Education (K-12 Education)

HR 5056, the Teachers Are Leaders Act of 2025, creates a federal grant program to support teachers in high-need schools who maintain classroom roles while taking on leadership responsibilities. The bill provides funding for eligible school district-university partnerships to offer teachers one year of professional development leading to a teacher leadership credential, plus up to two additional years of support. This includes training in areas like curriculum development, peer coaching, and cultural competencies, with selection criteria requiring at least three years of teaching experience and certification. Grants cover 50% of stipends in the first two years and 33% in the third year, and teachers may repay credential costs if they leave the program early. The program directly affects classroom teachers in high-need schools and aims to improve student achievement through data-driven instructional practices.

This bill directs the Secretary of Education to reduce federal regulations and promote parental choice in education. It authorizes the Secretary to rescind rules limiting local control, expand access to school choice programs (like vouchers and charter schools), and reduce administrative burdens on schools. The bill affects parents, states, and local school districts by shifting decision-making authority away from federal mandates toward local communities, using existing education funding without new spending. It requires quarterly reports on unused funds and explicitly prohibits federal control over curriculum or homeschooling.

This bill requires schools receiving federal education funds to disclose foreign funding sources to parents upon request. It mandates that schools provide parents with access to classroom materials paid for with foreign government funds, information about staff compensated with such funds, and details about donations or agreements with foreign governments or "entities of concern." Schools must respond to parent requests within 30 days and post annual notices about these rights on public websites. The policy directly affects parents, schools, and local education agencies receiving funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.