Strength in Diversity Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Scott (VA)
Introduced
Summary
Creates a competitive grant program to reduce racial isolation and concentrated poverty by increasing racial and socioeconomic diversity in publicly funded early childhood, elementary, and secondary schools. The bill funds planning and implementation grants, sets priorities for inter-district and regional programs, and requires performance measures and annual reporting to track outcomes.
Show full summary
- Families and students: Grants aim to improve academic outcomes for all students with emphasis on students of color and low-income students. Progress must be tracked on school readiness, achievement and achievement gaps, graduation, postsecondary readiness, mental health and discipline.
- Local districts and schools: Eligible entities can receive planning grants for up to 2 years and implementation grants for up to 3 years with a possible 2-year extension. Funds may pay for transportation plans, enrollment systems, boundary or lottery changes, teacher recruitment and facility investments to expand access to lower-poverty schools.
- State agencies and regional partners: Applications must show steps to avoid increasing isolation through boundary changes and assess segregation impacts of new school construction. The Secretary may reserve up to 5 percent for national activities and up to 10 percent for state activities each year, and authorizes funding for fiscal years 2025 through 2030.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New grants to diversify public schools
If enacted, the Education Department would offer competitive planning and implementation grants to improve diversity in public pre‑K–12 schools. Eligible state and local education agencies with large achievement gaps or segregation could apply for covered early childhood, elementary, and secondary schools. Planning grants could last up to 2 years; implementation grants up to 3 years, with a 2‑year extension for strong progress. Priority would go to plans that directly cut racial isolation, work across districts, and coordinate with housing and transportation. Funds could pay for staff, programs or facilities, fair enrollment and assignment systems, teacher diversity, and sustainable transportation.
Tougher grant rules and local control
If enacted, applicants would need detailed plans, evidence, clear definitions, and strong parent and community engagement. States would have to guard against boundary changes that increase isolation, review new school construction for segregation impacts, and report progress in required state school report cards. Grantees would file yearly reports with data on results and how they will sustain the work. The bill would also bar federal control over school curriculum, instruction, administration, or personnel.
Multi-year funding and limits for school grants
If enacted, Congress would authorize whatever funds are needed for fiscal year 2025 through 2030 to run these grants. Each year, the Secretary could reserve up to 5% for national activities and up to 10% for state activities, leaving most funds for local grants. During this period, the Secretary could award planning and implementation grants.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Scott (VA)
VA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
McBath
GA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Thompson (MS)
MS • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/23/2025
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/29/2025
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/22/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov