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119-s-5467119th CongressWALLET

MAGNET Act

Sponsored By: Senator Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

Introduced

Summary

Expands federal support for magnet schools to drive racial and socioeconomic integration. This bill would open competitive grants to State educational agencies, local districts, and consortia and add a supplemental grant stream focused on inclusive enrollment, transportation, and accountability.

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  • Families and students: Would increase access to diverse magnet programs and provide free, accessible transportation, transfer counseling, and wraparound supports to help low-income students attend.
  • States, districts, and consortia: Would let SEAs, LEAs, and consortia apply for multi-year grants to fund whole-school conversions, regional magnets, educator pipelines, and limited facilities work. Grants may run up to 5 years and be capped at $7.5 million per award, with up to 15.0 percent for infrastructure.
  • New and underserved applicants: Novice applicants get targeted technical assistance and priority. Up to 1.0 percent of annual funds may be reserved for shared technical help, and the Secretary must prioritize entities that did not recently receive Part D funds.

*It would authorize appropriations for FY2027–FY2031 with a minimum annual funding floor of $109.0 million to support grants and technical assistance.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Guaranteed federal magnet funding

This bill would require the Department of Education to spend at least $109,000,000 each year on Part D magnet grants for fiscal years 2027–2031. If appropriations for the part exceed $75,000,000 in a year, money above $75,000,000 would be prioritized for agencies that did not get a grant the prior year. The Secretary could reserve up to 1 percent of annual funds for technical assistance and sharing best practices. Any money above the $109,000,000 floor could be used for the new supplemental diversity grants in section 4408A.

New supplemental diversity grants

This bill would create a new competitive supplemental grant program (section 4408A) for SEAs, LEAs, or consortia that have not received a Part D grant in the prior 3 years. Grants would last up to 5 fiscal years and be capped at $7,500,000 per award. Funds could pay for things like data and evaluation, inclusive enrollment work, free transportation, transfer-cost supports, educator pipelines, family engagement (including food or child care subsidies), and up to 15 percent for limited facilities or equipment. The Secretary would not award a grant to any applicant that plans to charge application fees, and recipients must submit annual, public reports and may face corrective action or fund return if they do not show required improvements.

States can apply; new winners get help

This bill would let State educational agencies apply for competitive magnet grants in addition to eligible local agencies and consortia. It would define a "novice" applicant as one that applied previously but did not win. If a novice applicant wins a grant, the grantee could use up to 1 percent of its grant funds for technical assistance to implement its magnet plan. These changes would take effect upon enactment.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Murphy, Christopher [D-CT]

CT • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

  • Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

  • Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 9/23/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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