S.Res. 356Senate115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed Congress

A 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.

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Updated April 15, 2026 at 7:29 PM UTC

This Senate resolution urges members of Congress to spend at least one day each year working as a substitute teacher in a public school. The goal is to give lawmakers first‑hand experience with the challenges teachers and students face, so they can better understand issues like teacher shortages, pay, resources, and student absenteeism.

Key Provisions

Encourages every Member of Congress to serve as a substitute teacher for a minimum of one day per year in a public school.
Highlights the importance of teachers and thanks them for their service.
Lists the key challenges the resolution wants lawmakers to see directly, including teacher shortages, pay, resource gaps, preparedness, student absenteeism, poverty, and parental involvement.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateFloor Latest Action

Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S7946-7947; text as passed Senate: CR S7946)

December 11, 2017

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

December 11, 2017

SenateFloor

Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote. (consideration: CR S7946-7947; text as passed Senate: CR S7946)

December 11, 2017

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about S.Res. 356 on the floor

1 Republican

Sen. John HoevenR-ND · Dec 11, 2017

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 356, submitted earlier today. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the measure. Mr. President,…

Bill Text

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Agreed to SenateIssued December 11, 2017

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.