The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) have announced new initiatives aimed at enhancing pathways into teaching, improving pay, and strengthening working conditions across the education workforce.
These efforts are part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Good Jobs Initiative, which focuses on creating and retaining good jobs as the foundation for a robust economy.
As part of this initiative, ED has introduced the Good Jobs Principles for Education, outlining high-quality working conditions essential for attracting and retaining a skilled education workforce.
These principles emphasize competitive wages, benefits, job security, safe working environments, and opportunities for career advancement. The goal is to foster a high-quality education workforce from early childhood through higher education, addressing educator shortages and ensuring student success.
Kamala Harris (Credits: Glamour)
Since President Biden’s tenure began, the number of states with teacher-registered apprenticeship programs has increased from zero to 34, and so has Puerto Rico. This progress is being built upon new funding and resources announced by ED and DOL to expand pathways into education careers, responding to the demand for skilled educators.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona highlighted the importance of recruiting and retaining quality educators, stating that access to competitive wages, benefits, and growth opportunities is crucial for workforce development and community prosperity.
Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for good, family-sustaining jobs in education and the importance of expanding access to training programs, especially in underserved communities.
President Joe Biden (Credits: Al Jazeera)
The Good Jobs Principles for Education set a federal framework for job quality in the education sector, aligning with the broader Good Jobs Initiative’s focus on economic mobility and equitable treatment for workers.
ED will promote these principles across educational settings and collaborate with stakeholders to uplift workforce resiliency models. This announcement comes during a joint trip by Secretary Cardona and Acting Secretary Su in Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada.
They will engage with educators and highlight examples of initiatives supporting good jobs, such as the Washoe County School District’s recent contract negotiations that led to pay raises and retention bonuses for teachers and education support professionals.
