Teachers Are Leaders Act of 2025

Teachers Are Leaders Act of 2025 would create a federal Teacher Leader Development Program within the Higher Education Act. The program funds partnerships between schools (specifically high-need local educational agencies) and institutions of higher education to train and support teachers who remain in the classroom but take on formal leadership roles. These teacher leaders would work on activities such as curriculum development, leading committees, family/community engagement, school culture and discipline, peer coaching, dual enrollment instruction, and advancing cultural competencies. The bill envisions a multi-year professional development pathway that culminates in a credential in teacher leadership, with ongoing support for the first two years and optional continued support into the third year. It also lays out how participants are selected, how funds are used (including partial stipend support if matched by non-federal funds), and a potential repayment obligation if a teacher leader does not complete the program term. The act also renames the existing “leadership development program” to “teacher leader development program” in statute and updates appropriations language to reflect a longer funding horizon starting in fiscal year 2025.