American Teacher Act

Bill Number

H.R. 2021

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Education

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-03-10: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Last Updated

2026-06-04T08:08:33Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The American Teacher Act (H.R. 2021) aims to address teacher shortages and low pay by providing federal grants to state educational agencies (SEAs). These grants support efforts to raise teacher salaries to a minimum threshold, promote the teaching profession, and ensure equitable access to quality education, particularly in under-resourced areas.

Key Provisions

• Teacher Salary Incentive Grants (Section 3):
• Awards 4-year grants to SEAs to help full-time teachers in public elementary or secondary schools earn at least $60,000 annually starting in the 2026-2027 school year, adjusted annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers.
• SEAs must submit applications including a sustainability plan to maintain the minimum salary after the grant ends and assurances to enact state laws if needed to set minimum salary requirements.
• Part-time teachers receive proportional pay based on hours worked.
• At least 85% of grant funds must be subgranted to local educational agencies (LEAs), with priority to those serving high-poverty schools (eligible for Title I funds under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act) or rural areas (locale codes 41-43).
• Funds must supplement, not replace, existing state and local salary funding; states/LEAs must demonstrate compliance if requested by the Secretary of Education.

• Grants for Cost-of-Living Adjustments (Section 4):
• Provides additional grants to "eligible states" (those already meeting the $60,000 minimum but unable to adjust for inflation) to increase teacher salaries by the annual CPI increase.
• SEAs apply and demonstrate the need due to inflation impacts.

• National Awareness Campaign (Section 5):
• The Secretary of Education may reserve up to 4% of appropriated funds for a campaign to highlight the value of teaching, encourage students to pursue teaching careers, and diversify the teaching workforce.

• Rule of Construction (Section 6):
• The Act does not change existing employee rights, collective bargaining agreements, or negotiation requirements under federal, state, or local laws.

• Definitions (Section 7):
• Key terms include "teacher" (certified individuals providing direct classroom instruction with skills to improve student learning), "qualifying school" (public elementary or secondary schools), and standard terms from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (e.g., SEA, LEA).

• Funding (Section 8):
• Authorizes "such sums as necessary" for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This bill introduces new federal grant programs under the Department of Education, which did not previously exist specifically for mandating and funding a nationwide minimum teacher salary threshold. It builds on existing laws like the Elementary and Secondary Education Act by tying grants to Title I-eligible schools but adds requirements for states to potentially enact new salary legislation and provide sustainability plans. It also mandates supplement-not-supplant rules and maintenance of effort to prevent reductions in other teacher pay or loan forgiveness programs.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The Department of Education will administer grants, review applications, and monitor compliance, increasing administrative workload. SEAs and LEAs gain funding but face new reporting and planning obligations.
• Citizens: Teachers, especially in high-poverty or rural areas, could see higher, more stable salaries, improving recruitment and retention and reducing shortages. Students may benefit from more experienced educators, lower class sizes, and consistent school offerings. Teachers of color and those in under-resourced schools could experience reduced financial instability.
• International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic education policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Teachers: Primary beneficiaries through higher minimum salaries and inflation adjustments, particularly full-time and part-time certified educators in public schools.
• State and Local Educational Agencies: Responsible for applying for grants, distributing subgrants, and ensuring compliance; high-need LEAs (e.g., Title I or rural) receive funding priority.
• Students and Schools: Especially in low-income or rural areas, where shortages currently lead to disrupted learning; the bill aims to stabilize staffing.
• Taxpayers and State Governments: Potential increased state spending to sustain salaries post-grant, offset by federal funds during the 4-year period.
• Broader Public: Through the awareness campaign, which targets students and aims to diversify the teaching profession.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Reinforces federalism by providing incentives rather than mandates, requiring states to enact their own laws if needed while preserving collective bargaining rights (Section 6). The supplement-not-supplant clause prevents federal funds from displacing state/local budgets, aligning with precedents in education funding laws.
• Constitutional: No apparent challenges; it involves spending power for education, a traditional state function, without compelling state action beyond grant participation.
• Political: Highlights bipartisan concerns over teacher shortages (introduced with cosponsors from both parties), potentially pressuring states to address wage penalties. It could spark debates on federal involvement in state salary setting and long-term fiscal sustainability, especially with open-ended appropriations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

Cosponsors (100)

Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2], Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1], Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15], Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] and 50 more

Recent Actions

• 2025-03-10: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
• 2025-03-10: Introduced in House
• 2025-03-10: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• American Teacher Act — issued 2025-03-10 — PDF (13 pages)