TEACH Improvement Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9628 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9628

 To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding the use of TEACH
                    Grants, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 9, 2026

Mrs. Hinson (for herself and Ms. Adams) introduced the following bill;
     which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 regarding the use of TEACH
                    Grants, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``TEACH Improvement Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. TEACH GRANTS.

    Subpart 9 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1070g et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

                       ``Subpart 9--TEACH Grants

``SEC. 420L. DEFINITIONS.

    ``For the purposes of this subpart:
            ``(1) Eligible institution.--The term `eligible
        institution' means an institution of higher education, as
        defined in section 102, that the Secretary determines--
                    ``(A) provides high-quality teacher preparation and
                professional development services, including extensive
                clinical experience as a part of preservice
                preparation;
                    ``(B) is financially responsible and is not subject
                to heightened cash monitoring or provisional
                certification;
                    ``(C) provides pedagogical coursework, or
                assistance in the provision of such coursework,
                including the monitoring of student performance, and
                formal instruction related to the theory and practices
                of teaching; and
                    ``(D) provides supervision and support services to
                teachers, or assistance in the provision of such
                services, including mentoring focused on developing
                effective teaching skills and strategies.
            ``(2) Post-baccalaureate.--The term `post-baccalaureate'
        means a program of instruction for individuals who have
        completed a baccalaureate degree that--
                    ``(A) is offered by an eligible institution that
                does not offer a baccalaureate degree in education;
                    ``(B) does not lead to a graduate degree; and
                    ``(C) consists of courses required by a State in
                order for a teacher candidate to receive a professional
                certification or licensing credential that is required
                for employment as a teacher in an elementary school or
                secondary school in that State.
            ``(3) Teacher candidate.--The term `teacher candidate'
        means a student or teacher described in subparagraph (A) or (B)
        of section 420N(a)(2).

