The Care is an Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) Act amends the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965 to require that local economic development plans include strategies for increasing access to affordable, quality care-based services. These services specifically include child care, early childhood education, disability and long-term care, and elder care. The bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to issue implementation guidance within one year of enactment to help grant recipients integrate these requirements into their existing plans. To minimize administrative burden, communities with previously approved development strategies are only required to update their plans for compliance during their next regularly scheduled revision cycle.
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 Head Start Expansion and Improvement Act of 2026 broadens eligibility for early childhood education services by including recipients of various public assistance programs, such as food stamps and Medicaid, in the definition of qualifying families. The bill authorizes $36 billion annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2032 to support these expanded operations and creates a separate grant program providing $1 billion per year until 2030 for agencies to repair or upgrade aging facilities with safety hazards. Additionally, the legislation establishes a loan forgiveness program that cancels federal student loans for childcare workers who complete three years of full-time service in Head Start or Early Head Start programs. Finally, it authorizes $6.8 billion annually through 2032 to provide salary supplements to Head Start employees, with funding allocated based on local wage gaps and cost-of-living factors.
The Less Bureaucracy, Better Tribal Education Act transfers federal programs and funding for tribal education and job training from the Department of Education to the Department of the Interior. This shift includes specific initiatives such as grants for American Indian and Alaska Native children, language preservation programs, and career and technical education support for Native-serving institutions. The bill also mandates that the Secretary of Education consult with Indian Tribes within six months of enactment before the transfer takes effect one year later. Additionally, the law ensures that existing contracts, grants, and legal proceedings continue without interruption during the transition period.
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The WINGS Act of 2026 expands federal financial aid eligibility to cover specific aviation training expenses for students enrolled in qualifying aviation programs at colleges and universities. Under this bill, students could use federal funds to pay for costs such as flight simulator hours, aircraft instruction, aviation training materials, and licensing exam fees. The legislation defines eligible programs as those offering associate's or bachelor's degrees in aviation-related fields and includes professional degree programs that meet specific regulatory training standards. These changes would take effect on July 1, 2027, allowing students to access financial support for practical aviation training components starting with the 2027-2028 award year.
The Local Foods for Healthy Schools Act of 2026 creates a new program to help state and local governments purchase and distribute food grown within 400 miles of schools. This initiative provides $200 million annually to eligible state agencies, which can either buy local produce directly or give funds to school districts for that purpose. The bill defines local foods as minimally processed agricultural products and requires recipients to submit reports on their purchases while ensuring funds supplement rather than replace existing state support.
The Pell Grant Preservation and Expansion Act of 2026 aims to increase financial aid for college students by raising the maximum Pell Grant amount to $15,000 by the 2031-2032 award year and ensuring the program is fully funded through mandatory spending rather than annual appropriations. The bill also expands eligibility for students who receive means-tested government benefits by automatically assigning them a lower financial need score, while simultaneously allowing Dreamer students - undocumented immigrants who meet specific criteria such as graduating high school or serving in the military - to qualify for federal aid. Additional provisions restore the total number of semesters a student can receive Pell Grants from 12 to 18 and adjust the rules for satisfactory academic progress to reduce penalties for students who struggle to meet grade requirements. Finally, the legislation restores Pell Grant eligibility for some students who previously received outside scholarships and sets the law's effective date for July 1, 2026.
This bill requires states and tribal organizations that run school lunch programs to also participate in the Summer EBT program, which provides food assistance to children during summer breaks. For the summers of 2024 through 2026, participation in the summer program remains voluntary for these entities. Starting in summer 2027, joining the summer program becomes mandatory for any state or tribal organization that already participates in the school lunch program. The legislation also updates administrative rules to ensure states submit management plans for these programs by specific deadlines each year.
The School Access to Naloxone Act of 2026 authorizes federal grants to help public and private elementary and secondary schools provide emergency treatment for opioid overdoses. To receive funding, schools must establish a program where trained staff, such as nurses or designated administrators, can administer naloxone and other reversal drugs from an easily accessible supply. The bill requires that these staff members receive proper medical training and certification, and it mandates that state attorneys general confirm laws exist to protect these individuals from civil liability when administering the drugs. This legislation aims to reduce opioid overdose deaths by ensuring schools have the necessary resources and legal safeguards to respond quickly to emergencies.
The All in For Attendance Act aims to reduce chronic student absenteeism by requiring schools to implement specific support strategies for students missing 10 percent or more of school days. It mandates the creation of data systems to track attendance reasons, establishes advisory programs to engage families, and requires schools to partner with community organizations to remove barriers like transportation or health issues. The legislation also prohibits schools from using suspensions, fines, or academic penalties as punishment for student absences. Additionally, it directs funds toward evidence-based interventions such as social and emotional learning programs, restorative justice, and high-impact tutoring to improve student engagement and attendance.