Summary
Creates a grant program to help schools in needy areas find and keep good teachers, especially for subjects like math, science, and special education.
What problem does this solve?
Many schools, especially in rural areas, do not have enough teachers for important subjects like math and science. This bill provides money through grants to help these schools create programs to hire and support new and current teachers.
Who does this affect?
- Teachers and teacher candidates
- Students in underserved communities
- Local school districts
What does this bill do?
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 4(a)(1)(A)
Header:
Addressing teacher shortages program established
Creates a new grant program
Establishes the 'Addressing Teacher Shortages Program' to award competitive grants to local school districts to help them hire and keep teachers.
Prioritizes high-need areas
Directs grant money specifically to rural areas, high-need subjects like STEM and special education, and efforts to create a more diverse teaching workforce.
Funds various teacher support programs
Allows grants to be used for multiple strategies, including teacher residency programs, 'Grow Your Own' initiatives, mentor programs, and tuition help for student teachers.
Reference
Text:
Section:
Sec. 4(c)(3)(B)
Header:
Priority for teaching residency and grow your own programs
Supports current school employees
Gives priority to programs that help current school employees, like paraprofessionals with at least three years of experience, to become certified teachers.
Reserves funds for native american schools
Sets aside 5% of all grant funds for schools supported by the Bureau of Indian Education.
Requires local matching funds
Requires school districts that receive a grant to contribute their own non-federal funds, although this requirement can be reduced or waived for districts in poor economic condition.
Mandates program evaluation
Requires grant recipients to track and report on key outcomes, such as teacher retention rates and the number of new teachers hired in high-need schools.
What is the real world impact?
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Increases federal role in local education
Expands the federal government's influence on local teacher preparation and retention, areas traditionally managed by states and local districts. This could be seen as either a needed support or an overreach.
•
Addresses a critical national teacher shortage
Provides federal funding to tackle a widespread teacher shortage that particularly harms students in rural and low-income communities, aiming to improve educational equity and student outcomes.
When does this start?
Authorizes funding for the grant program for each fiscal year from 2027 through 2032.
Grant recipient reports
Schools receiving grants must submit reports on their program's performance at the end of the third and fifth years.
Secretary of education reports
The Secretary of Education must report to Congress on the program's overall success two years after the law is passed, and every two years after that.