``SEC. 420M. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

    ``(a) Program Authority.--
            ``(1) Payments required.--The Secretary shall pay to each
        eligible institution such sums as may be necessary to pay to
        each teacher candidate who files an application and agreement
        in accordance with section 420N, and who qualifies under
        paragraph (2) of section 420N(a), a TEACH Grant in the amount
        of--
                    ``(A) in the case of an applicant who is not an
                applicant under section 420N(a)(2)(B)--
                            ``(i) $4,000 for each of the first 2 years
                        during which that teacher candidate is in
                        attendance at the institution; and
                            ``(ii) $5,000 for each of the second 2
                        years during which that teacher candidate is in
                        attendance at the institution; and
                    ``(B) in the case of an applicant under section
                420N(a)(2)(B), $5,000 for each year during which that
                individual is in attendance at the institution.
            ``(2) References.--Grants made under paragraph (1) shall be
        known as `Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher
        Education Grants' or `TEACH Grants'.
    ``(b) Payment Methodology.--
            ``(1) Prepayment.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not less than 85 percent of any
                funds provided to an eligible institution under
                subsection (a) shall be advanced to the eligible
                institution prior to the start of each payment period
                and shall be based upon an amount requested by the
                institution as needed to pay teacher candidates until
                such time as the Secretary determines and publishes in
                the Federal Register, with an opportunity for comment,
                an alternative payment system that provides payments to
                institutions in an accurate and timely manner, subject
                to subparagraph (B).
                    ``(B) Reimbursement authority.--Subparagraph (A)
                shall not be construed to limit the authority of the
                Secretary to place an institution on a reimbursement
                system of payment.
            ``(2) Direct payment.--Nothing in this section shall be
        interpreted to prohibit the Secretary from paying directly to
        teacher candidates, in advance of the beginning of the academic
        term, an amount for which teacher candidates are eligible, in
        cases in which the eligible institution elects not to
        participate in the disbursement system required by paragraph
        (1).
            ``(3) Distribution of grants to teacher candidates.--
        Payments under this subpart shall be made, in accordance with
        regulations promulgated by the Secretary for such purpose, in
        such manner as will best accomplish the purposes of this
        subpart. Any disbursement allowed to be made by crediting the
        teacher candidate's account shall be used for any component of
        the cost of attendance for the teacher candidate, as selected
        by the teacher candidate.
    ``(c) Reductions in Amount.--
            ``(1) Part-time students.--In any case in which a teacher
        candidate attends an eligible institution on less than a full-
        time basis (including a teacher candidate who attends an
        eligible institution on less than a half-time basis) during any
        year, the amount of a grant under this subpart for which that
        teacher candidate is eligible shall be reduced in proportion to
        the degree to which that teacher candidate is not attending on
        a full-time basis, in accordance with a schedule of reductions
        established by the Secretary for the purposes of this subpart,
        computed in accordance with this subpart. Such schedule of
        reductions shall be established by regulation and published in
        the Federal Register in accordance with section 482.
            ``(2) No exceeding cost.--The amount of a grant awarded
        under this subpart, in combination with Federal assistance and
        other assistance the student may receive, shall not exceed the
        cost of attendance at the eligible institution at which that
        teacher candidate is in attendance.
    ``(d) Period of Eligibility for Grants.--
            ``(1) Undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students.--The
        period during which an undergraduate or post-baccalaureate
        student may receive grants under this subpart shall be the
        period required for the completion of the first undergraduate
        baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate course of study being
        pursued by the teacher candidate at the eligible institution at
        which the teacher candidate is in attendance, except that--
                    ``(A) any period during which the teacher candidate
                is enrolled in a noncredit or remedial course of study
                as described in paragraph (3) shall not be counted for
                the purpose of this paragraph; and
                    ``(B) the total amount that a teacher candidate may
                receive under this subpart for undergraduate or post-
                baccalaureate study shall not exceed $18,000.
            ``(2) Graduate students.--The period during which a
        graduate student may receive grants under this subpart shall be
        the period required for the completion of a master's degree
        course of study pursued by the teacher candidate at the
