H.R. 2021: American Teacher Act

The American Teacher Act does not pay teachers directly. Instead, it routes federal money through the states with one condition attached: full-time teachers at public elementary and secondary schools have to earn at least $60,000 a year, starting in the 2026-2027 school year and rising with inflation after that.

To get the money, a state education agency applies to the Department of Education and has to show two things — a plan to keep the higher salaries going after the four-year grant runs out, and a promise to pass or enforce statewide salary rules if that is what it takes to hit the floor. At least 85% of each state's grant has to pass through to local school districts.

The money is aimed, not sprayed. States have to give priority to districts serving more high-poverty Title I schools and to entirely rural districts — the places the bill's findings say struggle most to keep teachers. A separate pot of money helps states that already pay $60,000 keep up with cost-of-living increases, and up to 4% of the funding can go to a national campaign to recruit and diversify new teachers.

Two guardrails keep states from gaming it. Federal dollars have to add to teacher pay, not replace state and local money already budgeted for salaries, and a state cannot cut existing teacher pay or its loan-forgiveness programs just because federal help arrived.

The open question is the price tag. The bill authorizes "such sums as may be necessary" for 2026 through 2030 rather than a fixed number, which leaves the real cost — closing salary gaps across dozens of states — for appropriators to fight over later.