Lucy McBath (D-GA)
Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The ``Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act of 2026'' sets up a competitive grant program run by the Secretary of Education. This program provides money to local educational agencies to help public schools reduce class sizes down to no more than 18 students per class in kindergarten through grade 3. Schools must focus these efforts on targeted schools, which are public elementary schools with high numbers of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Grant recipients must use at least 97 percent of their funds to reduce class sizes through activities like hiring qualified teachers, obtaining space, and providing professional development. The bill authorizes an appropriation of $2,000,000,000 for the first fiscal year to carry out this section. Local educational agencies receiving these funds must submit annual reports to their State, which are then submitted to the Secretary.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +7
Does this put more money into public schools?
The bill authorizes $2,000,000,000 in competitive grants for local educational agencies to reduce public school class sizes in early elementary grades.
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
The bill provides grants to lower early elementary class sizes to no more than 18 students, leading to more individualized attention for young students.
- Scored +6
Would students be better off under this?
The bill directly benefits public school students in kindergarten through grade 3 by reducing class sizes and enhancing teacher support.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes an appropriation of $2,000,000,000 for the first fiscal year to fund the competitive grant program.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Reduced Class Sizes for Young Students: Section 3(a)(1) and Section 3(d)(2)(A) provide grants to local educational agencies to lower class sizes to not more than 18 students per class in early elementary grades (kindergarten through grade 3) at targeted schools, which can lead to more individualized attention for students.
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Teacher Recruitment and Training: Section 3(d)(2)(A)(i) and Section 3(d)(2)(A)(iii) allow funds to be used for recruiting, hiring, and supporting fully certified and qualified teachers, including special education teachers, and providing professional development for early elementary teachers, which benefits both educators and students.
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Priority for High-Poverty Areas: Section 3(c) and Section 3(d)(2)(B) require the Secretary to give priority to local educational agencies serving the greatest number or percentage of students from families with incomes at or below the poverty line, directing resources where they may be needed most.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Caps on Facility Renovations and Professional Development: Section 3(d)(2)(A)(ii) and Section 3(d)(2)(A)(iii) restrict the use of grant funds so that not more than 15 percent may be used for obtaining additional space or renovating school buildings, and not more than 15 percent may be used for professional development, which could limit a school's flexibility if they have greater needs in these specific areas.
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Administrative Burdens and Reporting Requirements: Section 3(e)(1) requires local educational agencies to prepare and submit annual reports on their activities and progress, which creates additional administrative work for school personnel who are already busy managing classrooms.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill provides grants to lower early elementary class sizes to no more than 18 students, leading to more individualized attention for young students. Would students be better off under this? — The bill directly benefits public school students in kindergarten through grade 3 by reducing class sizes and enhancing teacher support. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes grant funding for schools serving high percentages of students from families at or below the poverty line. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill creates opportunities for recruiting and hiring new educators and provides professional development. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Families with children in public elementary schools benefit from reduced class sizes and improved educational resources.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill authorizes $2,000,000,000 in competitive grants for local educational agencies to reduce public school class sizes in early elementary grades.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires annual reporting by local educational agencies, states, and the Secretary regarding grant activities and progress. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill establishes a new federal competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Education with specific reporting requirements.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill prioritizes funding for targeted schools serving high percentages of students from low-income families, aiming to improve educational outcomes.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill provides grant funding to local educational agencies to recruit and hire new teachers to reduce early elementary class sizes. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes an appropriation of $2,000,000,000 for the first fiscal year to fund the competitive grant program.
- 11/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/28/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
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.
Shontel BrownDemocrat · Ohio
Jim CostaDemocrat · California
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia