Education

HR 4006, the Mission UNPLUGGED Act, prohibits students in Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools from using personal electronic devices like smartphones during regular school hours. The policy allows exceptions for emergencies, medical needs, disabilities (as documented in IEPs or 504 plans), English language learning support, and extracurricular activities. DODEA must implement the policy within 180 days of enactment, with $1.2 million authorized for 2026 to fund device storage solutions and support, and must submit annual reports on implementation, costs, and effects on student performance and well-being.

This bill restores the pre-January 20, 2025, administrative structure of the Head Start program within the Department of Health and Human Services. It establishes a central Office of Head Start with 12 regional offices, requiring the Secretary to maintain all prior staffing levels, organizational structure, and functions. The bill prohibits the Secretary from restructuring the office or reducing staff without providing 60 days' notice to Congress and the public, ensuring continuity in program oversight. It directly affects the Office of Head Start, its regional offices, and HHS staff managing Head Start operations.

Mentoring to Succeed Act of 2025 This bill establishes grants to support mentoring programs for eligible youth (e.g., in-school youth, out-of-school youth, or youth who are failing academically or who meet specified criteria).  Specifically, the bill directs the Department of Labor to award competitive grants for certain community-based organizations or partnerships involving community-based organizations to (1) establish, expand, or support mentoring programs; (2) assist eligible youth enrolled in secondary schools in developing cognitive and social-emotional skills; and (3) prepare eligible youth for success in high school, postsecondary education, and the workforce. Additionally, Labor must work with the Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Department of Education to (1) refer grant recipients to the National Mentoring Resource Center to obtain mentoring resources, and (2) provide grant recipients with information regarding transitional services for eligible youth returning from correctional facilities and transition services for students with disabilities. The bill also requires Labor's Chief Evaluation Office to study and report on mentoring programs.

This bill creates federal grants to help community colleges expand agriculture and natural resources programs. It provides competitive funding to community colleges and college consortia to support workforce training, education, research, and outreach - especially when partnering with local agriculture businesses. Funds can be used for equipment, faculty development, apprenticeships, and programming on farm business management topics like accounting and finance. The bill authorizes $20 million annually from 2026-2031, requiring a 3-year evaluation report to Congress on program impacts.

HR 3655, the STAR Plus Scholarship Act, creates a federal scholarship program to address shortages in mental health and substance use disorder treatment workforces. It provides tuition and educational expense coverage to students enrolled in approved programs leading to careers as psychiatrists, social workers, addiction counselors, or other mental health professionals. In exchange, recipients must work full-time in designated mental health professional shortage areas or counties with high overdose death rates for one year per scholarship year. The program authorizes $75 million annually (2026-2030) and prioritizes applicants from underrepresented groups or those likely to continue serving in shortage areas after their obligation ends.

This resolution (HRES 836) urges the U.S. government to develop a regional artificial intelligence strategy for the Americas. It calls for U.S. agencies to prioritize inclusive AI development that combats biases against marginalized groups, promotes social justice, and leverages the hemisphere's diverse populations. Key mechanisms include funding AI education and infrastructure across the region, creating ethical frameworks for AI governance, and collaborating with partners like the Organization of American States. The resolution directly affects U.S. foreign policy agencies and aims to shape AI systems used throughout the Western Hemisphere, focusing on equitable outcomes for underserved communities.

S 751, the CROWN Act of 2025, prohibits discrimination based on hair texture or style commonly associated with race or national origin. It directly protects people - particularly those of African descent - who wear natural or protective hairstyles like braids, locs, cornrows, twists, or Afros from discrimination in federally funded schools, workplaces, housing, and public accommodations. The law expands existing civil rights protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Fair Housing Act to explicitly cover hair-based discrimination, requiring that policies prohibiting such hairstyles be reviewed for discriminatory impact. Enforcement follows the same procedures as current civil rights laws, ensuring consistent application.

HR 3753, the Expanding Access for Online Veteran Students Act, would increase housing stipends for veterans using the Post-9/11 GI Bill to take fully online courses. Currently, veterans enrolled solely in distance learning programs receive only 50% of the standard housing allowance; this bill removes that restriction, providing full housing stipends for online students attending more than half-time. The change applies to all veterans pursuing online degrees under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, ensuring they receive the same housing support as on-campus students. The policy takes effect for terms beginning August 1, 2025.

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.

Rural Telehealth and Education Enhancement Act of 2025 This bill reauthorizes the Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program through FY2030. This Department of Agriculture program provides grants to help rural communities gain the technology and training necessary to engage in telemedicine and distance learning.