Preparing And Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2330
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-19T12:03:16Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose The legislation establishes a federal grant program to help states, local educational agencies, and educational service agencies recruit and retain paraprofessionals in public elementary schools, secondary schools, and preschool programs.
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of Education allocates funds to state educational agencies based on each state’s share of Title I, Part A funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
- States may reserve up to 5 percent of their allotment for administration and statewide support activities.
- Remaining funds are awarded competitively as subgrants to eligible entities for activities including:
- Evidence-based induction and mentoring programs for paraprofessionals.
- Professional development to improve skills and credentials (such as special education or English learner certificates).
- Wage increases or bonus incentives for paraprofessionals.
- Subgrants must prioritize entities serving high numbers of low-income students, rural schools (locale codes 41, 42, or 43), or schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision with high identified student percentages.
- States must submit annual reports on paraprofessional wages, employment numbers, and professional development activities.
- The bill authorizes appropriations as needed for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Significant Changes to Existing Law This Act creates a new, standalone grant program rather than amending the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. It introduces specific federal funding and reporting requirements focused on paraprofessional support while referencing existing ESEA definitions for terms such as “paraprofessional,” “high-need school,” and “evidence-based.”
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Department of Education and state educational agencies gain new administrative and oversight responsibilities for grant distribution and reporting.
- Citizens and schools: Paraprofessionals may see increased wages, training opportunities, and retention support; schools in low-income or rural areas receive priority access to resources.
- International relations: None identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Paraprofessionals employed in public schools and preschool programs.
- Local educational agencies and educational service agencies.
- State educational agencies.
- Students and families in high-need or low-income schools.
- The Secretary of Education.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill includes a rule of construction preserving existing collective bargaining rights and labor agreements. It does not alter federal labor laws but requires compliance with those laws when implementing grant activities. No other constitutional or major legal changes are introduced.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (11)
Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-17: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-07-17: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Preparing And Retaining All (PARA) Educators Act — issued 2025-07-17 — PDF (10 pages)