A Democratic bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5265)
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 bill is known as the Supporting Providers of English Language Learning Act or the SPELL Act. It was introduced in the Senate on September 30, 2026. The legislation amends the Higher Education Act of 1965. Its main purpose is to provide additional amounts of loan forgiveness and loan cancellation to specific educators. These include teachers of English learners and teachers who work as bilingual or dual language immersion students.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay?
The bill provides additional loan forgiveness and loan cancellation options for teachers of English learners and bilingual or dual language immersion students.
- Scored +5
Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this?
The support for bilingual and dual language immersion teachers positively impacts communities with high populations of Spanish-speaking and Hispanic students.
- Scored +5
Would students be better off under this?
English learners and bilingual students benefit from incentivizing and retaining qualified educators in specialized language programs.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2(a): This section amends section 428J(c)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to add English language education to the categories for teacher loan forgiveness. This is positive because elementary or secondary school teachers whose primary responsibility is to teach English learners, or who work as bilingual or dual language immersion teachers, can qualify for loan forgiveness if they meet the specified training, employment, and certification requirements.
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Section 2(b): This section amends section 460(c)(3) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to add English language education to the categories for teacher loan cancellation. This is positive because qualifying elementary and secondary school teachers who teach English learners or bilingual and dual language immersion students can receive loan cancellation, provided they are certified by their school's chief administrative officer regarding their skills and training.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions that outline negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
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 Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The support for bilingual and dual language immersion teachers positively impacts communities with high populations of Spanish-speaking and Hispanic students. Would students be better off under this? — English learners and bilingual students benefit from incentivizing and retaining qualified educators in specialized language programs. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Middle-aged teachers working with English language learners benefit directly from the expanded student loan relief provisions. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — The bill provides meaningful financial relief to middle-income educator households through targeted student loan forgiveness. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Younger educators entering the profession benefit from expanded eligibility for student loan forgiveness and cancellation. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Teachers qualifying for loan forgiveness and cancellation may experience an alleviation of debt burdens that assists household finances.
- Education And Technology
- Does this reduce what student borrowers owe or repay? — The bill provides additional loan forgiveness and loan cancellation options for teachers of English learners and bilingual or dual language immersion students.
- 11/10/2026
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 9/30/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S5265)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii