This bill creates a tax exclusion for K-12 public school teachers, allowing them to exclude up to $50,000 of their wages from federal income tax. Teachers in schools where 75%+ students qualify for free/reduced lunches, in rural areas, or teaching special education/STEM subjects qualify for a higher exclusion of $65,000. To qualify, teachers must work at least 900 hours in a school year at a public elementary or secondary school (including charter schools). The exclusion applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2025, and requires schools to verify eligibility for the IRS. It directly affects eligible K-12 public school teachers by reducing their taxable income.
HR 1331 establishes a federal grant program to improve teacher and school leader preparation in high-need schools. It funds partnerships between high-need local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and other stakeholders to support teacher and school leader residency programs and professional development. The bill requires eligible partnerships to prepare educators who are "profession-ready" to teach diverse students, with specific training in comprehensive literacy instruction, working with English learners, and supporting students with disabilities. It also establishes accountability measures, including evaluation plans that track educator retention, certification pass rates, and the percentage of profession-ready educators hired in high-need schools.
The Expanding Access to Mental Health Services in Schools Act of 2025 creates a federal grant program to help high-need schools hire and retain mental health professionals like counselors, psychologists, and social workers. It targets schools in the top 15% of need (based on student poverty or counts) that lack required staff ratios, such as one counselor per 250 students. Grants fund recruitment incentives (e.g., student loan repayment), retention programs, and evidence-based mental health services, with recipients required to contribute 25% of costs from non-federal funds. Schools must report annually on staff numbers, student-to-staff ratios, and retention rates to track progress toward improved mental health access.
SRES 158 is a non-binding Senate resolution expressing the chamber's view that paraprofessionals (like paraeducators) and education support staff (including clerical, custodial, and food service workers in schools) deserve fair treatment. It outlines specific expectations for their workplaces, such as livable wages, affordable healthcare, job security, paid leave, and meaningful input in school policies - directly affecting over 3 million frontline workers supporting 49 million students. The resolution does not create new laws but urges federal and state action to address current gaps, including ending seasonal layoffs and ensuring access to benefits. It emphasizes these staff’s critical role in school environments while clarifying that it does not override existing collective bargaining agreements.
This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to improve support for English learners (ELs) and immigrant children/youth. It requires states to collect and report data on teacher diversity (racial, ethnic, gender, linguistic) and to disaggregate student performance data by EL status, disability, ethnicity, race, and native language. The bill mandates states to monitor progress of former ELs and expands funding for programs providing legal/educational resources in students' native languages, culturally responsive educator training, and dual-language program access. It directly affects public schools, educators, and EL students - regardless of immigration status - by strengthening data-driven support systems and resource access.
This bill establishes minimum salary and wage standards for paraprofessionals and education support staff in public schools. It requires states to set a minimum annual salary of $45,000 for full-time staff (increasing with inflation after 2030) and a minimum hourly wage of $30 for part-time staff (also inflation-adjusted). The federal government will provide $25 billion in FY2026, with annual funding increases, to help states implement these standards through grants. States must ensure all local schools meet these minimums within 4 years of receiving funds, with 98% of grant money allocated directly to schools for salary increases or professional development.
The SPELL Act expands existing federal student loan forgiveness programs to include teachers who work with English learners or in bilingual/dual language programs. It amends the Higher Education Act to add "English language education" to the list of eligible fields for loan forgiveness, alongside math, science, and special education. Teachers must be verified by school administrators as actively teaching English learners or bilingual students in roles matching their training. This directly affects educators in public or nonprofit elementary and secondary schools who meet these specific teaching criteria. The policy change modifies current eligibility without creating new programs, applying to those qualifying after the bill's enactment date.
This bill requires U.S. public schools (K-12) to integrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history into existing American history and civics curricula. It amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to mandate that state standards, teacher training programs, and national assessments explicitly include this history. Key provisions include adding specific language to curriculum guidelines, teacher certification requirements, and the National Assessment of Educational Progress. The law directly affects school districts, educators, and students by requiring comprehensive coverage of these histories within current educational frameworks.
HR 1054, the Educators Expense Deduction Modernization Act of 2025, increases the annual tax deduction available to eligible K-12 teachers for out-of-pocket classroom expenses. The bill raises the deduction limit from $250 to $1,000 per year for qualifying educators, applying to taxable years beginning December 31, 2025. It amends Internal Revenue Code sections 62(a)(2)(D) and 62(d)(3) to update the deduction amount and relevant tax year references. This change directly affects elementary and secondary school teachers who itemize deductions and incur eligible classroom costs. The bill makes no other policy changes beyond modernizing the deduction amount and effective date.
HR 228 increases the tax deduction for elementary and secondary school teachers from $250 to $1,000 annually for out-of-pocket classroom expenses. This change directly affects teachers who pay for supplies, materials, or other work-related costs using their own money. The bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to raise the deduction amount and adjusts related provisions for inflation, effective for tax years starting after December 31, 2024. It provides a concrete tax benefit to qualifying teachers without altering other tax rules.
