S. 5568 — Smaller Class Sizes for Students and Educators Act of 2026

This section establishes definitions for terms used in the Act. It incorporates the meanings given in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act for elementary school, local educational agency, poverty line, professional development, and State. It defines early elementary grades as kindergarten through grade 3, Secretary as the Secretary of Education, and targeted school as a public elementary school in the highest quartile of free or reduced-price lunch eligibility within its local educational agency.

This section establishes a competitive grant program authorizing the Secretary to award 5-year grants to local educational agencies to reduce class sizes in kindergarten through grade 3 to not more than 18 students. It requires applications detailing plans to recruit and retain certified teachers, provide professional development, and acquire space, with no more than 3 percent of funds for administration and 15 percent each for space and professional development. Grants prioritize agencies serving the highest percentages of low-income students, and the Secretary must evaluate outcomes through the Institute of Education Sciences.