Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program (TSL)

Teacher and School Leader Incentive Program

Funds United States schools to test performance-linked educator reward systems and leadership growth.

⚠ This may reflect a past cycle — verify the current call on the funder's site.

The Teacher and School Leader (TSL) Incentive Program (CFDA 84.374A) awards competitive grants to develop, implement, improve, or expand performance-based compensation systems and human capital management systems for educators in high-need schools. Authorized under Title II, Part B, Subpart 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act as amended by ESSA — formerly known as the Teacher Incentive Fund — the program targets K-12 schools where improved educator compensation structures can reduce achievement gaps and raise student outcomes.

The FY2026 competition offers $60,000,000 across approximately 20 awards with a ceiling of $8,500,000 per grant. The application deadline is June 9, 2026 at 11:59:59 PM EDT; the application package is available on Grants.gov (listing 361809). Based on the FY2023 cycle, performance periods run three years. Unusually for a Department of Education competitive grant, for-profit organizations are explicitly eligible alongside local education agencies (LEAs), state education agencies (SEAs), nonprofits, public charter schools, and consortia. Universities and independent research organizations are not listed as eligible lead applicants.

The TSL Incentive Program is one of the largest discretionary educator-workforce grants currently open at the Department. Applicants must focus specifically on high-need schools as defined under ESSA, which typically means schools with high concentrations of low-income students or persistent teacher shortages. Strong proposals will include a evidence-based compensation model, a measurable theory of change linking compensation reform to student achievement, a data system for evaluating performance, and a sustainability plan for maintaining the system after the three-year grant period ends. For-profit edtech companies with established educator compensation or HR management platforms may qualify as lead applicants or consortium partners.