Sponsors (2)
The bill expands and scales federal support for educator wellness and workplace improvements through FY2026–2030, improving teacher wellbeing and retention but raising federal spending and imposing additional administrative burdens on state and local education agencies.
Teachers and other school personnel gain access to federally funded mental, emotional, and physical wellness programs for FY2026–FY2030, supporting stress management and job satisfaction.
States and school districts can use Title II funds to improve workplace conditions and supports (e.g., wellness services), which can reduce educator burnout and improve staff retention.
The bill removes fixed-dollar caps by authorizing 'such sums as may be necessary' for national activities and wellness grants, allowing federal funding to scale with demonstrated need through 2026–2030.
Authorizing open-ended 'such sums as may be necessary' could increase federal spending and contribute to budgetary pressure or trade-offs with other programs, affecting taxpayers and federal budgeting priorities.
Expanding allowable uses and creating a new grant program increases reporting and administrative requirements for State and local education agencies, adding staff time and compliance costs.
Based on analysis of 1 section of legislative text.
Adds a new Part C to Title II authorizing State grants for school personnel wellness and expands local allowable uses for staff mental, emotional, and physical well‑being for FY2026–FY2030.
Authorizes ongoing federal funding and creates a new Part C grant program letting States fund wellness programs for school personnel for fiscal years 2026–2030. It updates multiple ESEA Title II authorization and allotment dates, allows ‘‘such sums as may be necessary’’ for national activities and the new grants, adds a local allowable use to support mental, emotional, and physical well‑being of school staff, and requires States to include local program summaries in their annual reports to the Secretary of Education.
Official title: To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to State educational agencies to carry out wellness programs for school personnel, and for other purposes.
Introduced May 7, 2026 by Shontel M. Brown · Last progress May 7, 2026