the nation, the average teacher salary in 2023-2024 was $72,030—though this average masks variation in pay across regions and the income level of the school district. In 2023-2024, the average salary for a first-year teacher was $46,526, and in 2024, early childhood educators made $37,120—barely above the federal poverty line for a family of four. While federal data shows inflation-adjusted teacher pay has been stagnant since 1990, the inflation-adjusted cost of college has nearly doubled, leaving teachers with large amounts of student loan debt and low pay.
To receive modest increases, teachers must obtain expensive graduate degrees—adding student loan debt that dwarfs the accompanying pay raise. Further, schools consistently struggle to attract and retain effective teachers who reflect the diversity of students, particularly with respect to teachers of color.
A one-pager on the bill is available here.
Advance CTE; Association for Career and Technical Education; All4Ed; American Federation of Teachers; American Association of School Personnel Administrators; American School Counselor Association; Association of Educational Service Agencies; Black Teacher Project; Council of Administrators of Special Education; Council of the Great City Schools; Deans for Impact; Education Leaders of Color; Educators for Excellence; First Five Years Fund; Illinois Associate for the Education of Young Children; Illinois Education Association; Illinois Federation of Teachers; Illinois Head Start; Illinois Principals Association; Learning Forward; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Association of School Psychologists; National Council for Languages and International Studies; Joint National Committee for Languages; National Education Association; National Parent Teacher Association; Save the Children; AASA, The School Superintendents Association; Teach For America; and Teach Plus.
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