“To ensure that paraprofessionals and education support staff are paid a living wage.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section establishes the Pay Paraprofessionals and Education Support Staff Act to provide grants to states enabling local educational agencies (LEAs) to pay paraprofessionals (i.e., instructional aides under teacher supervision, per ESEA) and education support staff a state-determined living wage—either a minimum annual salary of $45,000 for full-time equivalent employees (FY2026 through FY2030) or a minimum hourly wage of $30 for part-time equivalent staff (FY2026 through FY2030), both required to increase with experience and, after FY2030, indexed every five years by the greater of the aggregate annual adjustment percentage (i.e., CPI change) or 2% over the prior period. The section authorizes and appropriates $25 billion for FY2026 to the Department of Education, with each subsequent year's amount increased by the annual adjustment percentage. From annual appropriations, the Secretary reserves not more than 1% for grants or contracts to regional educational laboratories or nonprofits for research and evaluations on professional development and credentials for such staff (e.g., for special education or English learners) and 1% for technical assistance and administration; remaining funds are allotted to states with approved applications based on their share of prior-year funding under Title I-A of the ESEA (i.e., aid to high-poverty LEAs).