Supporting the designation of the week of May 5 through May 9, 2025, as "Teacher Appreciation Week".
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 380
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-05: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-16T14:55:05Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 380) aims to express congressional support for designating the week of May 5 through May 9, 2025, as "Teacher Appreciation Week." It recognizes the vital role of public school teachers in educating and guiding students, while highlighting challenges in the profession and the need for teachers' input in education policy.
Key Provisions
- Recognition of Teachers' Contributions: Acknowledges the work of approximately 3 million public school teachers as the foundation of the U.S. education system, providing knowledge, skills, and guidance to students.
- Teacher Perspectives and Support: Notes that teachers often feel excluded from education decisions and that only 19% would recommend the profession. It cites survey data showing strong teacher support (70-93%) for:
- Maintaining federal protections against discrimination based on gender and sexual identity.
- Ensuring undocumented students' access to public schools.
- Continued funding for key programs like Title I (aid for low-income schools) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (support for students with disabilities).
- Public service loan forgiveness for educators.
- Use of culturally relevant teaching materials.
- Data collection to address achievement gaps.
- Reserving public funds for public schools.
- A fully staffed Department of Education.
- Ideas for Improving the Profession: Highlights teacher-backed strategies (75-88% support), including using artificial intelligence as a teaching tool, team-teaching models, differentiated pay for challenging roles or high performers, and diversifying the teacher workforce to better reflect student demographics.
- Resolution Actions: The House:
- Supports the "Teacher Appreciation Week" designation.
- Recognizes teachers' role in shaping students and communities.
- Honors teachers' efforts to improve their teaching methods.
- Affirms that public school teachers should influence education policy at federal, state, and local levels.
- Urges leaders to consult directly with teachers on classroom-impacting policies.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution and introduces no changes to existing laws or statutes. It serves as a symbolic statement of support rather than enforceable legislation.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Raises public awareness of teachers' challenges and contributions, potentially encouraging community appreciation and support for education initiatives. It may indirectly promote better teacher retention and student outcomes by advocating for policy input from educators.
- On Government Agencies: No direct mandates, but it encourages federal, state, and local leaders (including the Department of Education) to engage teachers in policymaking, which could influence future education budgets and programs without creating new obligations.
- On International Relations: None, as the resolution focuses solely on domestic U.S. education issues.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Teachers and Educators: Primary beneficiaries, as the resolution validates their expertise and calls for greater involvement in decisions affecting their work.
- Students and Families: Indirectly impacted through potential improvements in teaching quality, funding for inclusive education, and addressing achievement gaps.
- Policymakers and Government Officials: Federal, state, and local leaders in education are urged to incorporate teacher input, potentially shaping future bipartisan efforts on recruitment, retention, and professional development.
- Education Advocacy Groups: Organizations focused on public schools, teacher rights, and equity may use this as a platform to advance related initiatives.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: No binding legal effects; it does not amend laws or create enforceable rights. References to existing statutes (e.g., Title I, IDEA) are supportive rather than alterative.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the Constitution's allocation of education primarily to states, while affirming the federal role in funding and non-discrimination protections under the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause (without making new claims).
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan sponsorship (introduced by a diverse group of representatives) and underscores ongoing debates on education funding, teacher pay, and inclusivity. It could signal congressional priorities for future legislation on teacher support amid concerns like low morale and workforce diversity, potentially influencing election-year discussions on public education.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (36)
Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22], Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2], Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39], Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-05: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-05-05: Submitted in House
- 2025-05-05: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Supporting the designation of the week of May 5 through May 9, 2025, as "Teacher Appreciation Week". — issued 2025-05-05 — PDF (4 pages)