Teacher Health and Wellness Act
This bill directs the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct a five-year study that evaluates various interventions for reducing stress and supporting the well-being of elementary and secondary school teachers.
In particular, the NIH must implement and analyze the effects of workplace wellness programs, stress management programs, and other types of interventions on teacher stress, retention, and well-being. The NIH must also report to Congress about the results of its study, including any recommendations for reducing stress-related health care costs for teachers.
[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3727 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3727
To require the Director of the National Institutes of Health to carry
out a study to add to the scientific knowledge on reducing teacher
stress and increasing teacher retention and well-being, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 25, 2023
Ms. Porter (for herself, Mr. Courtney, and Mr. Soto) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and
the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce,
for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case
for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of
the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Director of the National Institutes of Health to carry
out a study to add to the scientific knowledge on reducing teacher
stress and increasing teacher retention and well-being, 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 ``Teacher Health and Wellness Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) High levels of stress are adversely affecting teachers'
health.
(2) Stress is contributing to the high turnover rate among
teachers, which causes instability for students and
communities. This leads to higher costs for school districts to
train new teachers and hinders students' academic success.
(3) School organization, low job autonomy, and a lack of
ability to access teacher leadership opportunities are main
sources of teacher stress. If teachers are not provided with
opportunities and tools to manage their stress levels, student
well-being can also suffer.
SEC. 3. STUDY ON REDUCING TEACHER STRESS AND INCREASING TEACHER
RETENTION AND WELL-BEING.
(a) In General.--The Director of the National Institutes of Health
shall carry out a five-year study on reducing teacher stress and
increasing teacher retention and well-being by implementing and
analyzing the results of any of the following programs:
(1) Workplace wellness programs that are designed to
improve teacher health, attendance, and engagement.
(2) Social emotional learning programs that help teachers
improve student engagement in the classroom.
(3) Teacher stress management programs that improve teacher
performance.
(4) Mentoring and induction programs during the school year
and teacher pre-service programs that improve teacher well-
being.
(5) Organizational interventions, such as principal
training programs, that reduce stress through supervisor/peer
support and increased opportunities for teachers to participate
in professional learning communities, teacher leadership
positions, and decision making regarding school interventions
and management.
(6) Teacher residency programs that provide mental health
and psychological support.
(7) Complementary health approaches, such as mindfulness
meditation, that improve teacher performance.
(8) School reorganization that creates the conditions to
facilitate the transmission and sharing of knowledge among
teachers.
(9) Other innovative evidence-based approaches that reduce
stress and increase well-being in the teaching profession,
which may include increased compensation.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the end of
the study carried out under subsection (a), the Director shall
submit to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate a report including--
(A) the results of the study carried out under
subsection (a); and
(B) recommendations for--
(i) decreasing teacher stress and
increasing teacher retention and well-being;
and
(ii) lowering stress-related health care
costs for teachers.
(2) Availability.--The Director shall make publicly
available the report submitted under paragraph (1).
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Complementary health approach.--The term
``complementary health approach'' includes integrative health
care, adjunctive health care, and functional medicine.
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the National Institutes of Health.
(3) Teacher.--The term ``teacher'' means a teacher teaching
in any of kindergarten through grade 12.
(d) No Additional Funds Authorized.--No additional funds are
authorized to carry out the requirements of this Act. Such requirements
shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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