S. 5540
PREP Act of 2026
Sponsor: Tim Kaine
1 cosponsor
Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
Preparing and Retaining Education Professionals Act of 2026 or the PREP Act of 2026
This bill reauthorizes and revises certain grant programs to address shortages of teachers and school leaders (e.g., principals) in elementary and secondary schools, including shortages in rural areas and related to specific positions (e.g., special education and English language instruction).
First, the bill makes permanent and otherwise revises the Teacher Quality Partnership program, which provides grants to improve the preparation of teachers and enhance professional development activities. In particular, the bill revises the program to (1) expand the purpose of grants to include the recruitment of well-prepared individuals, including individuals from underrepresented populations, into the teacher and school leadership force; (2) include training and professional development opportunities for school leaders; and (3) authorize a grant program to address workforce shortages or increase workforce diversity.
Next, the bill makes permanent and otherwise revises the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence program, which provides grants to establish teacher preparation programs at minority-serving institutions. Further, the bill allows grants to be used for school leader preparation programs.
Additionally, the bill aligns activities within teacher preparation programs at predominantly Black institutions, Native American-serving nontribal institutions, and other minority-serving institutions with certain changes made to the Teacher Quality Partnership program.
Finally, the bill permanently reauthorizes the Minority Science and Engineering Improvement program, which provides grants to support science and engineering education at predominantly minority institutions.
Text of the bill
(a) Strengthening institutions. Section 311(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1057(c)) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (14); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following:
(13) Establishing or enhancing a program of teacher or school leader education that—
(A) is aligned with the elements identified under clauses (i) through (vi) of section 202(b)(4)(C) and subparagraph (A)(i) and clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) of section 202(d)(1);
(B) is designed to develop teaching skills, as defined in section 200, to qualify students to teach or lead in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(C) shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher or school leader certification or licensure.
(b) American Indian Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities. Section 316(c)(2)(K) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(c)(2)(K)) is amended to read as follows:
(K) establishing or enhancing a program of teacher or school leader education, with a particular emphasis on teaching Indian and children and youth, that—
(i) is aligned with the elements identified under clauses (i) through (vi) of section 202(b)(4)(C) and subparagraph (A)(i) and clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) of section 202(d)(1);
(ii) is designed to develop teaching skills, as defined in section 200, to qualify students to teach or lead in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(iii) shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher or school leader certification or licensure.
(c) Alaska Native-Serving institutions and Native Hawaiian-Serving institutions. Section 317(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059d(c)(2)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (H), by striking and after the semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
(J) establishing or enhancing a program of teacher or school leader education that—
(i) is aligned with the elements identified under clauses (i) through (vi) of section 202(b)(4)(C) and subparagraph (A)(i) and clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) of section 202(d)(1);
(ii) is designed to develop teaching skills, as defined in section 200, to qualify students to teach or lead in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(iii) shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher or school leader certification or licensure.
(d) Predominantly Black Institutions. Section 318 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059e) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(1)(E), by striking training and inserting preparation; and
(2) in subsection (d)(2)—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking The activities described in paragraphs (1) through (12) of section 311(c). and inserting The activities described in paragraphs (1) through (13) of section 311(c).; and
(B) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
(C) Establishing or enhancing a program of teacher or school leader education that—
(i) is aligned with the elements identified under clauses (i) through (vi) of section 202(b)(4)(C) and subparagraph (A)(i) and clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) of section 202(d)(1);
(ii) is designed to develop teaching skills, as defined in section 200, to qualify students to teach or lead in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(iii) shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher or school leader certification or licensure.
(e) Native American-Serving, nontribal institutions. Section 319(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059f(c)(2)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (H), by striking and after the semicolon;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (I) as subparagraph (J); and
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the following:
(I) establishing or enhancing a program of teacher and school leader education that—
(i) is aligned with the elements identified under clauses (i) through (vi) of section 202(b)(4)(C) and subparagraph (A)(i) and clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) of section 202(d)(1);
(ii) is designed to develop teaching skills, as defined in section 200, to qualify students to teach or lead in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(iii) shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher or school leader certification or licensure; and
(f) Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving institutions. Section 320(c)(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059g(c)(2)) is amended—
(1) in subparagraph (M), by striking and after the semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (N), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
(O) establishing or enhancing a program of teacher and school leader education that—
(i) is aligned with the elements identified under clauses (i) through (vi) of section 202(b)(4)(C) and subparagraph (A)(i) and clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) of section 202(d)(1);
(ii) is designed to develop teaching skills, as defined in section 200, to qualify students to teach or lead in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(iii) shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher or school leader certification or licensure.
(g) Historically Black colleges and universities. Section 323(a)(10) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1062(a)(10)) is amended to read as follows:
(10) Establishing or enhancing a program of teacher and school leader education that—
(A) is aligned with the elements identified under clauses (i) through (vi) of section 202(b)(4)(C) and subparagraph (A)(i) and clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) of section 202(d)(1);
(B) is designed to develop teaching skills, as defined in section 200, to qualify students to teach or lead in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(C) shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher or school leader certification or licensure.
(h) Strengthening historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-Serving institutions. Section 371(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(b)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking $255,000,000 for fiscal year 2020 and each fiscal year thereafter. and inserting $265,000,000 for fiscal year 2027 and each fiscal year thereafter.; and
(2) in paragraph (2)—
(A) in subparagraph (A)—
(i) in clause (i), by striking $100,000,000 and inserting $103,921,569;
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking $100,000,000 and inserting $103,921,569; and
(iii) in clause (iii), by striking $55,000,000 and inserting $57,156,863;
(B) in subparagraph (C)(ii), by striking $600,000 and inserting $623,529; and
(C) in subparagraph (D)—
(i) in clause (i), by striking $30,000,000 each place it appears and inserting $31,176,471;
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking $15,000,000 each place it appears and inserting $15,588,235;
(iii) in clause (iii), by striking $5,000,000 and inserting $5,196,078; and
(iv) in clause (iv), by striking $5,000,000 and inserting $5,196,078.
(i) Minority Science and Engineering Improvement programs. Section 399(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1068h(a)(5)) is amended to read as follows:
(5) Part E. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out part E, such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year.
(j) Hispanic-Serving institutions. Section 503(b)(12) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101b(b)(12)) is amended to read as follows:
(12) Establishing or enhancing a program of teacher and school leader education that—
(A) is aligned with the elements identified under clauses (i) through (vi) of section 202(b)(4)(C) and subparagraph (A)(i) and clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (B) of section 202(d)(1);
(B) is designed to develop teaching skills, as defined in section 200, to qualify students to teach or lead in elementary schools and secondary schools; and
(C) shall include, as part of such program, preparation for teacher or school leader certification or licensure.