April 3, 2026 — On behalf of the National Center for Teacher Residencies (NCTR), CEO Kathlene Campbell, Ph.D., issued the following statement in response to the U.S. President’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget:
While the President has issued only topline fact sheets for his proposed FY 2027 budget, the proposal to eliminate federal funding for the Teacher Quality Partnership (TQP) and other education programs raises significant concerns. We appreciate that Congress has consistently demonstrated bipartisan support for educator preparation and K–12 education, including maintaining stable funding levels for most programs in the most recently enacted budget.
We are appreciative of the President’s funding for apprenticeship programs, which would include teacher apprenticeship programs that are actively used across the country to fill teacher vacancies and provide opportunities for many already in the education system to complete their dream of becoming a credentialed teacher.
However, communities across the country continue to face a significant and growing teacher shortage—especially in high-need fields such as STEM, special education, and multilingual education, and in rural and underserved areas. As documented in a 2022 Economic Policy Institute report, these shortages are widespread and worsening, underscoring the need for sustained, evidence-based investments across more than just apprenticeships to fill the need for highly prepared teachers.
High-quality teacher preparation programs are a critical part of the solution. Research shows that teachers who complete comprehensive, clinically rich preparation—paired with mentorship and ongoing support—are more effective and more likely to remain in the profession. Programs like TQP directly support these approaches, helping to expand the pipeline of well-prepared educators in the communities that need them most. Eliminating this support could reduce access to proven preparation models and further strain already understaffed schools.
We look forward to working with Congress on a bipartisan basis to sustain investments in educator preparation and ensure that schools can recruit and retain effective teachers. Continued federal support will help ensure that every student, in every community, has access to a well-prepared, well-supported educator.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Alicia Roberson
Director of Marketing and Communications
media@nctresidencies.org