        eligible institution at which the teacher candidate is in
        attendance, except that the total amount that a teacher
        candidate may receive under this subpart for graduate study
        shall not exceed $10,000.
            ``(3) Remedial course; study abroad.--Nothing in this
        section shall be construed to exclude from eligibility courses
        of study which are noncredit or remedial in nature (including
        courses in English language acquisition) that are determined by
        the eligible institution to be necessary to help the teacher
        candidate be prepared for the pursuit of a first undergraduate
        baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree or certificate or,
        in the case of courses in English language instruction, to be
        necessary to enable the teacher candidate to utilize already
        existing knowledge, training, or skills. Nothing in this
        section shall be construed to exclude from eligibility programs
        of study abroad that are approved for credit by the home
        institution at which the teacher candidate is enrolled.
    ``(e) Institutional Eligibility Based on Candidates' Failure To
Complete Service.--
            ``(1) 50 percent threshold requirements.--Notwithstanding
        subsections (a) and (b) and beginning for award year 2026-2027
        and each subsequent award year, an institution for which,
        during the period of the 3 preceding consecutive award years
        (referred to in this subsection as the `applicable period'), 50
        percent or more of the covered TEACH Grant recipients (defined,
        for purposes of this subsection, as TEACH Grant recipients who
        graduated from such institution and had an outstanding service
        obligation during the applicable period) have had their grant
        converted to loans under section 420N(c)(1) during the
        applicable period shall--
                    ``(A) for the 3-year period beginning on the last
                day of the applicable period, be ineligible to offer
                TEACH Grants to students at the institution who did not
                receive a TEACH Grant from the institution for the
                preceding award year; and
                    ``(B) beginning 3 years after the last day of the
                applicable period, be eligible to submit an application
                to offer TEACH Grants to students but only in
                accordance with the requirements of paragraph (2), for
                3 award years.
            ``(2) 40 percent threshold requirements.--Notwithstanding
        subsections (a) and (b), an institution for which, during an
        applicable period, 40 percent or more of the covered TEACH
        Grant recipients have had their TEACH Grants converted to loans
        under section 420N(c)(1) shall--
                    ``(A) for a period of 3 award years--
                            ``(i) not be permitted to offer any student
                        a TEACH Grant during the student's first
                        academic year attending an institution of
                        higher education;
                            ``(ii) provide a student with student
                        teaching experience prior to offering the
                        student a TEACH Grant; and
                            ``(iii) be required to provide additional
                        financial aid counseling to students
                        participating in the TEACH Grant program, or
                        who express a desire to participate in the
                        TEACH Grant program; and
                    ``(B) be required to establish a task force that
                prepares a plan to--
                            ``(i) identify contributing factors leading
                        to high loan conversion rates; and
                            ``(ii) establish measurable objectives and
                        actionable steps, besides counseling students,
                        to improve the loan conversion rate.
            ``(3) Reentry into full eligibility.--An institution
        subject to the requirements of paragraph (2) (including an
        institution subject to such paragraph as required under
        paragraph (1)(B)) shall be eligible to apply to the Secretary
        to restore full eligibility and remove the restrictions under
        paragraph (2) when--
                    ``(A) the institution has completed not less than 3
                award years of participating as described in such
                paragraph;
                    ``(B) during the period of the 3 immediately
                preceding award years of such participation, less than
                40 percent of the covered TEACH Grant recipients have
                had their TEACH Grants converted to loans under section
                420N(c)(1); and
                    ``(C) the institution has established the task
                force and improvement plan as required under paragraph
                (2)(B), made demonstrable progress on such improvement
                plan, and continues to engage in review and technical
                assistance in order to improve the loan conversion
                rate.
            ``(4) Technical assistance and dissemination of best
        practices.--The Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) provide technical assistance to institutions
                seeking to retain or regain eligibility under this
                section; and
                    ``(B) disseminate best practices outlined in
                section 420P(b)(7) for minimizing the conversion of
                TEACH Grants into loans.

