The "Addressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2026" seeks to combat widespread teacher shortages in the United States, which are particularly acute in rural schools, high-need subject areas like STEM and special education, and among diverse populations. The bill establishes the Addressing Teacher Shortages Program , authorizing competitive grants for eligible entities, primarily local educational agencies, to implement strategies that recruit, prepare, and retain outstanding educators. These grants are designed to support a robust and diverse teaching workforce, ensuring a bright future for children and youth in under-resourced and underserved communities. Grants awarded under this program will be for a period of at least five years, with planning grants also available to assist entities in preparing their applications. The Secretary of Education is mandated to reserve a portion of funds for schools supported by the Bureau of Indian Education, and to allocate remaining funds with specific targets: not less than 25 percent for rural areas, 25 percent for high-need subject areas, and 25 percent for diversifying the teaching workforce. Competitive priority will be given to programs that address these shortages, partner with minority-serving institutions , and support current school employees like paraprofessionals or substitute teachers in becoming certified educators. Recipients of these grants can use funds for a variety of evidence-based activities aimed at strengthening the educator pipeline and retention. These include: Establishing or expanding teaching residency programs , covering tuition, resident salaries, and mentor incentives. Creating or expanding teacher mentor programs and Grow Your Own programs to cultivate local talent. Developing or expanding 2+2 programs that facilitate teacher preparation through community colleges and four-year institutions. Encouraging STEM majors to pursue education careers and establishing teacher preparation pathways in secondary schools. Implementing other retention strategies such as providing professional development technology for rural educators, supporting additional teacher certifications, offering career advancement opportunities, and establishing induction programs for novice teachers. The bill also requires grant recipients to provide matching funds from non-Federal sources, though the Secretary may reduce or waive this requirement based on the eligible entity's economic condition. To ensure equitable access, the Secretary must designate personnel to exclusively support under-resourced entities with grant application preparation. Grantees are required to establish evaluation plans with measurable objectives, including educator retention rates, licensure pass rates, and the percentage of participating educators from underrepresented groups or teaching in high-need fields/schools, with regular reports submitted to the Secretary. Finally, the bill includes a Sense of Congress that teaching should be recognized as a career pathway within career and technical education, making early career education programs eligible for related funding. Appropriations are authorized for fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to carry out the provisions of this Act.