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119-s-5299119th CongressWALLET

Native Language Educators in Classrooms Act

Sponsored By: Senator Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a separate credentialing path for Indian Head Start and Indian Early Head Start staff and excludes those Indian programs from the nationwide Head Start teacher credentialing calculation.

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  • Indian Head Start teachers and teaching assistants in center-based programs must, at hire, either hold one of three options: a Child Development Associate credential, an early childhood education certificate from an institution of higher education including Tribal colleges, or a State-issued early childhood education certificate that meets CDA rigor. If staff are hired while enrolled in a qualifying program they must finish and earn the credential within 2 years.
  • Indian Early Head Start teachers must meet the same at-hire credential options or show enrollment in a program that will lead to those credentials. The bill also defines an "Indian early head start program" as a program served through a tribe, tribal consortium, or Tribal organization.
  • Indian Head Start programs are removed from the nationwide teacher credentialing calculation so they are not counted in that national metric.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

New hiring rules for Indian Head Start

If enacted, Indian Head Start teachers and teaching assistants in center-based programs would need at hire either a Child Development Associate (CDA), an early childhood education certificate from a college or Tribal college, or a State ECE certificate that meets or exceeds the CDA. Staff could instead show they are enrolled in a program that will lead to one of those credentials, but they would have to finish and earn the credential within two years of hire. The bill would also remove Indian Head Start center-based programs from the nationwide Head Start teacher credentialing calculation and treat Indian programs under the new Indian-specific pathway. These changes would include Alaska Native programs and would take effect upon enactment.

Teacher standards for Early Head Start

If enacted, teachers providing direct services in non-Indian Early Head Start centers would need at hire at least a Child Development Associate (CDA) and appropriate early childhood development training or equivalent coursework. For Indian Early Head Start programs located in Indian centers, teachers would need at hire a CDA, a college ECE certificate (including Tribal colleges), or a State ECE certificate that meets or exceeds the CDA, or proof of enrollment in a program that will lead to one of those credentials. The bill would also add a legal definition of "Indian Early Head Start program" to mean an Early Head Start program served through an Indian tribe, consortium, alternative agency, or Tribal organization. These changes would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

NM • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Armstrong, Alan [R-OK]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 8/6/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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