III 115th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 356 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES December 11, 2017 Mr. Kennedy (for himself and Mr. Whitehouse ) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing the sense of the Senate that Members of Congress should substitute teach at least 1 day per year in a public school to gain firsthand knowledge on how to address the prevailing challenges facing educators and how to remove obstacles to learning for students.

Whereas teachers play a critical role in shaping the minds and lives of children; Whereas there were 3,100,000 full-time public school teachers in 2016; Whereas approximately 200,000 teachers leave the profession each year; Whereas in the 114th Congress, there were more than 3 times as many Members of Congress that had backgrounds in public service or politics than Members of Congress that had backgrounds in education; and Whereas Members of Congress should be on the ground in public schools to understand the challenges that educators and students face, including— (1) a growing shortage of teachers; (2) issues of teacher pay; (3) a lack of resources, in both urban and rural areas; (4) teacher preparedness; (5) chronic absenteeism among students; (6) poverty; and (7) parental involvement: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1) recognizes the contributions of teachers to the United States; (2) thanks teachers for their service; and (3) recommends that each Member of Congress spend at least 1 day per year serving as a substitute teacher in a public school.