Pay Paraprofessionals and Support Staff Act

Higher pay and grants for paraprofessionals

If enacted, this bill would require states to set minimum pay for paraprofessionals and support staff. For fiscal years 2026–2030, full-time floors would be at least $45,000 a year. Part-time floors would be at least $30.00 an hour. States must set amounts above those floors and raise pay with experience. Starting in fiscal year 2031, amounts would update every five years. Each five-year update would rise by the greater of the five-year CPI change or 2 percent. The bill would create a federal grant program with $25 billion for FY2026. Each later year, funding would grow by the CPI-based annual adjustment percentage. Up to 1% could go to regional labs and nonprofits. Up to 1% could go to technical help and administration. The rest would be split to states based on their Title I, Part A share from the prior year. States would subgrant to school districts, prioritizing high-poverty districts to meet state minimums within 2 years. All districts would have to meet state minimums within 4 years. The bill defines the annual adjustment percentage as the estimated percent change in the Consumer Price Index for the most recent calendar year.