PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 8, 2012
Relief for Educators To Adjust if Necessary Act or RETAIN Act - Amends part A of title IV (Flexibility and Accountability) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to replace the existing program under subpart 2 with a new Funding Flexibility for States and High-Need Local Educational Agencies program.
Allows states to use funds that they receive under certain ESEA and Education Jobs Fund programs to provide funds to their high-need local educational agencies (LEAs) to prevent the layoff or termination of teachers or other staff in such LEAs.
Lists the programs from which states may use funds to prevent such layoffs or terminations as:
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
school improvement programs, under part A of title I;
the Reading First program, under subpart 1 of part B of title I;
the Education of Migratory Children program, under part C of title I;
Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth who are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk, under part D of title I;
the Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund program, under part A of title II;
the Mathematics and Science Partnerships program, under part B of title II;
the English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act program, under part A of title III;
the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program, under part B of title IV;
Innovative programs, under part A of title V of the ESEA; and
Education Jobs Fund programs.
Allows high-need LEAs to use funds that they receive under certain ESEA and Education Jobs Fund programs to prevent the layoff or termination of teachers or other staff in such LEAs.
Lists the programs from which high-need LEAs may use funds to prevent such layoffs or terminations as:
school improvement programs, under part A of title I; the Education of Migratory Children program, under part C of title I; Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth who are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk, under part D of title I; the Teacher and Principal Training and Recruiting Fund program, under part A of title II; the English Language Acquisition, Language Enhancement, and Academic Achievement Act program, under part A of title III; Innovative programs, under part A of title V; Indian Education programs, under part A of title VII of the ESEA; and Education Jobs Fund programs.
Prohibits states and high-need LEAs from transferring the funds to such programs if the ESEA requires them to: (1) reserve, allocate, or spend the funds for required activities; (2) provide them to eligible entities; or (3) use them for technical assistance or monitoring.
People & committees
Rep. Baca, Joe [D-CA-43] · D–CA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education.
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Mar 23, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.5546 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.5546 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.5546 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.5546 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.