Jimmy Panetta

A bipartisan bill allowing early-childhood educators to claim a federal tax deduction for classroom expenses has been signed into law, U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif., announced Saturday.

The Supporting Early-Childhood Educators' Deductions, or SEED, Act expands the educator expense deduction to include pre-K and other eligible early-childhood educators, the office of Rep. Panetta said.

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The deduction, which applies to out-of-pocket costs such as classroom supplies, books and learning materials, had previously been available to K-12 teachers.

Rep. Panetta, who represents California's 19th Congressional District, co-led the legislation with Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa.; Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H.; and David Valadao, R-Calif. Sens. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, led companion legislation in the Senate.

"Pre-K teachers routinely dip into their own pockets to purchase classroom supplies, but until now, they were denied the same educator expense deduction available to K-12 teachers," Rep. Panetta said. "This new law closes that gap and recognizes the essential role early childhood educators play in giving our youngest learners a strong start."

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The legislation received support from education and child advocacy organizations, including the Center for American Progress, the American Federation of Teachers, Teach For America, the First Five Years Fund, and Trying Together.

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The bill builds on the federal educator expense deduction established for K-12 teachers in 2002.

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