S. 5540: Preparing and Retaining Education Professionals Act of 2026

This bill would create and fund competitive grant programs to improve how teachers and school leaders are trained and supported, with a focus on programs that use evidence-based methods and help schools that face staffing shortages or have high student needs.

What the grants would support

The bill would allow grants to partnerships that prepare teachers and school leaders through:

• Residency programs, where future teachers train in real classrooms with experienced mentors
• Mentoring and induction programs for new educators
• “Grow Your Own” programs that help local students, paraprofessionals, or community members become teachers or leaders
• Professional development, including literacy training and leadership training
• Programs aimed at filling shortages in hard-to-staff schools or subject areas
• Efforts to recruit and prepare a more diverse educator workforce

Requirements for grant recipients

Organizations receiving grants would generally have to work with partners, use evidence-based approaches, and show that the programs are designed to improve student learning and educator effectiveness. The bill also requires:

• Consultation with relevant education partners
• Evaluation of program results
• Matching funds in some cases
• Reporting on how the money is used and what outcomes are achieved
• Repayment of funds if a service commitment is not completed, where applicable

Data, transparency, and program improvement

The bill would require States and teacher-preparation institutions to report detailed data about their teacher and school leader preparation programs. This includes information used to identify how well programs are working and whether graduates are entering and staying in the profession.

States would also have to publicly identify low-performing preparation programs and support efforts to improve them. However, the bill specifically says there would be no national ranking system for these programs.

Support for minority-serving institutions

The bill would authorize grants to create or support training centers at minority-serving institutions. These centers would focus on helping prepare teachers and school leaders, especially in areas with shortages. The bill emphasizes clinical experience, retention, and preparation for certification.

Overall effect

In practical terms, the bill would direct federal support toward teacher and school leader preparation programs that provide hands-on training, mentoring, and structured support, especially in schools and communities that have difficulty recruiting and keeping educators. It would also increase reporting and oversight so the public can better see how these programs perform.

Relevant Companies

None found