YourVoice.Now Summary
Your MoneyWorkers & JobsTransparency & AccountabilityGrants for schools short on teachers — could pay a trainee's tuition for a 3-year teaching promise.
Your Money
A district could use grant money to pay all or part of a teaching resident's tuition. The resident agrees to teach in that community for at least 3 years.
Grant money could pay a stipend or housing allowance during student teaching, and later for first- and second-year teachers. It goes to those who commit to a rural school or a shortage subject.
Workers & Jobs
Applications get extra weight if they train current teacher aides, substitutes, or other school staff. The worker must have been employed by the district for at least 3 years.
Districts could spend grant money on career ladders that raise pay. The raise goes to teachers who show expertise and take on extra leadership work.
At least 25 percent of the money must go to programs that diversify the teaching workforce. Applications that partner with historically Black, Hispanic-serving, or Tribal colleges also get extra weight.
Federal law normally defines a teaching residency as ending in a master's degree. For grants under this act, a bachelor's degree would count instead.
Transparency & Accountability
The bill allows funding only for 2027 through 2032. After that, Congress would have to pass a new law to keep the program going.
The Education Department would run the program, and the bill bars moving that job to any other federal agency. Congress would have to change the law to shift it.
More about this bill
School aides, substitutes, and student teachers could get paid help to become teachers. Grants could cover a trainee's tuition. In exchange, the trainee would promise to teach locally for at least 3 years. Student teachers who take hard-to-staff jobs could get a stipend or housing money. Districts could also offer extra pay to teachers who take on leadership roles. None of this is required. Each district would pick which of these to fund. The Education Department would award the money to school districts. Districts would apply and compete for it. Each grant would run at least 5 years. At least 25 percent would go to rural districts. Another 25 percent would target shortage subjects such as math, science, special education, and English learning. A third 25 percent would go to programs that diversify the teaching workforce. Five percent goes to Bureau of Indian Education schools. Districts would have to match the federal money dollar for dollar. The Secretary could lower or drop that match for a district that cannot afford it. No dollar amount is set. The bill clears the way for Congress to fund the program from 2027 through 2032. That means no money moves until a future spending bill provides it. The program could not be handed to another federal agency. Districts would report on teacher hiring and retention at years 3 and 5. Most households would notice nothing directly. What you might see is a filled teaching job at your local school.
Congressional Summary
This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish an Addressing Teacher Shortages Program. Through this program, ED shall award grants for local educational agencies to address teacher shortage challenges.Specifically, grant funds may be used to establish or expand teaching residency programs, teacher mentor programs, specified recruitment and training programs, and other evidence-based strategies to increase teacher retention and support teachers.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2026-03-09
- Date Added
- 2026-04-10
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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