H.R. 8676

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8676 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 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.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 7, 2026

Ms. Brown (for herself and Mr. Olszewski) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

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.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 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 
Personnel.--For 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 Allotments.--Section 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 Funds.--Section 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) Reporting.--Section 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:

``PART C--WELLNESS PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL PERSONNEL

``SEC. 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) Priority.--In 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.

``SEC. 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) Consultation.--Prior 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) Priority.--In 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 Funds.--A 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.

``SEC. 2252. STATE REPORT.

``(a) Annual Report.--For 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 Report.--A 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''.

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