Bill · S. 5568· Senate(119-S-5568)
Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act of 2026
- Introduced
- 9/28/2026
- Last activity
- 9/28/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Jeff Merkley
- Cosponsors
- - 4 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This legislation creates a competitive grant program run by the Secretary of Education to help local educational agencies reduce class sizes in early elementary grades. Under Section 3, schools can use these grants for five-year periods to lower class sizes to no more than 18 students per class in targeted schools. The bill prioritizes local educational agencies that serve the greatest number or percentage of students from families living at or below the poverty line. Grant funds can be used to recruit and hire fully certified teachers, obtain additional classroom space or renovate buildings, and provide professional development. Participating educational agencies are also required to submit annual reports detailing their progress in meeting class size reduction goals.
Yes· 3 of 9
Does this put more money into public schools?+8
The bill authorizes $2,000,000,000 for competitive grants to local educational agencies to reduce class sizes and hire teachers in public schools.
Would children be better off under this?+7
Reducing early elementary class sizes to no more than 18 students provides children with more individualized attention and support.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+7
Grant awards prioritize local educational agencies serving the greatest percentage of students from families living at or below the poverty line.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Smaller Class Sizes: Section 3(d)(2)(A) requires local educational agencies to use at least 97 percent of grant funds to reduce class sizes in early elementary grades down to not more than 18 students per class, which can lead to more individualized attention for students.
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Teacher Hiring and Support: Section 3(d)(2)(A)(i) allows schools to recruit, hire, and support fully certified and qualified general education teachers and teachers for children with disabilities, helping schools bring in needed educational staff.
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Professional Development: Section 3(d)(2)(A)(iii) provides funding for professional development for early elementary teachers, which can help educators improve academic, social, emotional, and mental health outcomes for students.
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Poverty Priority: Section 3(c) gives priority in awarding grants to local educational agencies that serve the greatest number or percentage of students from families with incomes at or below the poverty line, directing resources to communities with the highest need.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Spending Caps on Facilities and Training: Section 3(d)(2)(A)(ii) and Section 3(d)(2)(A)(iii) cap the use of funds for obtaining additional space, renovating buildings, and providing professional development at not more than 15 percent for each category, which may limit a school's ability to address severe facility shortages or training needs if those costs exceed the cap.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+7Good For Low Income Households+7Good For Students+7Good For Middle Class Households+4Good For Young Adults+4
- Education And Technology
- Increases Public School Funding+8
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+4Increases Federal Power+3
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+5
- 9/28/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 4 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
5 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts