Nevada-California Lawmakers Propose $500M Tutoring Grants for High-Need Schools

Washington, D.C. — A new bipartisan bill in Congress would create a $500 million federal grant program to expand high-quality tutoring in hard-to-staff and high-need public schools, using partnerships that connect aspiring teachers with students who need extra academic support.

The proposal, H.R. 6532, was introduced by Susie Lee and David Valadao and is titled the Partnering Aspiring Teachers with High-need Schools to Tutor (PATHS to Tutor) Act of 2025. It has been referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Under the bill, the U.S. Department of Education would award competitive grants to local partnerships made up of school districts, educator preparation programs, and community organizations. The goal is to provide consistent, small-group or one-on-one tutoring—no more than four students per tutor—embedded into the school day or closely tied to it.

Tutors could include college students enrolled in teacher preparation programs, recent graduates, paraprofessionals, or licensed educators, including retirees. At least 85 percent of funding would be required to go directly toward student supports, such as tutor stipends, instructional materials, transportation, meals, and connectivity resources.

For families, the bill could mean more regular academic support for students in schools facing staffing shortages, while also strengthening the future teacher pipeline. The bill also includes safeguards to prevent tutoring from replacing classroom teachers or labeling students negatively.

The legislation does not yet include an implementation date. Its next step is committee consideration in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This article was produced by an education parenting today journalist with the assistance of AI. This is not legal advice. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.