Addressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Stevens
Introduced
Summary
Creates a competitive federal grant program to build and keep more teachers in under-resourced and rural communities, with a central focus on recruiting educators in high-need subjects and diversifying the workforce.
Show full summary
- Students and families in rural and high-need schools could see stronger staffing in STEM, special education, foreign languages, and English as a second language through local recruitment and pathway programs.
- Teachers and teacher candidates would get sustained support via grants that fund residencies, mentoring, tuition assistance, stipends, housing allowances, and career advancement. Grants run at least 5 years and recipients must generally match the grant amount with non-Federal funds.
- Local districts and colleges would get priority for partnerships with minority-serving institutions and for Grow Your Own and 2+2 programs. The program sets-asides include 5% for Bureau of Indian Education schools and at least 25% each for rural LEAs, high-need subject areas, and efforts to diversify the teaching workforce.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Tuition, Stipends, and Housing for Teachers
If enacted, grant winners could pay tuition support, resident salaries, stipends, and housing allowances for teacher residents and student teachers. Tuition help in residencies could be tied to a service commitment of at least 3 years. Grants could also fund mentor teacher incentives, higher pay for teacher leaders, and support for teachers to get extra credentials. Stipends or housing for first‑ or second‑year teachers could be provided only after the program first helps student teachers in those placements.
Grants to Recruit and Keep Teachers
This bill would create an Addressing Teacher Shortages competitive grant program run by the Secretary of Education. It would reserve 5% of program funds for Bureau of Indian Education schools and aim to set aside at least 25% each for rural districts, high‑need subject areas, and diversifying the teaching workforce. The Secretary would give priority to partnerships with minority‑serving colleges and to programs that recruit current school employees with at least 3 years' service. Grants would run at least 5 years and could be renewed if grantees show positive outcomes.
Program Funding and Planning Grants
The bill would authorize appropriations of "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to run the program. It would let the Secretary decide grant sizes and numbers and reserve program funds for required set‑asides. The Secretary could also award competitive one‑year planning grants to eligible local agencies that have not previously received main program grants, using program money not already set aside. These planning grants would help cover costs of preparing full applications.
Teacher Prep Definitions and Induction Rules
The bill would define key program terms like eligible LEAs, 2+2 transfer programs, and qualified mentor teachers. It would change the teaching residency definition so participants may complete the program with a bachelor's or a master's degree and removes a prior requirement to earn a master's before finishing. It would also tighten induction program expectations, requiring mentor‑led support by a qualified mentor in the same or a similar subject, observation and feedback, and training on using classroom assessment and engagement data. These changes aim to standardize mentor roles and make local pathways easier to use.
Grant Reporting and Evaluation Rules
This bill would require applicants to include an evaluation plan with measurable goals. Grantees would need to report program performance at the end of years three and five, and annually if a grant is renewed or longer than five years. Required metrics would include retention at years 3 and 5, licensure pass rates, hires by high‑need LEAs, and shares of participants from underrepresented groups and teaching high‑need fields. The Secretary would report to the relevant Congressional committees two years after enactment and every two years after that.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Stevens
MI • D
Cosponsors
Hayes
CT • D
Sponsored 3/9/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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