Addressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2026

Key Points

• This bill creates a competitive federal grant program to help local school districts recruit and retain teachers, with a strong focus on rural areas, high-need subjects like STEM and special education, and diversifying the teaching workforce.
• At least 25% of grant funds must go toward rural teacher shortages, 25% toward high-need subjects, and 25% toward making the teaching workforce more diverse. An additional 5% is reserved for schools supported by the Bureau of Indian Education.
• Schools can use grant money for teaching residency programs that cover a resident's tuition and salary in exchange for a commitment to teach in the community for at least three years after completing their training.
• The bill supports 'Grow Your Own' programs that recruit local community members — like paraprofessionals and substitute teachers who have worked in a school for at least three years — and help them become fully certified teachers.
• New teachers would receive structured mentoring and induction support during their first two years in the classroom, pairing them with experienced teachers in the same subject area to reduce early career burnout and turnover.
• The bill authorizes funding for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 but does not specify dollar amounts, leaving it up to Congress to decide how much money to actually provide each year.