The Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act of 2026 establishes a grant program, administered by the Department of Education, to help public elementary and secondary schools transform their outdoor spaces into "revitalized schoolyards." These new outdoor environments are designed to strengthen local ecological systems, provide hands-on learning opportunities, and promote nature play and social interaction for students and the community. Eligible entities, including local schools and partner non-profits, can apply for planning grants to design these spaces and then implementation grants to build them, with priority given to schools serving a high percentage of low-income students or those vulnerable to extreme heat or flooding. The bill requires a 20% non-federal match for implementation grants, which can be waived for high-need or tribal schools, and also directs the Secretary to maintain a clearinghouse of outdoor learning resources.
This bill extends federal funding for school-based health centers through fiscal year 2031. It directly affects schools and community organizations that operate health centers providing medical care to students. The key provision increases the annual grant amount to $55 million per year for the five-year period. This change ensures continued financial support for programs that offer healthcare services directly within educational settings. The legislation does not alter eligibility requirements or program structure, only the funding timeline and amount.
The Protein for Every Plate Act of 2026 amends the Food and Nutrition Act to increase funding for animal protein purchases under the National School Lunch Program. Specifically, it adds $200,000,000 in fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to the existing commodity funds designated for food distribution. This change directly affects schools and food programs that receive federal nutrition assistance by allowing them to purchase more animal protein items. The bill modifies existing statutory language to formally include this additional funding amount in the program's financial provisions.
This bill, known as the Stop Secret Counseling of Students Act, prohibits public elementary and secondary schools from using federal funds to provide gender-related counseling to students under 18. It specifically bans employees or contractors from offering therapy or guidance on gender identity, including assistance with social transition plans, and prevents them from advising students on how to hide their gender identity or transition plans from their parents. The legislation allows parents to file civil lawsuits in federal court against schools if they believe these counseling restrictions have been violated. Schools that fail to comply with these requirements would be ineligible to receive funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
This bill, known as the Breakfast After the Bell Act of 2026, provides additional funding to schools that serve breakfast to students after the school day begins. It directly affects local educational agencies and schools that participate in breakfast programs using specific service models, such as serving meals in classrooms or at kiosks outside cafeterias. Under the bill, schools would receive an extra 10 cents for each breakfast served that meets the program requirements, with funds flowing from the state educational agency to the individual school. Eligibility is limited to schools either receiving special assistance payments or having at least 40 percent of enrolled students identified as eligible for free or reduced-price meals in the prior school year. The legislation amends the existing Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act to establish this new reimbursement category.
School Social Workers Improving Student Success Act This bill provides certain resources to increase the number of social workers in elementary and secondary schools. Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Education to award grants to high-need local educational agencies to retain or hire school social workers. The bill also establishes a national technical assistance center for school social work to, among other duties, develop strategies for improving the effectiveness of the school social work workforce.
This bill, known as the Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention Act, requires schools that receive federal education funding to include mental health and suicide prevention resources on student identification cards. The law mandates that these cards display contact information for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and any state or local suicide prevention hotlines available in the area. Schools that do not issue physical ID cards must instead post this information prominently on their websites and include it on digital platforms students regularly use. The bill also directs the federal education secretary to run outreach campaigns to help students, parents, and school staff learn about these mental health resources.
The Menstrual Equity For All Act of 2025 requires schools, colleges, correctional facilities, and federal buildings to provide free menstrual products to those who need them. It makes menstrual products covered by Medicaid, prohibits states from taxing these products, and creates grant programs to support low-income individuals. Key provisions include mandating free products in educational settings, requiring employers with 100+ employees to provide them, and expanding Medicaid coverage for these items. The bill directly affects students, incarcerated individuals, homeless people, Medicaid beneficiaries, and low-income families by addressing period poverty through concrete access requirements.
The America First Act (HR 746) would restrict access to numerous federal benefits and programs for certain non-citizens by requiring citizenship verification and denying eligibility to individuals with specific immigration statuses. It affects programs including Medicaid, Medicare, Head Start, WIC, school meals, housing assistance, tax credits, and community development funds by denying benefits to people granted parole, temporary protected status (TPS), deferred action (including DACA), asylum, or who are unlawfully present. The bill also reduces funding for schools in "sanctuary jurisdictions" and limits refugee resettlement for certain Haitian immigrants. It mandates that federal agencies verify immigration status before providing benefits and prohibits use of federal funds for services to certain non-citizens.
Topics
✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesDenies eligibility for tax credits and federal programs including Medicaid, Medicare, and housing assistance, effectively defunding these services for targeted groups.85% confidence
✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts school meals and Head Start access for non-citizens, limiting educational program participation and funding eligibility for affected students.85% confidence
✗ HealthcareOpposes HealthcareRestricts access to Medicaid and Medicare for non-citizens with specific immigration statuses, directly limiting healthcare coverage and benefits.95% confidence
✗ HousingOpposes HousingDenies housing assistance to non-citizens with parole, TPS, DACA, and asylum status, directly restricting access to federal housing programs.95% confidence
✗ ImmigrationOpposes ImmigrationRestricts access to Medicaid, Medicare, and other benefits for non-citizens with TPS, DACA, and asylum status, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.95% confidence
This bill prohibits corporal punishment in schools receiving federal funding, defining it as any physical force causing pain for discipline. It requires schools to notify parents within 24 hours of any corporal punishment incident and mandates states to submit school climate reports detailing efforts to reduce exclusionary discipline practices like suspensions and expulsions. The bill establishes a grant program to help schools implement positive behavioral interventions, such as restorative justice and trauma-informed care, while requiring staff training on these approaches. The bill applies to public schools and other schools receiving federal funds but does not affect private schools or home schools that don't receive federal funding.
