Pay Paraprofessionals and Support Staff Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
Introduced
Summary
Guarantee a living wage for paraprofessionals and education support staff. This bill would create a federal grant program that requires States to set and phase in minimum salaries and minimum hourly wages for these school employees, indexes those floors to inflation, and provides dedicated funding to help schools meet the new pay requirements.
Show full summary
- Paraprofessionals and education support staff: States must set a full‑time minimum salary and a part‑time minimum wage that rise with experience. For 2026–2030 the law uses a $45,000 annual base salary and a $30 per hour minimum as the baseline inputs for state formulas.
- Local educational agencies and contracted staff: States must pass most grant money to districts and ensure contracted workers get the same minimum pay. At least 98 percent of state grants must be subgranted to local education agencies and States must monitor compliance.
- States and program design: The Department of Education would award grants based on Title I shares, let States reserve small shares for technical help, and require a four‑year timeline and targets so high‑poverty districts get substantial support.
*Would authorize $25.0 billion for fiscal year 2026 and annual inflation‑indexed funding thereafter, increasing federal outlays and therefore increasing the federal deficit relative to current law.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Minimum pay floors for school staff
If enacted, the bill would require each State to set a minimum yearly salary for full‑time paraprofessionals and a minimum hourly wage for part‑time support staff. The national floor would be $45,000 per year and $30.00 per hour for fiscal years 2026–2030. For 2031–2035 and every five‑year period after, the floor would rise by the larger of the five‑year CPI change or 2 percent. States would have to set higher amounts and increase pay as staff gain experience.
Federal $25 billion pay grants
If enacted, the bill would provide $25 billion to the Department of Education for fiscal year 2026 to fund these grants. Each year after, the annual amount would increase by the Consumer Price Index change the Secretary calculates. After required reservations, the remaining funds would be split to States based on each State's prior Title I, Part A share. A State would need an approved application to receive an allotment.
State grants and local pay rules
If enacted, the bill would let the Secretary reserve up to 1 percent of annual funds for regional labs or nonprofits and up to 1 percent for program administration. States may keep up to 2 percent of their grant for technical assistance and administration, and must pass at least 98 percent to local school districts as subgrants under an approved formula. LEAs could use funds to meet State pay floors or raise pay and to pay for training and certifications. LEAs would have to ensure both agency employees and staff hired under contract are paid at least the State minimums. States would need an application with a plan to meet State minimum pay within four years, start the first increase no later than the second year, and give high‑poverty districts substantial help within two years. Federal funds would have to supplement, not replace, State and local funds.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank," Jr. [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
FL • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Carson, Andre [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie Ann [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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