The Data Science and Literacy Act of 2026 establishes a competitive grant program administered by the Secretary of Education to support state agencies, local school districts, tribal schools, and higher education institutions in expanding data literacy and statistics education from pre-kindergarten through postsecondary levels. Eligible recipients must use funds for activities such as developing new curricula, providing professional development for teachers, and creating partnerships with industry or community organizations to reduce access gaps for underrepresented students. The bill authorizes $10 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, requiring grantees to submit biannual reports on student outcomes disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, and income status. Additionally, the legislation amends existing federal law to require the collection of demographic and background data on secondary school STEM teachers in each state every five years.
The Student Cardiac Safety Act requires qualified health care professionals to include a cardiovascular prescreening in physical examinations for student athletes in grades kindergarten through 12 starting in the 2027-2028 school year. This requirement will expand to all students during their annual well-child visits beginning in the 2028-2029 school year. The prescreening involves collecting personal and family medical history data along with a focused physical exam, and any positive findings must result in a referral to a cardiologist for further evaluation. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Department of Public Health publish annual reports on screening outcomes and distribute educational materials about heart disease risks to families and schools.
Illinois House Bill 5808 amends state law to require interscholastic athletic associations to allow high school student-athletes in grades 9 through 12 to transfer schools and maintain full athletic eligibility, provided that both the sending and receiving principals submit written consent. This consent must confirm that staff at the new school did not recruit or improperly influence the student's decision to move. The bill prevents athletic associations from restricting a transferring student's eligibility based on their reason for changing schools, although students who transfer after a season has already begun are barred from participating in that specific sport for the rest of the year. Additionally, any existing ineligibility penalties imposed by the previous school must be enforced at the new school for the remaining duration of the penalty or 365 days, whichever is shorter.
The COMPASS Act amends the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to require schools to include specific information in individualized education programs for students with disabilities. It mandates that these plans must state the projected date when a student will complete their secondary education program. Additionally, the bill requires a statement confirming that the student will receive a certification of completion on that date, regardless of whether they are eligible for a regular high school diploma.
The Access to School Supplies Act of 2026 establishes a five-year pilot program that provides competitive grants to up to ten local school districts serving high-poverty schools. These funds are intended to help districts purchase books, supplies, and other materials for students and instructional staff at no cost. The legislation authorizes $100 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031 and requires recipients to submit annual reports detailing how the money was spent and which schools benefited. A small portion of the total funding is reserved for outlying areas and Bureau of Indian Education schools, while the program sunsets on September 30, 2031.
The High School Voter Empowerment Act of 2026 requires all public high schools in the United States to be designated as voter registration agencies under federal law. Schools must conduct at least one voter registration drive each academic year, with a specific goal of registering eligible students who are at least 17 years old and enrolled in American Government or Economics classes. To support these efforts, the Department of Education would establish a grant program that reimburses schools for the reasonable costs associated with running these drives. Additionally, state election officials may provide voting machines to schools upon request for use in student council elections.
This bill prohibits the Department of Education from transferring specific program functions to other federal agencies, focusing on offices that manage special education, postsecondary education, Indian education, and elementary and secondary education. It blocks new interagency agreements for these areas but allows existing contracts in place as of February 1, 2025, to continue or be renewed with similar terms. The legislation also requires the Secretary of Education to submit quarterly cost reports to Congress detailing the financial impact of any new interagency arrangements made after that date. Finally, it restricts the use of certain administrative travel funds for the Secretary until these required cost analyses are provided.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE RHIANNON WYATT OF PAULINE-GLENN SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL UPON BEING NAMED 2026 SPARTANBURG COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT 6 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, TO EXPRESS APPRECIATION FOR HER DEDICATED SERVICE TO CHILDREN, AND TO WISH HER CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.
Michigan House Bill 6295 creates a state grant program to help medical, nursing, and other health professions schools promote primary care careers to middle school and high school students. The Department of Health and Human Services would administer the program by awarding grants to eligible educational institutions that agree to conduct outreach activities targeting these younger student groups. A dedicated fund within the state treasury would support the grants, with money carried over from year to year rather than expiring. The department is also required to publish an annual public report detailing the program's cost-effectiveness, successes, challenges, and recommendations for future changes.
This bill requires every high school in Massachusetts that offers interscholastic athletic activities to employ a licensed athletic trainer who has completed annual head injury safety training. It also mandates that health insurance plans reimburse services provided by licensed athletic trainers with a physician's referral, ensuring these costs are not more restrictive than those for other comparable health care providers.
