Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
Introduced
Summary
Revitalized schoolyards would create park-like outdoor learning and play spaces at public elementary and secondary schools that support hands-on education, nature play, and community access. The program pairs a planning phase with an implementation phase to design, build, and maintain those outdoor spaces.
Show full summary
- Students and educators: Outdoor spaces would be designed for nature-based learning tied to State learning standards and must include plans for educator professional development and long-term maintenance.
- Equity, tribal, and community access: The program reserves 5 percent of annual funds for Bureau of Indian Education and tribal schools and gives competitive priority to projects serving schools with at least 75 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
- Grants and recipient rules: Awards are capped at $1.0 million per recipient and implementation grants generally require a 20 percent nonfederal match, with waivers available for high-poverty schools.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New federal schoolyard grant program
If enacted, the bill would create a federal grant program to plan and build "revitalized schoolyards" at public elementary and secondary schools. Eligible applicants would include local school districts, educational service agencies, and nonprofits partnering with districts. Grants would be awarded in two-year cohorts with planning in year one and possible implementation in year two. The Department would run a clearinghouse of design and lesson-plan resources to help schools plan and maintain outdoor learning spaces.
Implementation grants, local match, and training
If enacted, implementation grants would pay to build approved revitalized schoolyards but would only go to entities that received an acceptable planning grant. No more than 25 percent of an implementation grant could pay for professional development and staff or partner support. Recipients must provide a 20 percent non-Federal match, but the Secretary may waive the match for recipients serving student populations with at least 40 percent of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch or for schools covered by the tribal reservation.
Program funding for districts and tribes
If enacted, the bill would authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2027–2031 as "such sums as may be necessary." Each year the Secretary would reserve 5 percent of the appropriation for Bureau of Indian Education and tribal schools. After that reservation, 30 percent of remaining funds would pay planning grants and 70 percent would pay implementation grants. Each eligible entity could receive no more than $1,000,000 total for planning and implementation combined.
Planning grants and priority for low-income schools
If enacted, planning grants would pay for concept plans and design documents made with student, family, educator, and public input. Plans must include resilience, accessibility, student counts, drawings, cost estimates, partners, and long-term maintenance. Planning awards may use up to 10 percent to hire a grant writer or consultant. The Secretary would give competitive priority to applicants serving schools where at least 75 percent of students get free or reduced-price lunch and may reaward unused planning funds to high-scoring applicants from the same cycle.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/15/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 4/16/2026
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov