Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
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
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
- Scored +8
Does this put more money into public schools?
The bill authorizes $2,000,000,000 for competitive grants to local educational agencies to reduce class sizes and hire teachers in public schools.
- Scored +7
Would children be better off under this?
Reducing early elementary class sizes to no more than 18 students provides children with more individualized attention and support.
- Scored +7
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
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
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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. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — 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? — Grant awards prioritize local educational agencies serving the greatest percentage of students from families living at or below the poverty line. Would students be better off under this? — Students in targeted schools benefit directly from smaller classes, increased teacher support, and enhanced learning environments. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Families with children in public schools benefit from improved educational environments and smaller class sizes. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The legislation creates new job and professional development opportunities for early-career teachers and educational staff.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill authorizes $2,000,000,000 for competitive grants to local educational agencies to reduce class sizes and hire teachers in public schools.
- 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 of Education on the progress and outcomes of class size reduction grants. Does this give the federal government more power? — The legislation establishes a new federally administered competitive grant program through the Department of Education with specific federal reporting requirements.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The bill authorizes grant funding to recruit and hire additional fully certified teachers and educational staff to reduce early elementary class sizes.
- 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