SPELL Act
Expands teacher loan-forgiveness and cancellation eligibility to qualifying English-learner, bilingual, and dual-language immersion teachers.
In the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee since Sept. 30, 2026, 8 days after it was introduced. Most bills never leave committee.
- INTRODUCEDINTROSEP 30, 2026
- COMMITTEECOMM.IN COMMITTEE
- SENATESENATE—
- HOUSEHOUSE—
- LAWLAW—
What the bill would do, and why it matters
Some federal programs reduce or cancel student loans for teachers who meet eligibility rules. The SPELL Act would add qualifying English-learner, bilingual, and dual-language immersion teachers to existing teacher loan-forgiveness and cancellation categories. School or agency officials would have to certify specified teaching qualifications.
- INTRODUCED ONLY This bill has been introduced and possibly referred to a committee, but it has not passed any vote. Most introduced bills never become law — they die in committee without a hearing.
- DATA NOTE No Congressional Research Service summary was available.
- Adds teachers to loan relief programs
The bill would add eligible elementary and secondary teachers of English learners, bilingual students, and dual-language immersion students to existing teacher loan-forgiveness and loan-cancellation categories. English-learner teachers must have teaching those learners as their primary responsibility.
- Requires school-official certification
A school or educational service agency chief administrative officer would have to certify that the students a teacher teaches correspond with the teacher’s training and that the teacher has demonstrated knowledge and teaching skills in the curriculum areas taught.
- Sets when expanded eligibility applies
The changes would take effect on enactment and apply to people eligible for teacher loan forgiveness or cancellation after that date.
The practical difference would be whether qualifying English-learner, bilingual, and dual-language immersion teachers can access the teacher loan relief already available to other categories of teachers. The bill does not specify a dollar amount of relief.
Written from the bill text.
The path it took, step by step
- IntroducedSEP 30, 2026SENATESEP 30, 2026By Sen. Padilla with 1 original cosponsorReferred to Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- SAME DAYNOWSenate committeeSEP 30, 2026HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, & PENSIONS NOWSEP 30, 2026In committee for 8 daysNo hearing yet
- 8 DAYS SO FARPassed the Senate—SENATE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- House committee—HOUSE—
- Passed the House—HOUSE FLOOR—Not scheduled
- Resolve differencesONLY IF NEEDEDBOTH CHAMBERSONLY IF NEEDEDSkipped if the other chamber passes the same text
- Signed into law—PRESIDENT—10 days to sign or veto
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026REFERREDRead twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- SEP 302026SEP 30, 2026INTRODUCEDSENATEIntroduced in Senate
At day 8, this bill is already older than 3% of the laws passed this Congress were when they were signed.
Where your members stand on it
Support from one state
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Plus the sponsor, a Democrat. Every cosponsor is from one party.
Sen. Padilla’s record: sponsored 114 bills this Congress. 10 passed the Senate; 0 became law.
- Andy KimD-NJORIGINAL
What readers think
Discussion
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