Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
Introduced
Summary
Educational equity is the focus. This bill would create a Department of Education grant program to help schools close pandemic-era learning and health gaps through evidence-based and educator-led projects.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Big K–12 equity grant program
This bill would create a Department of Education grant program to reduce K–12 learning and health gaps worsened by COVID‑19. It would authorize $15 billion per year for 2027–2029, $10 billion per year for 2030–2033, and $5 billion per year for 2034–2036. The Secretary would publish applications and resources within 90 days after enactment. After reserving up to 5% for administration and 5% for outlying areas and the Bureau of Indian Education, 75% of remaining funds would go to evidence‑based projects and 25% to field‑ and educator‑initiated projects. At least 50% of remaining funds would go to entities serving areas where 20% or more of school‑age children are low‑income, and at least 25% would go to rural entities; the Secretary may reduce those set‑asides if sufficient quality applications are not received. For‑profit entities would be excluded. Field‑initiated grantees would need independent evaluations and must publicly share results. Grantees would file annual reports with disaggregated outcomes and the Secretary would report yearly to Congress starting one year after the first grants are awarded.
Protect school employee rights
This bill would say that nothing in the grant section changes rights, remedies, or procedures for school or district employees under federal, state, or local law. It would not change collective bargaining agreements, memoranda of understanding, or other contracts between employers and employees. This protection would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Cosponsors
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov