H.R. 5056

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5056 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

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''.
<all>