Pay Paraprofessionals and Support Staff Act

Increased pay for full-time staff: The bill establishes a minimum annual base salary for full-time equivalent employees, set at $45,000 for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 (Section 2(a)(3)(B)(i)).

Increased pay for part-time staff: The bill establishes a minimum hourly wage for part-time equivalent staff, set at $30.00 an hour for fiscal years 2026 through 2030 (Section 2(a)(4)(B)(i)).

Pay growth based on experience: The required minimum salary and wage are designed to increase as the experience of the school staff increases (Section 2(a)(3)(A)(ii) and Section 2(a)(4)(A)(ii)).

Protection against inflation: Salary and wage growth is indexed to inflation, using the Consumer Price Index or a 2 percent increase to adjust rates for future years (Section 2(a)(3)(B)(ii) and Section 2(a)(4)(B)(ii)).

Professional development opportunities: Subgrant funds may be used to provide staff with opportunities for personnel preparation, professional development, credentials, or certifications (Section 2(g)(2)(B)(ii)).

Support for high-need areas: The bill requires a formula that ensures local educational agencies serving a high number of students from low-income backgrounds receive substantial subgrant allocations (Section 2(e)(3)(A)).