``SEC. 420N. APPLICATIONS; ELIGIBILITY.

    ``(a) Applications; Demonstration of Eligibility.--
            ``(1) Filing required.--The Secretary shall periodically
        set dates by which teacher candidates shall file applications
        for TEACH Grants. Each teacher candidate desiring a TEACH Grant
        for any year shall file an application containing such
        information and assurances as the Secretary may determine
        necessary to enable the Secretary to carry out the functions
        and responsibilities of this subpart.
            ``(2) Demonstration of teach grant eligibility.--Each
        application submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain such
        information as is necessary to demonstrate that--
                    ``(A) if the applicant is an enrolled student--
                            ``(i) the student is an eligible student
                        for purposes of section 484;
                            ``(ii) the student--
                                    ``(I) has a grade point average
                                that is determined, under standards
                                prescribed by the Secretary, to be
                                comparable to a 3.25 average on a zero
                                to 4.0 scale, except that, if the
                                student is in the first year of a
                                program of undergraduate education,
                                such grade point average shall be
                                determined on the basis of the
                                student's cumulative secondary school
                                grade point average; or
                                    ``(II) displayed high academic
                                aptitude by receiving a score above the
                                75th percentile on at least one of the
                                batteries in an undergraduate, post-
                                baccalaureate, or graduate school
                                admissions test; and
                            ``(iii) the student is completing
                        coursework and other requirements necessary to
                        begin a career in teaching, or plans to
                        complete such coursework and requirements prior
                        to graduating; or
                    ``(B) if the applicant is a current or prospective
                teacher applying for a grant to obtain a graduate
                degree--
                            ``(i) the applicant is a teacher or a
                        retiree from another occupation with expertise
                        in a field in which there is a shortage of
                        teachers, such as mathematics, science, special
                        education, English language acquisition, or
                        another high need subject;
                            ``(ii) the applicant is or was a teacher
                        who is using high-quality alternative
                        certification routes; or
                            ``(iii) the applicant is a practicing
                        teacher in another field and is pursuing an
                        additional credential in a field in which there
                        is a shortage of teachers, such as mathematics,
                        science, special education, English language
                        acquisition, or another high-need subject.
    ``(b) Agreements To Serve.--Each application under subsection (a)
shall contain or be accompanied by an agreement by the applicant that--
            ``(1) the applicant will--
                    ``(A) serve as a full-time teacher for a total of
                not less than 4 academic years within 8 years after
                completing the course of study for which the applicant
                received a TEACH Grant (referred to in this section as
                the `service obligation window');
                    ``(B) teach in a school described in section
                465(a)(2)(A);
                    ``(C) teach in any of the following fields--
                            ``(i) mathematics;
                            ``(ii) science;
                            ``(iii) a foreign language;
                            ``(iv) bilingual education;
                            ``(v) special education;
                            ``(vi) as a reading specialist;
                            ``(vii) career and technical education;
                            ``(viii) school mental health; or
                            ``(ix) another field or geographic area
                        documented as high-need by the Federal
                        Government, State government, or local
                        educational agency, and approved by the
                        Secretary;
                    ``(D) submit evidence of such employment in the
                form of a certification of employment by the chief
                administrative officer of the school, in accordance
                with subsection (d)(5), upon completion of each year of
                such service; and
                    ``(E) meet all State certification requirements for
                teaching (which may include meeting such requirements
                through a certification obtained through alternative
                routes to teaching);
            ``(2) in the event that the applicant is determined to have
        failed or refused to carry out such service obligation, an
        amount equal to any TEACH Grants received by such applicant,
        prorated in accordance with subsection (c)(1)(B), will be
        treated as a loan and collected from the applicant in
        accordance with subsection (c) and the regulations thereunder;
        and
            ``(3) contains, or is accompanied by, a plain-language
        disclosure form developed by the Secretary that clearly
        describes the nature of the TEACH Grant award, the service
        obligation, and the loan repayment requirements that are the
        consequence of the failure to complete the service obligation.
    ``(c) Repayment for Failure To Complete Service.--
            ``(1) In general.--In the event that any recipient of a
        TEACH Grant fails or refuses to comply with some or all of the
        service obligation required under the agreement under
        subsection (b)--
                    ``(A) the Secretary shall determine the proportion
                of the total amount of time of the service obligation
                that the recipient has failed or refused to complete;
                and
                    ``(B) the Secretary shall--
                            ``(i) determine, on a prorated basis based
                        on the proportion described in subparagraph
                        (A), the amounts of any TEACH Grants received
                        by such recipient that shall, upon a
                        determination of such a failure or refusal in
                        such service obligation, be treated as a
                        Federal Direct Stafford Loan under part D
                        (except that such loan shall not begin to
                        accrue interest until the time of conversion);
                        and
                            ``(ii) ensure that such amounts are subject
                        to repayment, in accordance with terms and
                        conditions specified by the Secretary in
                        regulations under this subpart.
            ``(2) Reconsideration of conversion decisions.--
                    ``(A) Request to reconsider.--In any case where the
                Secretary has determined that a recipient of a TEACH
                Grant has failed or refused to comply with the service
                obligation in the agreement under subsection (b) and
                has converted the grant into a Federal loan in
                accordance with paragraph (1), (including a TEACH Grant
                converted to a loan prior to the date of enactment of
                the Consider Teachers Act of 2021, and including cases
                where such loans have been fully or partially paid),
                the recipient may request that the Secretary reconsider
                such initial determination and may submit additional
                information to demonstrate satisfaction of the service
                obligation. Upon receipt of such a request, the
                Secretary shall reconsider the determination in
                accordance with this paragraph not later than 90 days
                after the date that such request was received.
                    ``(B) Reconsideration.--If, in reconsidering an
