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119-s-4025119th CongressWALLET

Addressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Smith, Tina [D-MN]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would create federal grants to tackle teacher shortages, funding local educational agencies and partnerships to build residency programs, mentoring, Grow Your Own pathways, and 2+2 pipelines.

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  • Teachers and early-career educators: Would fund residencies, mentor programs, induction supports, student-teaching stipends, tuition forgiveness, and pay for leadership roles to help recruit and retain teachers. Grantees must track retention at 3 and 5 years.
  • Rural communities and high-need subjects: Would reserve not less than 25% of funds for rural LEAs and not less than 25% for high-need subject areas like STEM, special education, and English as a second language.
  • Local districts and colleges: Would award at least 5-year grants to eligible LEAs or consortia, allow 1-year planning grants, require nonfederal matching equal to the grant unless reduced or waived, and direct the Secretary to assign staff to help under-resourced applicants. It would also encourage recognizing teaching as a Career and Technical Education pathway.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Easier routes for future teachers

If enacted, the bill would widen who can participate in program-funded pathways. Eligible entities would be LEAs or consortia. A 2+2 program would let community colleges fully transfer teacher preparation credits to 4‑year programs. Teaching residencies could lead to a bachelor's or a master's without requiring a master’s before completion. The induction definition would require a qualified mentor, observation and feedback, and assessment and classroom-engagement data to shape supports. The bill would set minimum mentor qualifications and list mentor duties.

New federal grants to hire teachers

If enacted, the Department of Education would run a competitive grant program to reduce teacher shortages. The bill would authorize "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2027–2032. The Secretary would reserve 5% of funds for Bureau of Indian Education schools. From the remaining funds, not less than 25% would go to rural shortages, 25% to high-need subject shortages, and 25% to diversify the teacher workforce, as practicable. Main grants must last at least 5 years and could be renewed for grantees that show positive results. The Secretary could also award 1-year planning grants and give priority to partnerships with minority-serving institutions and programs that train current LEA employees with 3+ years service.

Grants for teacher pay and training

If enacted, grant recipients would be allowed to pay for residency programs, mentor incentives, and direct supports for teacher candidates and early-career teachers. Grants could pay resident salaries, tuition forgiveness in exchange for at least a 3-year teaching commitment, mentor pay, student-teacher stipends, and housing allowances tied to shortage placements. Grants could also fund Grow Your Own pipelines, 2+2 transfer pathways, STEM-to-teaching incentives, induction for the first two years, technology-enabled professional development, and credential supports like National Board work. If an entity offers both student-teacher assistance and first/second-year teacher stipends, student-teacher assistance must be prioritized.

Grant reporting and evaluation rules

If enacted, applicants would need an evaluation plan with measurable objectives. Plans must track educator retention at years 3 and 5, licensure pass rates or reliable teacher assessment results, hires by high-need LEAs, and percentages of participants from underrepresented groups and in high-need fields and schools (broken out by elementary and secondary). Grantees would file reports at the end of year 3 and year 5, and yearly for any renewal years or years after year 5. The Secretary would report to Congress within two years and every two years after that.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Smith, Tina [D-MN]

MN • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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