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HR8263119th CongressWALLET

Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

Introduced

Summary

Educational Equity Challenge Grant Program would fund coordinated grants to close learning gaps and support students' academic, social-emotional, mental, behavioral, and physical health needs. It focuses on pandemic-related harms and other inequities and sets rules for awards, evidence, evaluation, and public reporting.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

How grant money would be split

If enacted, the Department would divide grant money after an admin cap and a 5% reservation for outlying areas and the Bureau of Indian Education. At least 75% of remaining funds would go to evidence-based proposals and 25% to field- and educator-initiated projects. At least 50% would go to entities serving areas where 20% or more of school-age children are low-income. At least 25% would go to entities serving rural areas. The Secretary could lower the 50% or 25% floors if not enough high-quality applications arrive.

Large multi‑year funding limits

This bill would authorize large annual funding amounts for the program if Congress appropriates them. It would allow up to $15 billion per year for fiscal years 2027–2029, $10 billion per year for 2030–2033, and $5 billion per year for 2034–2036. These are the maximum amounts Congress could choose to provide each year.

New grant program for schools

This bill would create an Educational Equity Challenge Grant program at the Department of Education. Eligible grantees would include school districts, state and service agencies, nonprofit–district partnerships, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Grants would fund evidence-based or teacher-initiated projects to help students with academic, social-emotional, mental, behavioral, and physical health needs. The Department could use no more than 5% of program funds for administration. The bill would not change existing employee legal rights or collective bargaining agreements.

Application, priority, and reporting rules

This bill would require applicants to identify student academic and health inequities and to describe COVID-19 impacts on named student groups while protecting privacy. The Department must publish the grant application and evidence resources on its website within 90 days of enactment. The Department would give priority to applicants that serve disproportionately high shares of high-need students, including low-income, students of color, Native American students, homeless, migrant, foster care, English learners, juvenile-justice-involved youth, students with disabilities, and students hit hard by COVID-19. Grantees would file annual reports on fund use and student results, and field- and educator-initiated grants would require independent evaluations that are publicly available for free.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

CT • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 4/14/2026

  • Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 4/14/2026

  • Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 4/14/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    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.

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