Green New Deal for Public Schools Act
Sponsored By: Senator Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would turn public schools into modern, zero‑carbon, climate‑resilient community centers focused on health and equity. It pairs massive capital grants for green retrofits and new low‑carbon schools with staffing and equity programs to support students, communities, and local jobs.
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- Schools and students would get deep building upgrades and new construction with strict energy targets such as a 25 kBtu per square foot site energy goal for new schools and retrofit funding based on vulnerability; the most vulnerable third of schools could receive 100% of retrofit costs. It also bans using project funds for punitive surveillance or reduced accessibility for students with disabilities.
- Families and communities would gain services and safer schools through Resource Block Grants that fund counselors, nurses, restorative justice staff, lower student‑to‑staff ratios (12:1 for K–8 and 15:1 for 9–12), and support for schools to operate as community resiliency centers.
- Workers and local businesses must meet labor and domestic‑content rules including prevailing wages, Buy American standards, project labor agreements for large projects, and a local‑hiring floor that requires at least 30% of grant‑funded jobs be filled by residents in the served area and apprenticeship enrollment targets of 20%.
*Would substantially increase federal spending by authorizing major multi‑year appropriations and loan authority, including $446 billion for climate capital grants, a $446 billion loan cap, $74 billion per year for Title I for 10 years, $4 billion per year for Title II, and rising mandatory IDEA funding culminating at about $69.6 billion annually.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Guaranteed special education funding increases
If enacted, the bill would set mandatory IDEA section 611(i) funding levels for fiscal years 2027 through 2036 and each year after. Each year the authorized amount would be the larger of a listed fixed dollar amount or a percentage of (number of children with disabilities × national average per-pupil spending). By fiscal year 2036 and later the floor would be $69.64 billion or 40 percent of that calculated amount, whichever is greater.
More Title I funding for schools
If enacted, the bill would appropriate $74 billion each year for Part A of Title I for the ten fiscal years after enactment. That money would be available to help high-poverty schools and districts under the existing Title I formulas. Funds are drawn from Treasury amounts not otherwise appropriated.
School climate resiliency grants
If enacted, the bill would create a Climate Change Resiliency Program at the Department of Education. The program would get $4 billion each year for fiscal years 2027 through 2037. States, districts, and nonprofits could get grants for school solar and storage, kitchen upgrades, electric buses and chargers, high-speed internet tied to E-rate, disaster equipment, and other resiliency projects. Not more than 5 percent of the money could pay for remote-learning projects, and the Secretary would report to Congress within two years and then every year.
Grants to hire school staff
If enacted, the bill would create Resource Block Grants to help qualified local school districts hire educators and support staff. Grantees would have to use at least 80 percent of grant funds to hire and pay eligible full-time staff for 10 years and meet staffing targets like 12:1 student-to-staff in K–8 and one counselor per 250 students. Applicants must submit community-engaged plans, include a local-hiring requirement (at least 30 percent of grant jobs), and post progress on a public, accessible platform.
Regional school equity planning grants
If enacted, the bill would fund planning and implementation grants for regional consortia of two or more nearby school districts to develop and carry out equity plans. Planning grants would last up to one year. The law would appropriate $100 million to run this program over the ten fiscal years after enactment and pay for technical help and administration.
Reserved funding for BIE schools
If enacted, the bill would require the Education and Energy Departments, with Interior, to reserve enough grant money and technical assistance so Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools and BIE-funded schools can fully carry out applicable grant activities. The assistance would be developed with tribes and community members and must respect tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
Updates to CDC social vulnerability index
If enacted, the bill would require the CDC Director to update the Social Vulnerability Index within 90 days and at least once every two years using the latest American Community Survey data. CDC would also have to send a report on methods and data challenges to two Congressional committees within one year and every two years after that. Changing the index can change which places get priority for some grants and programs.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Markey, Edward J. [D-MA]
MA • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT]
VT • I
Sponsored 7/30/2026
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/30/2026
Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov