119th Congress (2025-2026)

HR 8676

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to State educational agencies to carry out wellness programs for school personnel, and for other purposes.

Introduced

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Official source

Chamber

House

Session

119th Congress (2025-2026)

Jurisdiction

US Congress

Bill overview

This bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Department of Education to provide grants to state educational agencies. These grants can then be used to fund wellness programs for school personnel, such as teachers and administrators, aimed at improving their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The bill also establishes requirements for reporting on the effectiveness of these programs and prioritizes funding for states with educator shortages.

Key provisions

Authorizes grants to state educational agencies for wellness programs for school personnel.
Establishes a competitive grant process for states to award subgrants to local educational agencies.
Requires states to consult with local educational agencies when applying for and awarding grants.
Directs local educational agencies to develop and implement wellness programs for school personnel.
Mandates that programs address factors impacting workforce sustainability and retention.
Requires states to report annually on the implementation and effectiveness of wellness programs.
Prioritizes funding to states experiencing educator shortages.
Redesignates Part C of the ESEA to Part D and adds a new Part C focusing on wellness programs.

Who is affected

State educational agencies
Local educational agencies
School personnel (teachers, principals, etc.)
Students
The Department of Education

Positions across the country

No public positions recorded for this legislation.

Arguments in favor

Reasons to support this legislation.

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Arguments opposed

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Legislative history

2026-05-07House

Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

2026-05-07

Introduced in House

2026-05-07

Introduced in House

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May 7, 2026XMLView source

119th CONGRESS — 2d Session

H. R. 8676

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

A BILL

1.Supporting effective instruction

(a)Authorization of appropriations

Section 2003 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6603) is amended—

(1)

in subsection (a), by striking each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020 and inserting each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030;

(2)

in subsection (b)—

(A)

in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking appropriated— and inserting appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.; and

(B)

by striking paragraphs (1) through (3); and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(c)Grants to States for wellness programs for school personnelFor the purpose of carrying out part C, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

(b)State allotmentsSection 2101(b)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6611(b)(1)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A)—

(A)

in the heading, by striking years 2017 through 2022 and inserting years 2026 through 2030; and

(B)

in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking each of fiscal years 2017 through 2022 and inserting fiscal years 2026 through 2030; and

(2)in subparagraph (C), by striking each of fiscal years 2017 through 2022 and inserting each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030.

(c)Local uses of fundsSection 2103(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6613(b)(3)) is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (O), by striking and at the end;

(2)

in subparagraph (P), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(Q)developing and implementing programs that create healthier and more sustainable working environments for all school personnel, including teachers, principals, other school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, and paraprofessionals, by measuring and helping to improve the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of such personnel, including with respect to—

(i)

stress management;

(ii)

workplace conditions;

(iii)

access to support; and

(iv)

job satisfaction.

(d)ReportingSection 2104(a) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6614(a)) is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (3), by striking and at the end;

(2)

in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(5)a summary of the programs developed and implemented by local educational agencies pursuant to section 2103(b)(3)(Q).

(e)Grants to States for wellness programs

(1)In general

Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) is amended—

(A)

by redesignating part C as part D; and

(B)

by inserting after part B the following:

CWellness programs for school personnel

2250.Grants to States

(a)Grants authorized

(1)In general

From the amounts appropriated under section 2003(c), the Secretary shall award, on a competitive basis, grants to State educational agencies to award subgrants to local educational agencies in accordance with section 2251.

(2)Technical assistance

The Secretary may provide technical assistance to State educational agencies receiving a grant under this part.

(3)Grant period

A grant awarded under this part shall be for a period of 5 years.

(b)Application

A State educational agency seeking a grant under this part shall submit to the Secretary an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—

(1)

a description of the challenges faced by the State educational agency with respect to—

(A)workforce sustainability, including with respect to—

(i)

workload manageability;

(ii)

support structures;

(iii)

morale and workplace climate; and

(iv)

access to wellness resources; and

(B)

workforce retention;

(2)

a description of how the State educational agency will consult with superintendents or heads of local educational agencies in accordance with section 2251(a)(2); and

(3)

a description of how the State educational agency will evaluate the effectiveness of programs carried out pursuant to a subgrant awarded under section 2251.

