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American Teacher Act
3/26/2025, 2:47 PM
Summary of Bill HR 2021
The grants provided by this bill will assist State educational agencies in implementing strategies to raise teacher salaries, ultimately improving the overall quality of education in the United States. In addition to increasing teacher salaries, the bill also aims to support other purposes related to enhancing the education system.
Overall, Bill 119 HR 2021 seeks to address the issue of low teacher salaries by providing financial support to State educational agencies. By increasing teacher salaries, the bill aims to attract and retain talented educators, ultimately benefiting students and improving the quality of education in the United States.
Congressional Summary of HR 2021
American Teacher Act
This bill establishes grants to increase the minimum salary of public elementary and secondary school teachers. It also authorizes a national campaign regarding the value of the teaching profession.
First, the bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award four-year grants to state educational agencies (SEAs) and, through them, subgrants to local educational agencies to establish a minimum annual salary of $60,000 (to be adjusted annually for inflation) for these teachers.
Second, the bill directs ED to award grants to eligible SEAs to provide cost-of-living adjustments to the annual base salary of teachers.
Finally, the bill authorizes ED to carry out a national campaign to (1) increase awareness about the importance of teachers and the value of the teaching profession, (2) encourage secondary school and college students to consider teaching as a professional career, and (3) diversify the pool of individuals who enter the teaching profession.