                initial determination under subparagraph (A) regarding
                a conversion of a TEACH Grant into a Federal loan in
                accordance with paragraph (1) (including
                reconsideration related to a TEACH Grant that was
                converted to a loan prior to the date of enactment of
                the Consider Teachers Act of 2021, and including cases
                where such loans were fully or partially paid), the
                Secretary determines that the reason for such
                determination was the recipient's failure to timely
                submit a certification required under subsection
                (b)(1)(D) (as in effect on the day before the date of
                enactment of the Consider Teachers Act of 2021), an
                error or processing delay by the Secretary, a change to
                the fields considered eligible for fulfillment of the
                service obligation (as described in subsection
                (b)(1)(C)), a recipient having previously requested to
                have the TEACH Grant converted to a loan, or another
                valid reason determined by the Secretary, and that the
                recipient has, as of the date of the reconsideration,
                demonstrated that the recipient did meet, or is
                meeting, the service obligation in the agreement under
                subsection (b), the Secretary shall--
                            ``(i) discharge the Federal loan and
                        reinstate the recipient's TEACH Grant under
                        this subpart;
                            ``(ii) discharge any interest or fees that
                        may have accumulated during the period that the
                        grant was converted to such Federal loan;
                            ``(iii) if the recipient has other loans
                        under part D, apply any payments made for such
                        Federal loan during such period to those other
                        loans under part D;
                            ``(iv) if the recipient does not have other
                        loans under part D, reimburse the recipient for
                        any amounts paid on such loan during such
                        period;
                            ``(v) request that consumer reporting
                        agencies remove any negative credit reporting
                        due to the conversion of the TEACH Grant to a
                        Federal loan; and
                            ``(vi) use the additional information
                        provided under subparagraph (A) to determine
                        the progress the recipient has made in meeting
                        the service obligation.
                    ``(C) Extension of time to complete service
                obligation.--In the case of a recipient whose TEACH
                Grant was reinstated in accordance with subparagraph
                (B), the Secretary shall, upon such reinstatement--
                            ``(i) extend the time remaining for the
                        recipient to fulfill the service obligation
                        described in subsection (b)(1) to a period of
                        time equal to--
                                    ``(I) 8 years; minus
                                    ``(II) the number of full academic
                                years of teaching that the recipient
                                completed prior to the reconversion of
                                the loan to a TEACH Grant under
                                subparagraph (B), including any years
                                of qualifying teaching completed during
                                the period when the TEACH Grant was in
                                loan status; and
                            ``(ii) treat any full academic years of
                        teaching described in clause (i)(II) as years
                        that count toward the individual's service
                        obligation (regardless of whether the TEACH
                        Grant funds were in grant or loan status) if
                        that time otherwise meets the requirements of
                        this section.
    ``(d) Additional Administrative Provisions.--
            ``(1) Change to school or high-need field.--
                    ``(A) Change of high-need field designation after
                acquiring degree or expertise.--Notwithstanding
                subsection (b), if a recipient of an initial TEACH
                Grant has acquired an academic degree, or expertise, in
                a field that was, at the time of the recipient's
                application for that grant, designated as high need in
                accordance with subsection (b)(1)(C)(ix), but is no
                longer so designated, the grant recipient may fulfill
                the service obligation described in subsection (b)(1)
                by teaching in that field and completing the required
                period of service within the service obligation window.
                    ``(B) Change of high-need field or school
                designation after beginning teaching.--Notwithstanding
                subsection (b), if a recipient of a TEACH Grant on or
                after the effective date of the TEACH Improvement Act
                of 2026 begins teaching at a school described in
                subsection (b)(1)(B) and in a field described in
                subsection (b)(1)(C) during the service obligation
                window, but such school or field later is no longer
                designated under subsection (b), the grant recipient
                may fulfill the service obligation described in
                subsection (b)(1) by continuing to teach in that school
                and field and completing the required period of service
                within the service obligation window.
            ``(2) Extenuating circumstances.--The Secretary shall
        establish, by regulation, categories of extenuating
        circumstances under which a recipient of a TEACH Grant who is
        unable to fulfill all or part of the recipient's service
        obligation may be excused from fulfilling that portion of the
        service obligation.
            ``(3) Communication with recipients.--The Secretary shall
        notify TEACH Grant recipients not less than once per calendar
        year regarding how to submit the employment certification under
        subsection (b)(1)(D) and the recommendations and requirements
        for submitting that certification under paragraph (5).
            ``(4) Qualifying schools and high-need fields.--The
        Secretary shall maintain and annually update a list of
        qualifying schools as described in subsection (b)(1)(B), and a
        list of high-need fields as described in subsection (b)(1)(C),
        and shall make such lists publicly available on the
        Department's website in a sortable and searchable format.
            ``(5) Submission of employment certification.--
                    ``(A) Recommended submissions.--The Secretary shall
                notify TEACH Grant recipients that the Department
                recommends that TEACH Grant recipients submit the
                employment certification described in subsection
                (b)(1)(D) as soon as practicable after the completion
                of each year of service.
                    ``(B) Required submission.--A TEACH Grant recipient
                shall be required to submit to the Department
                employment certification within the timeframe that
                would allow that individual to complete their service
                obligation before the end of the service obligation
                window.
                    ``(C) Notification.--The Secretary shall notify
                TEACH Grant recipients of the required submission
                deadlines described in this paragraph.
                    ``(D) Adjustment of deadline.--The Secretary shall
                adjust the submission deadline described in
                subparagraph (B) to account for a service obligation
                window extension.
                    ``(E) Alternative to certification.--The Secretary
                shall provide an alternative to the certification of
                employment described in subsection (b)(1)(D) for
                recipients who cannot obtain such required
                certification of employment from the chief
                administrative officer of the school because the
                recipient can demonstrate the school is no longer in
                existence or the school refuses to cooperate.

