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H.R. 5476: Preparing And Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act

The proposed bill, known as the Preparing And Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act, aims to establish a grant program managed by the Secretary of Education to enhance the recruitment and retention of paraprofessionals in public schools and preschool programs across the United States. Here’s a breakdown of the main components of the bill:

1. Purpose of the Bill

The bill is designed to support state and local educational agencies in their efforts to hire and keep paraprofessionals who assist in elementary, secondary, and preschool education. The ultimate goal is to improve the educational experience for students through better staffing.

2. Grant Program

The Secretary of Education will distribute funds to state educational agencies. These agencies can use the funds in several ways:

To cover administrative costs related to the grant program.
To provide subgrants to local entities to encourage and support their efforts in recruiting and retaining paraprofessionals.

3. Allocation of Funds

States will receive funding based on their prior year's allocations from a specific federal education program. This ensures that allocation reflects the previous fiscal year’s distribution of funds among local educational agencies within each state.

4. Use of Funds

Funds can be used for several specific initiatives, including:

Establishing evidence-based induction and mentoring programs to help paraprofessionals improve their skills and retention.
Creating professional development programs to train paraprofessionals effectively.
Providing necessary credentials and certifications to paraprofessionals for delivering adequate education.
Increasing wages and offering bonuses to attract and keep qualified paraprofessionals.

5. Priority for Funding

When granting subgrants, state agencies are instructed to prioritize entities that:

Serve a significant number or percentage of low-income families.
Have schools designated as needing additional support, as defined by federal guidelines.
Are participating in programs that support schools with higher populations of disadvantaged students.

6. Application Process

States and eligible entities must submit applications to access funds, which must include plans for supporting priority populations and compliance with reporting requirements to ensure accountability.

7. Reporting and Evaluation

State educational agencies are required to submit annual reports detailing:

The average salaries of paraprofessionals and how they align with statewide goals.
Progress in increasing salaries for paraprofessionals.
The number of paraprofessionals employed and efforts made to enhance their employment conditions.
Actions planned for the following year to address any shortage of paraprofessionals.
Professional development initiatives designed to support paraprofessional retention and recruitment.

8. Labor Relations

The bill clarifies that it does not alter existing rights and procedures related to collective bargaining for school employees. Compliance with local, state, and federal labor laws is mandatory, ensuring existing agreements remain intact.

9. Funding Authorization

The bill authorizes appropriations necessary to support the implementation of this program for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

10. Definitions

To clarify its provisions, the bill includes definitions for key terms such as “paraprofessional,” “eligible entity,” and various levels of schooling, ensuring a consistent understanding of roles and responsibilities under the grant program.