Green New Deal for Public Schools Act
Sponsored By: Representative Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
Introduced
Summary
Federal funding for climate-resilient schools and educator support. This bill would create an Office of Sustainable Schools and launch coordinated grant programs to pay for zero‑carbon retrofits, resilience projects, and long-term staffing in the highest‑need districts. It ties funding to community-driven plans, public reporting, and strong labor and Buy American rules.
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- Families and students: Grants fund healthier, electrified buildings, improved indoor air and daylighting, school kitchens for scratch-cooked meals, remote-learning capacity during disasters, and prioritization of the most vulnerable campuses. These changes aim to reduce exposure to pollution and climate risks.
- Local school districts and educators: The bill provides large mandatory grants to hire staff and meet staffing targets, including staff-to-student ratio goals and protections to retain positions for 10 years; it authorizes $446 billion for Resource Block Grants and $74 billion per year for Title I over 10 years.
- Workers and local economies: Projects must follow prevailing wages, Davis‑Bacon rules, Buy American standards, at least 20% registered-apprenticeship participation where practicable, and at least 30% local community‑based hiring preferences.
*Would add at least $1.4 trillion in mandatory federal spending over ten years, increasing federal outlays.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Energy grants to build zero‑carbon schools
If enacted, the Energy Department would create Climate Capital Facilities Grants to convert or build healthy zero‑carbon public and BIE schools. Grants would cover 100% of project costs for schools in the top third most vulnerable (and BIE schools) and one‑third of costs for the least vulnerable third. Applicants for least‑vulnerable projects could seek low‑ or no‑interest loans, with total loan authority capped at $446 billion. New schools would need to be sited at least 2,500 feet from oil or gas wells, meet strict energy performance targets, and complete pre/post energy measurements and audits.
Higher required IDEA Part B funding
If enacted, the bill would change IDEA Part B funding to set mandatory annual amounts for fiscal years 2027 through 2036 and thereafter. For 2027 it specifies at least $16.66 billion (or 11.6% of a calculated base), and an additional $6.425 billion (or 4.5% of the same base) with specified availability rules. The base is the number of children with disabilities times the national average per‑pupil spending.
Money for school climate and discipline
If enacted, the bill would provide $250 billion from the Treasury for School Climate and Discipline grants over the 10 fiscal years after enactment. The funds would support grants, administrative expenses, and technical assistance to change school discipline practices and expand staff and services.
More Title I funding for schools
If enacted, the bill would appropriate $74 billion each year for 10 years to carry out Title I, Part A, to help schools that serve low‑income students. The Education Secretary would distribute the funds to states and local districts under existing formulas and procedures.
New school climate resiliency grants
If enacted, the Department of Education would run a Climate Change Resiliency Program with $4 billion per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2037. Grants would fund backup power, energy storage, electric buses and charging, kitchen upgrades, green infrastructure, broadband, and disaster training. At least 50% of funds awarded must go to environmental justice communities. The Secretary would report to Congress starting within two years and annually after that.
Local school hiring and pay rules
If enacted, Resource Block Grants would require local districts to use at least 80% of grant money to hire and pay full-time teachers and support staff for 10 years. Districts would have to spend between 2.5% and 20% of the grant on community partnerships and programming. Staff paid with grant funds would be paid at local prevailing rates or under existing union contracts and be included in bargaining units or covered by a neutrality policy. Grant plans would need to aim to fill at least 30% of jobs with local residents or neighbors.
Office of Sustainable Schools and plans
If enacted, the bill would create an Office of Sustainable Schools in the Department of Education to run Resource Block Grants and Educational Equity Grants and to coordinate with Energy, EPA, and Agriculture. The Education Department would give short planning grants (no more than one year) to consortia that make regional equity plans, and give implementation grants to approved plans. Grant recipients would have to publish progress on an accessible public website in multiple languages and meet web accessibility standards.
Set‑aside for Bureau of Indian Education
If enacted, the Departments of Education and Energy would have to reserve enough grant money and administrative support so the Bureau of Indian Education can carry out grant activities for BIE schools. Technical assistance and administration for BIE participation would have to follow Tribal sovereignty and self‑determination principles. The excerpt does not list exact dollar amounts.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Cosponsors
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
MS • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 7/27/2026
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/13/2026
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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