Many teachers have lost their jobs in the economic meltdown. However, lawmakers are fighting for a bill that would give funding to school district in order for them to keep their teachers. According to eSchoolNews, the House of Representatives recently passed a bill that would allow school districts access to $10 billion in additional funding to help them avoid laying off teachers. The bill also included a provision that college students would get $5 billion more in Pell Grant money to account for the current shortfall. The changes are part of an $80 billion war spending bill, that is needed to pay for President Obama's decision to send additional troops to Afghanistan. According to the news source, the bill is still awaiting action in the Senate. The $10 billion Education Jobs Fund is meant to help schools avoid further layoffs to their teaching staff. A recent survey from the American Association of School Administrators said that 68% of superintendents said that they were forced to cut personnel in 2009-10, and 90% anticipate having to do so in the 2010-11 school year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of teachers is expected to increase 13% between 2008 and 2018.  |