[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5056 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5056
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for a teacher
leader development program, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 26, 2025
Mr. Schneider (for himself, Ms. Underwood, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Mr.
Mannion, and Mr. Fleischmann) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for a teacher
leader development program, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Teachers Are Leaders Act of 2025''.
SEC. 2. TEACHER LEADER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Subsection (f) of section 202 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022a) is amended to read as follows:
``(f) Teacher Leader Development Program.--
``(1) In general.--A teacher leader development program
carried out with a grant awarded under this section shall
provide for the professional development of teachers, as
described in paragraph (2), who maintain their roles as
classroom teachers and who also carry out formalized leadership
responsibilities to increase the academic achievement of
students and promote data-driven instructional practices that
address the demonstrated needs at the elementary schools and
secondary schools in which the teachers are employed, such as--
``(A) development of curriculum and curricular
resources;
``(B) facilitating the work of committees and
teams;
``(C) family and community engagement;
``(D) school discipline and culture;
``(E) peer observations and coaching;
``(F) dual enrollment instruction; or
``(G) cultural competencies.
``(2) Professional development.--The professional
development of teachers in a teacher leader development program
carried out with a grant awarded under this section shall
include--
``(A) one year of professional development,
training, and support that may--
``(i) include--
``(I) the engagement of teachers in
rigorous coursework and fieldwork
relevant to their role as a teacher
leader, including available teacher
leader standards; and
``(II) regular observations and
professional support from--
``(aa) a principal, vice
principal, or a designated
instructional leader of the
school;
``(bb) a representative
from the institution of higher
education that is a partner in
the eligible partnership;
``(cc) a representative
from another entity that is a
partner in the eligible
partnership; and
``(dd) another member of
the teacher leader cohort, if
applicable, or a peer teacher;
and
``(ii) result in the awarding of a
credential in teacher leadership; and
``(B) one or 2 additional years of support from a
principal, vice principal, or a designated
instructional leader of the school, a representative
from the institution of higher education that is a
partner in the eligible partnership, and a
representative from another entity that is a partner in
the eligible partnership.
``(3) Teacher leader development program plan.--In carrying
out a teacher leader development program under this section, an
eligible partnership shall develop a plan that shall describe--
``(A) how the work hours of teacher leaders will be
allocated between their classroom responsibilities and
responsibilities as a teacher leader, which shall
include a description of whether the teacher leader
will be relieved from teaching duties during their
participation in the teacher leader development
program;
``(B) how the partnership will support teacher
leaders after the first year of professional
development in the program; and
``(C) how teacher leader activities could be
sustained by the eligible partnership after the program
concludes, which may include a description of
opportunities for the teacher leaders to assist in the
educator preparation program at the institution of
higher education in the partnership.
``(4) Selection of teacher leaders; use of funds.--In
carrying out a teacher leader development program under this
section, an eligible partnership--
``(A) shall select a teacher for participation in
the program--
``(i) who--
``(I) is fully certified to teach
in the State of the high-need local
educational agency that is a partner in
the eligible partnership;
``(II) is employed by such high-
need local educational agency;
``(III) has not less than 3 years
of teaching experience; and
``(IV) submits an application for
participation to the eligible
partnership; and
``(ii) based on selection criteria that
includes--
``(I) demonstration of strong
content knowledge or a record of
accomplishment in the field or subject
area the teacher will support as a
teacher leader; and
``(II) demonstration of attributes
linked to effective teaching that is
determined through interviews,
observations, artifacts, student
achievement, or performance
assessments, such as those leading to
an advanced credential;
``(B) may develop admissions goals and priorities
for the teacher leader development program that--
``(i) are aligned with the demonstrated
needs of the school or high-need local
educational agency in which the teacher is
employed;
``(ii) considers cultural competencies that
would make the applicant effective in the
applicant's teacher leader role; and
``(iii) considers whether the teacher has
substantial teaching experience in the school
in which the teacher is employed or in a school
that is similar to the school in which the
teacher is employed;
``(C) shall use the grant funds to pay for costs of
training and supporting teacher leaders for not less
than 2 years and not more than 3 years;
``(D) may use the grant funds to pay for a portion
of a stipend for teacher leaders if such grant funds
are matched by additional non-Federal public or private
funds as follows:
``(i) during each of the first and second
years of the grant period, grant funds may pay
not more than 50 percent of such stipend; and
``(ii) during the third year of the grant
period, grant funds may pay not more than 33
percent of such stipend; and
``(E) may require teacher leaders to pay back the
cost of attaining the credential described in paragraph
(2)(A)(ii) if they do not complete their term of
service in the teacher leader development program.
``(5) Teacher leader defined.--In this subsection, the term
`teacher leader' means a highly effective educator who carries
out formalized leadership responsibilities based on the
demonstrated needs of the elementary school or secondary school
in which the teacher is employed, while maintaining a role as a
classroom instructor who--
``(A) is trained in and practices teacher
leadership; and
``(B) fosters a collaborative culture to--
``(i) support educator development,
effectiveness, and student learning;
``(ii) support access and use research to
improve practice and student learning;
``(iii) promote professional learning for
continuous improvement;
``(iv) facilitate improvements in
instruction and student learning; promote the
appropriate use of assessments and data for
school and district improvement;
``(v) improve outreach and collaboration
with families and community;
``(vi) advance the profession by shaping
and implementing policy;
``(vii) advocate for increased access to
great teaching and learning for all students;
and
``(viii) demonstrate cultural competencies
and provide instruction and support as such.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 202(c)(2) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022a) is amended by striking
``leadership development program'' and inserting ``teacher leader
development program''.
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 209 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1022h) is amended by striking ``for
fiscal year 2009 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the two
succeeding fiscal years'' and inserting ``for fiscal year 2025 and such
sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years''.
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