PUPIL Act
Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced
Summary
A comprehensive study of paraprofessionals and education support staff would map who they are, what they do, and which policies shape their pay, training, career paths, and job stability.
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- Paraprofessionals and education support staff: Would receive a national assessment of roles, demographics, pay, training, and career pathways to identify ways to improve recruitment, retention, and job quality. Over 2.0 million serve public schools and more than 500,000 support students with disabilities.
- Students and families: The study would evaluate evidence on how these staff affect academic, social-emotional, and behavioral outcomes for the 54.0 million public elementary and secondary students they serve.
- Policymakers and school leaders: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine would set staff classifications, identify data gaps, examine contracted or outsourced staffing models, and provide actionable recommendations for Congress, federal agencies, States, and local education agencies. The report would be submitted to Congress and made public within 24 months of the study agreement.
*Authorizes $2.0 million in appropriations to fund the study.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Study of paraprofessionals and staff
If enacted, the bill would require the Department of Education to contract with the National Academies within 90 days. The Academies would study paraprofessionals and education support staff in public pre-K through grade 12 schools. They would create job classifications and examine pay, benefits, training, career paths, roles, and the effects of contracted or outsourced staffing. The Academies would publish a report within 24 months after the contract starts. The bill would authorize $2,000,000 to carry out the study.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM]
NM • D
Sponsored 7/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov