Supporting the designation of the week of May 5 through May 9, 2025, as "Teacher Appreciation Week".
H. Res. 380 is a non-binding House resolution introduced in the 119th Congress to designate the week of May 5 through May 9, 2025 as “Teacher Appreciation Week.” The resolution signals the House’s support for recognizing the essential contributions of public school teachers and for elevating teachers’ input in education policymaking. It emphasizes that teachers should have a seat at the policymaking table at federal, state, and local levels and urges leaders to engage directly with teachers to ensure policies reflect classroom realities. While it cites various teacher opinions and policy preferences in its “Whereas” clauses, the resolution itself does not create new laws, funding, or regulatory requirements. The document frames this designation within broader discussions about teacher recruitment, retention, professional development, and innovative teaching approaches (e.g., use of AI, team teaching, differentiated compensation, and workforce diversity). It presents these as areas where teachers support reform and engagement, but these points are descriptive statements intended to provide context for the recognition rather than enforceable policy.
Key Points
- 1Designates May 5–9, 2025 as “Teacher Appreciation Week” in recognition of public school teachers’ work.
- 2Recognizes teachers as foundational to the American education system and to communities’ future success.
- 3Affirms that public school teachers should have a seat at the table in education policymaking at federal, state, and local levels.
- 4Encourages federal, state, and local leaders to engage directly with teachers so their voices and expertise inform classroom-impacting policies.
- 5Includes “Whereas” statements underscoring broad teacher perspectives on maintaining key protections and funding (e.g., nondiscrimination protections, rights for undocumented students, Title I and IDEA funding, public service loan forgiveness, culturally relevant teaching, data use to address achievement gaps, and a well-staffed Department of Education) and openness to reforms (e.g., safe use of AI, team teaching, differentiated compensation, and diversifying the teaching workforce).