(c)PriorityIn awarding grants under this part, if the number of satisfactory applications exceeds the number of grants that can be awarded from the amounts appropriated under section 2003(c) based on grant amounts determined by the Secretary, the Secretary shall give priority to State educational agencies experiencing administrator or educator shortages as determined by the Secretary using the most recent publicly available State-level data.

2251.Subgrants to local educational agencies

(a)Subgrants authorized

(1)In general

A State educational agency receiving a grant under this part shall use such grant funds to award subgrants to local educational agencies served by such State educational agency.

(2)ConsultationPrior to awarding a subgrant under this section, a State educational agency shall consult with the superintendents or heads of local educational agencies served by the State educational agency to—

(A)

understand the factors that impact workplace sustainability (as described in section 2250(b)(1)(A)) and workplace retention in the State; and

(B)

for purposes of subsection (c), identify local educational agencies serving high-need student populations.

(b)Application

A local educational agency seeking a subgrant under this section shall submit to the State educational agency an application in such form, at such time, and containing such information as the State educational agency may require, including—

(1)

a description of the challenges faced by the local educational agency with respect to workforce sustainability (as described in section 2250(b)(1)(A)) and workforce retention;

(2)

a description of how the local educational agency will—

(A)

implement a program described in subsection (d); and

(B)

consult with the State educational agency to develop such program; and

(3)

a description of how the local educational agency will evaluate the effectiveness of such program.

(c)PriorityIn awarding subgrants under this section, a State educational agency shall give priority to local educational agencies serving high-need student populations (as determined in accordance with subsection (a)(2)).

(d)Uses of fundsA local educational agency receiving a subgrant under this section shall use such subgrant funds to, in each elementary school and secondary school served by the agency, develop and implement new, or enhance existing, wellness programs for all school personnel (including teachers, principals, other school leaders, specialized instructional support personnel, and paraprofessionals) that—

(1)that create healthier and more sustainable working environments for such personnel;

(2)

increase rates of retention; and

(3)

measure and help to improve the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of such personnel, including with respect to—

(A)

stress management;

(B)

workplace conditions;

(C)

workload manageability;

(D)

access to support; and

(E)

job satisfaction.

2252.State report

(a)Annual reportFor each of the first 4 years of the grant period described in section 2250(a)(3), a State educational agency receiving a grant under this part shall, not later than 180 days after the conclusion of each such year, submit to Congress and the Secretary a report that includes, with respect to the year for which the report is submitted—

(1)a description of the wellness programs carried out by the local educational agencies receiving a subgrant under section 2251, including updates on the implementation of such program; and

(2)with respect to the school personnel described in section 2251(d), rates of retention and vacancy, including any change in such rates from the beginning of such year to the date of submission of the report.

(b)Final reportA State educational agency receiving a grant under this part shall, not later than 180 days after the conclusion of the grant period described in section 2250(a)(3), submit to Congress and the Secretary a report that—

(1)

describes the wellness programs carried out by local educational agencies receiving a subgrant under section 2251;

(2)

measures whether such wellness programs impacted, with respect to the school personnel described in section 2251(d)—

(A)

rates of retention and vacancy (including whether personnel intend to remain in their positions); and

(B)

school climate, including with respect to workload manageability, morale, and well-being, as determined by staff climate surveys; and

(3)

outlines best practices for developing and implementing such wellness programs.

(2)Table of contents

The table of contents of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) is amended—

(A)

by inserting after the item relating to section 2245 the following:

Part C—Wellness Programs for School Personnel

Sec. 2250. Grants to States.

Sec. 2251. Subgrants to local educational agencies.

Sec. 2252. State report.

;

and

(B)by striking Part C—General Provisions after the item relating to section 2245 and inserting the following:

Part D—General Provisions

HR 8676

Bill overview

Key provisions

Who is affected

Sponsors

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Cosponsor

Positions across the country

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Bill text

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