WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Susan Collins is going to bat for teachers once again in an effort to give them greater tax relief for spending their own money on classroom supplies and professional development. Senator Collins was successful last year in incorporating a $250 dollar above-the-line tax deduction for teachers for their out-of-pocket classroom costs into the economic stimulus bill. Her new legislation, the Teacher Tax Relief Act of 2003, doubles the amount educators can deduct and makes the tax break permanent. The bill also expands eligibility for the deduction to include professional development. "While this bill provides financial assistance to educators, its ultimate beneficiaries will be their students," said Senator Collins. "Other than involved parents, a well-qualified teacher is the most important prerequisite for student success. Educational researchers have demonstrated the close relationship between qualified educators and successful students. Moreover, educators themselves understand how important professional development is to maintaining and extending their levels of competence. When I meet with teachers from Maine, they repeatedly tell me of their need for more professional development and the scarcity of financial support for this worthy pursuit."
The tax relief passed last year was a step in the right direction, the Senator said, adding, "We need to recognize the extra mile teachers often go to for their students."
Senator Collins's Teacher Tax Relief Act of 2003 has bipartisan support and is endorsed by the National Education Association.