Sponsors (11)
The bill raises and stabilizes pay for paraprofessionals and targets funds to high‑poverty schools—improving incomes and likely helping recruitment—while creating ongoing federal costs and local fiscal/administrative strains that may force trade‑offs in other public services.
Paraprofessionals and education support staff nationwide would receive materially higher, indexed pay (e.g., a $30/hr or $45,000 salary floor for FY2026–2030), improving household income and short‑term financial stability for these workers.
Local education agencies (LEAs) that serve high‑poverty students would receive priority subgrants so schools in low‑income communities can meet pay requirements within two years, directing more resources to disadvantaged students and schools.
Paraprofessionals, support staff, and schools would likely see improved recruitment and retention because of higher and more stable pay, which can strengthen school operations and student supports.
State and local governments (LEAs) could be forced to reallocate or cut other local programs to meet strict timelines and maintenance requirements if federal funds are insufficient, potentially reducing services for residents.
All taxpayers could face larger long‑term federal costs because funding is CPI‑indexed and grows over time, increasing pressure on the federal budget and future appropriations.
LEAs that rely on contracted staff could face added administrative burdens and higher costs to ensure contract workers meet the new pay floors, complicating vendor relationships and procurement.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Requires States to set minimum salaries and wages for paraprofessionals and education support staff, sets federal floors and CPI‑indexed increases, and funds a federal pay‑increase program.
Introduced July 24, 2025 by Edward John Markey · Last progress July 24, 2025
Requires states to set statewide minimum annual salaries for full‑time paraprofessionals and minimum hourly wages for part‑time education support staff employed by local educational agencies, establishes federal statutory floors and multi‑year indexing tied to inflation, and creates a federal program with annual appropriations to support raising and indexing those wages. Appropriates $25 billion for fiscal year 2026 and mandates annual increases to the appropriation tied to an inflation measure, with a small reserve for research, evaluation, and workforce development supports.