"This whole idea came about because students were reaching out and asking for this in their curriculum," Rep. Kathleen Willis, the bill's chief sponsor, said during a virtual hearing.

A call for a collaborative approach to advancing an educational system in crisis from the leaders of two key educator groups.

More than 700 teachers of color are among the 3,400 who will be impacted if the law changes.

Congress passed a new relief bill that includes about $3 billion in additional funding to the IDEA, including preschool grants for special education.