Congress must pass educators jobs bill

The U.S. Senate needs to pass the Keep Our Educators Working Act, which contains the $23 billion Education Job Fund, now.

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has stated that up to 300,000 educators may be laid off in the upcoming school year due to budget cuts hitting state legislatures across the nation. When educators lose their jobs, children lose, too.

Layoffs lead to more crowded classrooms and fewer counselors, nurses, reading specialists and other critically needed educators who help ensure that every child gets individual attention. There exists a clear antidote to stem the tide of layoffs - passage of the Keep our Educators Working Act.

The legislation would save an estimated 250,000 jobs, according to the Education Commission of the States, similar to how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act saved hundreds of thousands of education jobs last year.

The House has already passed an education jobs fund. The Senate should follow the lead of the House in putting students and America's future first. Congress needs to pass this legislation and keep kids learning and educators working.

Ted Krillies

Bloomingdale