1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support The Refresh Act H.R.8676 to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to State educational agencies to carry out wellness programs for school personnel. It is currently in the House Committee on Education and Workforce. Congressman Johnny Olszewski (MD-02) and Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) introduced this legislation to put in place incentives to develop state-level programs that address current teacher mental health and stress, addressing the lack of wellness supports that pushes educators out of the profession. A 2025 survey found that nearly 70% of early-career educators considered leaving teaching due to a lack of support or poor working conditions, with 53% of K-12 teachers feeling symptoms of burnout, 37% planning to leave their current school in the next year, and 18% planning to leave the profession entirely. Goals of the Legislation Include: Establishing School Staff Wellness Initiatives to fund and implement comprehensive health and wellness programs specifically tailored for school personnel. Providing Funding Infrastructure through a structured pathway for federal grant money to flow through state educational agencies down to local school districts. Prioritizing Mental and Physical Health by addressing the high levels of stress, burnout, and physical health demands faced by educators and support staff. Intended Benefits out Outcomes Include: Reduced Teacher Burnout by offering wellness resources and mental health supports to lower stress levels and mitigate the ongoing teacher retention crisis. Improved Workplace Environment by supporting the well-being of school staff directly, to stabilize more positive, and supportive work learning environments for teachers and students. Cost-Effective Health Supports of proactive wellness programming that helps school districts reduce staff absenteeism and lower long-term healthcare-related costs. Refresh Act grants address burnout and workforce strain, improve well-being and mental health, improve stress and management and workplace conditions. Grants will be awarded by the Secretary of Education on a competitive basis, prioritizing programs in districts facing workforce challenges and serving high-need student populations. For all of these reasons, I ask you to support H.R.8676 in committee, in discussion on the floor, and when it comes up for a vote. Thank you.