Addressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2026

The Department of Education would be authorized to award competitive grants — running at least five years each — to school districts and consortia of districts to address acute teacher shortages in rural schools, high-need subject areas such as STEM, special education, and English as a second language, and communities where teachers of color are underrepresented relative to the student population. At least 25 percent of available funds must flow to rural school districts, at least 25 percent to high-need subjects, and at least 25 percent to programs that diversify the teaching workforce; a separate 5 percent set-aside goes to the Secretary of the Interior for schools supported by the Bureau of Indian Education. Grant recipients can use the funds to establish teaching residency programs — covering a resident's tuition in exchange for a three-year commitment to teach locally — or to build Grow Your Own programs that recruit paraprofessionals, substitute teachers, and other school community members who have worked in a district for at least three years and want to earn teaching credentials. Other eligible uses include mentor programs for novice teachers during their first two years, stipends and housing allowances for student teachers who commit to shortage areas, expanded STEM-to-teaching pathways at colleges, and professional development for teachers seeking additional certifications. Districts must match grants dollar-for-dollar from non-federal sources, though the Secretary may reduce or waive the match based on economic need, and a dedicated staff person must be assigned to help under-resourced districts prepare competitive applications. The program is authorized through fiscal year 2032, with no specific dollar amount set — Congress would appropriate "such sums as may be necessary" in future spending bills.