Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act of 2026

Smaller K–3 Classes for Low-Income Students

If enacted, this bill would create a competitive federal grant program to cut class sizes in kindergarten through grade 3. Congress would authorize $2 billion for the first fiscal year and such sums as necessary later. Five-year grants would go to districts serving the highest-poverty schools and to schools with the largest early-grade class sizes. Grantees would need to reduce supported classes to no more than 18 students, recruit and keep fully certified teachers, and provide professional development and planning time. At least 97% of each grant must be used to reduce class size; up to 3% may pay administration, and up to 15% each may pay for facilities or teacher training. Funds must supplement, not supplant, existing local or state class-size funding. LEAs would file annual reports, and the Institute of Education Sciences would evaluate and report results to Congress.