# Plain Language Summary: The PARA Educators Act

This bill creates a federal grant program to help schools hire and keep paraprofessionals—the classroom assistants, teacher's aides, and support staff who work alongside teachers in elementary schools, middle and high schools, and preschool programs. The federal government would give money to states, which would then distribute it to local school districts and educational service agencies to use for recruiting and retaining these workers.

The money can be used in several practical ways. Schools can use it to increase paraprofessional wages or offer bonus pay to attract and keep workers in these jobs. They can also use funds for training programs that help paraprofessionals earn certifications in specialized areas like special education, English language learning, or advanced paraeducator skills. The bill also supports mentoring and professional development programs designed to help new paraprofessionals succeed and stay in their positions. The federal government would fund this program for five years, from 2026 through 2030, though the exact amount hasn't been set yet.

The bill prioritizes funding for schools serving the most disadvantaged students—those in low-income areas, rural communities, and schools with high percentages of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch. This means schools struggling most with paraprofessional shortages would get priority access to the grants. States receiving funding must track and report back on whether paraprofessional wages are actually increasing and whether schools are successfully hiring more staff. The bill also protects existing labor agreements and union contracts, ensuring that nothing in the program changes workers' current rights or benefits.