Sponsors (26)
Introduced January 13, 2026 by Jesús García · Last progress January 13, 2026
The bill directs substantial federal funding to raise pay and support for paraprofessionals—benefiting low-income students and school support workers—while creating sizeable federal and local fiscal burdens and limiting state flexibility.
Paraprofessionals and education support staff will receive substantially higher pay (targeting $30/hr and state minimum salaries of at least $45,000) funded by a dedicated federal appropriation, increasing household income for these workers.
Low-income students in high-poverty schools will be prioritized for subgrants so their LEAs can meet wage goals quickly, directing resources to districts that serve disadvantaged students.
States and LEAs receive dedicated federal funding ($25 billion in FY2026 and inflation-adjusted thereafter) to implement the wage increases, reducing immediate local budget pressure and enabling implementation without relying solely on local funds.
Taxpayers face large new federal spending (an initial $25 billion and inflation-indexed increases), which could increase federal deficits or require future tax increases or spending offsets.
Mandated wage floors and application to contracted staff will raise costs for school districts and contractors, which could lead to higher local taxes or reduced local services if offsets are required.
States and LEAs must meet strict timelines and compliance requirements within four years, potentially forcing reallocation of existing education funds or layoffs if federal grants are insufficient or delayed.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates federal minimum pay standards and an indexed funding program to raise wages for paraprofessionals and education support staff in ESEA programs, starting FY2026.
Creates a federal pay floor and funding program to raise wages for paraprofessionals and education support staff working in programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). It sets statutory minimums for full‑time equivalent annual salaries and for hourly pay, specifies automatic indexing rules, and authorizes large annual federal appropriations beginning in FY2026 to finance the effort. The bill sets a $45,000 statutory annual floor for full‑time paraprofessionals/support staff for FY2026–FY2030, pays $30.00 per hour under the federal program for FY2026–FY2030, requires five‑year reindexing thereafter using CPI or 2% compound growth (whichever is larger), and authorizes $25 billion for FY2026 with future-year increases tied to an inflation measure. Some textual details in the provided summary are incomplete (part‑time statutory floor amount and the end of an appropriations allocation clause).