Education (Teachers)

in committee · United States · Senate May 19, 2026

S 4567: Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026

The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026 expands existing federal programs to offer debt relief for teachers and early childhood educators who work in high-need schools or specific early education programs. To qualify for full cancellation of their student loans, eligible educators must complete five years of service, which can be consecutive or non-consecutive, in designated schools serving at least 30% low-income students or in Head Start and other qualifying early childhood settings. The bill also introduces a monthly payment assistance feature that covers a portion of loan obligations during the service period and allows parents to receive forgiveness if their children or they themselves are qualifying educators. Verification of service is handled by school administrators or program directors, with simplified self-certification options available for family child care providers, and the law ensures that educators who leave their positions early are not required to repay any forgiven amounts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides loan forgiveness to educators working in high-need schools, directly supporting teachers and expanding educational access.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill provides debt relief and financial incentives for educators, expanding benefits and supporting workforce retention in high-need schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Student Financial Aid Teachers Professional Licensing

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in committee · United States · House May 14, 2026

HR 8815: Teacher Debt Relief Act

This bill, known as the Teacher Debt Relief Act, amends the Higher Education Act to modify how student loan forgiveness is calculated for teachers. It directly affects educators by adjusting the specific sections of federal law that determine eligibility and the number of years of service required for loan discharge. The key mechanism involves reorganizing and updating the legal language within the Higher Education Act to clarify the rules for teacher loan repayment assistance. By making these technical changes to existing statutes, the bill aims to streamline the process for teachers seeking financial relief after working in the education sector.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill provides debt relief for teachers, enhancing educator retention and financial stability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 30, 2026

S 4449: Strengthening Educator Workforce Data Act

The Strengthening Educator Workforce Data Act requires the Department of Education to collect and publish detailed statistics on the experience, licensing, and demographics of public school teachers and principals. This new data will include specific metrics such as the number of full-time staff, their years of experience broken down into categories, and whether they hold full state certification or specialized credentials in subjects like math and special education. The bill mandates that this information be disaggregated by race, ethnicity, and sex, and presented in an accessible report with visual aids to help identify workforce trends across different states. Additionally, the legislation ensures that while data is made public, the privacy of individual educators is protected by keeping personally identifiable information confidential. These changes will apply to all future civil rights data collections conducted by the Department of Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates collection of detailed educator workforce data to improve transparency and support teacher development.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers Tags Data Reporting

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in committee · United States · House May 4, 2026

HRES 1255: Supporting the designation of the week of May 4 through May 8, 2026, as "Teacher Appreciation Week".

This resolution formally recognizes the week of May 4 through May 8, 2026, as "Teacher Appreciation Week" to honor the work of public school educators. It highlights the importance of teachers in the education system and notes that a majority of them support various policies, including protections for students and funding for public schools. The document also expresses the view that teachers should have a direct role in education policymaking at federal, state, and local levels. By issuing this designation, the House of Representatives aims to acknowledge the value of teachers and encourage government leaders to engage with them on issues affecting the classroom.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill honors teachers and advocates for their role in policymaking, directly supporting educators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 28, 2026

S 4415: TEACH Improvement Act of 2026

The TEACH Improvement Act of 2026 amends the federal TEACH Grant program to better support teacher preparation by establishing stricter eligibility criteria for institutions and clarifying rules for post-baccalaureate students. The bill defines "eligible institutions" as those providing high-quality teacher training, financial stability, and ongoing support services, while also creating a specific pathway for individuals with bachelor's degrees to earn teaching credentials without pursuing a graduate degree. Key provisions include setting grant amounts of $4,000 to $5,000 per year, requiring recipients to serve as full-time teachers in high-need fields for four years within eight years, and introducing a new loan conversion process if service obligations are not met. Additionally, the act imposes penalties on institutions where more than 50% of their graduates fail to complete their service obligations, restricting their ability to offer grants until they demonstrate improved outcomes. The legislation also mandates annual reporting on grant conversions and servicer performance to ensure accountability and transparency in the program's administration.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens teacher preparation by establishing stricter eligibility for high-quality training and creating pathways for credentials, directly supporting educators.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid Teachers

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in committee · United States · House Apr 30, 2026

HR 8636: Strengthening Educator Workforce Data Act

The Strengthening Educator Workforce Data Act requires the U.S. Department of Education to collect and publish detailed information about public school teachers and principals. This new data will include the number of full-time staff, their years of experience broken down into specific categories, and details on whether they hold required state licenses and certifications in subjects like math, science, and special education. The collected information will be further analyzed by race, ethnicity, and sex to reveal patterns in the educator workforce, with results presented in accessible formats such as graphs and percentages. To protect individual privacy, the bill mandates that the department keep personally identifiable information confidential while making the underlying data publicly available online. These changes will apply to all future civil rights data collections conducted by the Department of Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates data collection on teacher qualifications and experience to improve educator workforce transparency and quality.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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in committee · United States · House May 4, 2026

HRES 1254: Recognizing the roles and contributions of elementary and secondary school teachers in building and enhancing the civic, cultural, and economic well-being of the United States.

This House Resolution formally recognizes the contributions of elementary and secondary school teachers in the United States. It thanks educators for their dedication to students and communities during National Teacher Appreciation Week. The measure encourages parents, administrators, and officials to acknowledge the profession during the designated week in May.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly recognizes and thanks teachers, directly supporting educators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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passed · United States · Senate May 11, 2026

SRES 724: A resolution recognizing the roles and contributions of the teachers of the United States in building and enhancing the civic, cultural, and economic well-being of the United States.

This Senate resolution formally acknowledges the contributions of teachers to the United States and thanks them for their dedication. It encourages students, parents, and public officials to recognize National Teacher Appreciation Week.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly honors teachers and encourages public recognition of their contributions, directly supporting educators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 9, 2026

S 4030: Supporting After-School STEM Educators Act

This bill establishes a grant program to provide professional development scholarships for educators working in after-school, summer, and other out-of-school time programs, with a focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics subjects. The Department of Labor would award grants to intermediary organizations, which would then distribute funds to program providers to help pay for educator training, coaching, and related costs. The program prioritizes serving communities with historically underinvested STEM resources and aims to support educators in gaining STEM credentials and improving their wages. Intermediaries receiving grants must also create centralized databases of training opportunities and facilitate peer networks for educators. The funding is authorized for five-year periods, with requirements for regular reporting on program effectiveness and educator retention.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes grant program for STEM professional development scholarships for out-of-school educators, directly supporting teacher training and educational access.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill provides funding for STEM professional development, directly advancing technology education and workforce preparation in out-of-school programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Teachers

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in committee · United States · Senate Mar 9, 2026

S 4025: Addressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2026

This bill, titled the Addressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2026, creates a federal grant program to help schools and school districts recruit and keep high-quality teachers, with a focus on rural areas, high-need subjects like STEM and special education, and underrepresented communities. The program provides competitive grants to eligible entities such as local school districts for at least five years to fund activities like teaching residencies, mentor programs, Grow Your Own initiatives that train local community members as teachers, and 2+2 partnerships between community colleges and universities. Grant recipients must match federal funds with non-federal contributions unless waived due to economic hardship, and the program prioritizes applications that include partnerships with minority-serving institutions and prepare paraprofessionals or substitute teachers for licensure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates federal grants to recruit and retain high-quality teachers in under-resourced communities, directly supporting education through funding and teacher development programs.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill establishes federal grants to recruit and retain teachers, improving employment conditions and supporting educator workforce stability in under-resourced areas.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Student Financial Aid Teachers Professional Licensing

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