JET Hails Educator Diversity ARPA Funding in MA Spending Bill

On December 13, Governor Baker signed into legislation a $4 billion spending bill,  which includes $10 million of ARPA (the America Rescue Plan Act) funds to support Educator Diversity recruitment and retention programs.  Leading the successful effort for this ARPA funding is the Educator Diversity Act (EDA) Coalition, where JET is a member.

JET joined other EDA Coalition members in thanking the Legislature: Statement

“Journey into Education and Teaching (JET) hails the passage by the Massachusetts legislature of the ARPA budget and is grateful for the $10 million commitment for educator diversity programs across the Commonwealth. Thank you to all the legislators and legislative leaders who have worked so hard to make this happen.  This is an important investment that will benefit our educators and students.

Educator diversity in the Commonwealth is tantamount to all students achieving academic and life success.  JET is committed to mentoring public school paraprofessionals to become teachers in urban school districts across the state where the need for teacher diversity is the greatest.  JET participants are 75% educators of color and all are from the community. We look forward to new opportunities that these new resources bring for serving more urban paraprofessionals.”