``SEC. 420O. PROGRAM PERIOD AND FUNDING.

    ``Beginning on July 1, 2008, there shall be available to the
Secretary to carry out this subpart, from funds not otherwise
appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to provide TEACH Grants in
accordance with this subpart to each eligible applicant.

``SEC. 420P. REPORTS TO AUTHORIZING COMMITTEES.

    ``(a) Program Reports.--Not later than two years after the date of
enactment of the TEACH Improvement Act of 2026, and every two years
thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the authorizing
committees a report on TEACH Grants with respect to the schools and
students served by recipients of such grants. Such report shall take
into consideration information related to--
            ``(1) the number of TEACH Grant recipients;
            ``(2) the degrees obtained by such recipients;
            ``(3) the location, including the school, local educational
        agency, and State, where the recipients completed the service
        agreed to under section 420N(b), and the field taught;
            ``(4) the duration of such service; and
            ``(5) any other data necessary to conduct such evaluation.
    ``(b) Annual Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the TEACH Improvement Act of 2026, and annually
thereafter, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the authorizing
committees a report regarding the 1-year period covered by the report,
including the following:
            ``(1) The number of TEACH Grants converted to loans under
        section 420N(c)(1)(B).
            ``(2) The number of institutions that were subject to the
        heightened requirements under section 420M(e)(1).
            ``(3) The number of institutions that were subject to the
        heightened requirements under section 420M(e)(2).
            ``(4) The number of TEACH Grants converted to loans under
        section 420N(c)(1)(B) that were reconverted to TEACH Grants in
        accordance with section 420N(c)(2).
            ``(5) The number of contacts or complaints to the
        Department of Education or the Consumer Financial Protection
        Bureau (including through any ombudsman) received from a TEACH
        Grant recipient, and the resolutions of those contacts or
        complaints.
            ``(6) Demographic information about recipients of TEACH
        Grants, including race, ethnicity, and gender.
            ``(7) Recommendations on best practices for minimizing the
        conversion of TEACH Grants into loans.

``SEC. 420Q. SERVICER ACCOUNTABILITY.

    ``The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be
necessary to ensure accurate administrative oversight and appropriate
penalties for third-party servicers in order to ensure that--
            ``(1) such servicers properly perform their contractual
        obligations with respect to this subpart; and
            ``(2) such servicers are held responsible with respect to
        the loss of benefits of TEACH Grant recipients due to servicer
        failures.''.

SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.

    The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on July 1, 2026.
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