H.R. 6532: Partnering Aspiring Teachers with High-need Schools to Tutor Act of 2025

The proposed bill, known as the Partnering Aspiring Teachers with High-need Schools to Tutor Act of 2025, aims to enhance educational support in high-need and hard-to-staff schools through a grant program that fosters partnerships among teacher preparation programs, local educational agencies (LEAs), and community organizations. The main components of the bill are outlined below:

Grant Program for High-Quality Tutoring

The bill establishes a grant program administered by the Secretary of Education. This program is designed to support local consortia in providing high-quality tutoring services specifically targeted at schools with high needs, defined as schools with high turnover rates of teachers or those facing challenges in staffing qualified educators.

Definitions

Key terminology is defined within the bill, including:

• High-need school: A school that requires additional support based on student needs and teacher support challenges.
• Hard-to-staff school: A high-need school experiencing high teacher turnover or employing many novice teachers.
• High-quality tutoring: Tutoring that adheres to specific standards, including small group sizes and alignment with local standards.

Local Consortium Definition

A local consortium refers to the partnership of various entities, which must include:

• A LEA or school
• An educator preparation program
• Community partners such as organizations serving youth, educational institutions, or local government entities

Application Process

To obtain funding, local consortia must submit a comprehensive application detailing various elements, including:

• A description of the local consortium and the fiscal agent handling the funds
• Strategies for recruiting and matching tutors to schools
• Training and support for tutors
• A plan for how tutoring will be implemented in selected schools
• Commitments to align tutoring with local curricula and standards

Use of Funds

Funds from the grants can be used for several purposes, such as:

• Training and placement of tutors
• Support for tutors working in small groups
• Providing stipends, materials, and other resources necessary for effective tutoring

Funding Authorization

The bill proposes an authorization of $500 million to be appropriated to support the grant program. Of this amount:

• At least 85% must be directly allocated to support students and tutors.
• No more than 15% can be used for administrative or supporting activities.

Coordination with Other Agencies

The Secretary of Education is tasked with negotiating an agreement with the Corporation for National and Community Service to recognize tutor positions as approved national service roles, allowing for educational awards to be granted upon the completion of service.

Priority for Funding

Preference for receiving grants will be given to projects that support high-need schools by utilizing tutors who are:

• Postsecondary students in educator preparation programs
• Students from historically Black colleges or other minority-serving institutions

Expected Outcomes

The bill is designed to improve educational outcomes in underserved schools by matching qualified tutors with students needing assistance. The aim is to facilitate not only academic support but also the professional development of aspirant educators through hands-on experience.

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