Teachers across the country are struggling financially to cover the cost of providing basic education to their students, but some are fighting back with creative solutions.
Education and welfare department officials say the department is working with state and local school districts to offer help for struggling teachers, including helping to provide vouchers for them to attend private schools, as well as free tuition for teachers with incomes of $150,000 or more.
The department is also expanding its support program, which offers teachers with earnings up to $1,000 a month of financial assistance to cover basic expenses, including rent, food, transportation and child care.
“It’s a tough time for the teachers, but they’re going to have to work harder to stay solvent,” said Michelle Rizzo, the education department’s acting assistant secretary for public safety.
“That’s a great opportunity for teachers to find ways to provide the students they need, because this is not something they can do by themselves.”
To help teachers, the department has launched a new program in which it’s working with some state and municipal school districts on a pilot project.
The pilot program, called “The Student Loans for Teachers,” provides money to help the state and federal governments help to pay for basic needs like rent, rent assistance and student loan payments.
In the past, the program has provided up to a $1 million aid package to states, but Rizzos said this year it is expanding the scope of the program to include funding for up to 25,000 teachers with income up to and including $1.2 million.
This will be a pilot program in the District of Columbia.
The goal is to work with a variety of state and county education agencies and local communities to help them reach that goal,” she said.
The school finance department is coordinating with other state and school districts and working to create the program, with more information on the website.
Rizzos says the department plans to expand the pilot program to other states and districts, and is working on a plan to provide more assistance.”
It’s about finding ways that we can get them to get back on their feet.””
It’s not just about giving them money.
It’s about finding ways that we can get them to get back on their feet.”
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