Hi All,
Me again with additional important information from AACTE.
Town Hall on ‘Professional’ Designation’
On Thursday, December 18, at 12 p.m. EST, join AACTE for a brief overview and extended Q&A on the proposed federal definition of “professional” programs. This town hall will clarify what the proposal means for educator preparation and provide ample time to ask questions and share concerns.
*This town hall is open to EVERYONE.
Register here: https://aacte.org/calendar/aacte-town-hall-the-professional-designation-and-education-degrees/
By AACTE
December 10, 2025
Recent headlines remind us that too many individuals still question whether educators, nurses, counselors, and social workers are truly professionals. This erosion of respect for those who care for, teach, and serve our communities is deeply troubling. It is also dangerous. When we diminish educators’ professional status, we undermine the very foundation on which our society depends.
Last summer’s budget reconciliation bill added a new layer to this concern. The legislation created two categories for post-baccalaureate students — graduate and professional — and made students in “graduate” programs eligible for far less in federal student loans. Now, as the U.S. Department of Education drafts regulations to determine which fields qualify as “professional,” its current proposal would exclude education — along with nursing, counseling, social work, and other fields.
If enacted, it would reduce access to essential financial support for students pursuing graduate degrees in education, who make up nearly 60% of degree recipients in the field. These are teachers, school counselors, and administrators — the professionals we depend on to prepare our nation’s children and ensure our schools thrive. Equally concerning, it would again signal that their work is somehow less serious or less valuable than other professions.
Professional work in education demands deep pedagogical and subject-matter expertise, extensive clinical experience, ethical responsibility, and proper licensure and credentials. Educators are trusted with the intellectual and emotional growth of children. Their preparation is, as it should be, thorough, demanding, and highly specialized because children’s lives and futures are at stake.”
In Community & Advocacy,
Karen
Dr. Karen Escalante