The PARA Educators Act establishes a federal grant program to help schools recruit and retain paraprofessionals—classroom aides and support staff—in public elementary and secondary schools as well as preschool programs. Under the bill, the Department of Education would distribute funding to states based on their share of federal education aid, and states would then award competitive subgrants to local school districts and educational agencies to support paraprofessional recruitment and retention efforts. Eligible uses of grant funds include establishing mentoring programs, providing professional development, helping paraprofessionals earn specialized certifications in areas like special education or English language instruction, and increasing paraprofessional wages or offering bonuses. Priority for funding goes to schools serving low-income students and rural areas. The bill requires states to submit annual reports tracking paraprofessional wages and employment numbers. While specific funding amounts are not detailed in the legislation, it authorizes "such sums as may be necessary" for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.