Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act
- Bill Number
- S. 2783
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Economics and Public Finance
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-09-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-02-04T05:06:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act (S. 2783) aims to provide ongoing federal funding for the Learn and Serve America program, which is part of the National and Community Service Act of 1990. This program supports service-learning initiatives—hands-on projects where students learn civic responsibility through community service integrated with academics. The bill also seeks to broaden who can participate in and receive funding from the program to increase its reach.
Key Provisions
- Funding Allocation:
- Appropriates $40 million annually starting in fiscal year 2026 (and for all future years) directly from the U.S. Treasury to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) for the program.
- At least 20% of these funds must support school-based service-learning (Part I of the program), while at least 80% supports community-based service-learning (Part II).
- Additional funds are provided to hire at least 10 full-time staff at CNCS to focus on planning, program design, and technology improvements for the program.
- Eligibility Expansion:
- Defines "local educational agency" (LEA) as a public school district or similar entity responsible for elementary and secondary education, using the definition from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
- Expands eligible recipients to include LEAs or groups (consortia) of two or more LEAs in a state.
- Allows state educational agencies (SEAs) to pass funding responsibilities to experienced entities, such as community-based organizations, non-profits that train teachers and students, or state commissions on national service.
- Award Structure:
- For fiscal years 2026 and beyond, CNCS must reserve 2-3% of funds for the Bureau of Indian Affairs to support Native American communities.
- Shifts from formula-based allotments to competitive grants awarded to SEAs, U.S. territories, and Indian tribes.
- Requires CNCS to submit an annual report to Congress detailing how funds were distributed by grantee type and their uses.
- Technical Updates: Makes conforming changes to the law, such as replacing terms like "allotments" with "awards" in relevant sections, and updates the table of contents.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a permanent direct appropriation of $40 million per year, supplementing any other available funds, which ensures stable funding beyond the previous reliance on annual congressional approvals.
- Expands program eligibility beyond SEAs and territories to include LEAs and consortia, allowing more local school districts to directly access grants.
- Transitions the funding mechanism from mostly formula-driven allotments (through fiscal year 2025) to competitive grants starting in 2026, potentially making awards more merit-based.
- Permits SEAs to delegate roles to non-governmental entities with service-learning expertise, increasing flexibility in program administration.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: CNCS will receive dedicated staff and funding to enhance program operations, potentially improving efficiency and innovation. The Bureau of Indian Affairs gains a reserved funding share, supporting service-learning in tribal schools. SEAs and LEAs may see increased administrative responsibilities but also more opportunities for local control.
- On Citizens: Students, teachers, and youth workers could benefit from expanded access to service-learning opportunities, fostering skills like teamwork and community engagement. This may particularly aid underserved areas, including rural schools and Native American communities, by promoting educational equity.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic education and community service programs.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS): Primary administrator, gaining funds and staff to expand the program.
- State and Local Educational Agencies (SEAs and LEAs): Newly eligible for grants, enabling more schools to integrate service-learning.
- U.S. Territories and Indian Tribes: Eligible for competitive grants, with tribes benefiting from reserved funds via the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
- Non-Profit and Community Organizations: Can take on delegated roles or partner in program delivery, especially those focused on teacher training and youth support.
- Students and Educators: Direct beneficiaries through increased service-learning activities that combine academics with real-world service.
- Bureau of Indian Affairs: Receives a portion of funds to support tribal education initiatives.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The direct appropriation from the Treasury creates a mandatory funding stream, reducing reliance on discretionary budgets and potentially making the program more resilient to annual funding debates. Amendments to the National and Community Service Act ensure consistency without altering core program goals.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's spending power under Article I, Section 8, by authorizing federal funds for education and community service, which are permissible areas of national interest. No apparent conflicts with federalism, as it enhances state and local involvement.
- Political: Signals bipartisan support for youth civic education by providing long-term funding stability, but the shift to competitive grants could spark debates over fairness in allocation. The focus on Native American reservations and territories addresses equity concerns, potentially influencing future education policy discussions.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2025-09-11: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2025-09-11: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act — issued 2025-09-11 — PDF (7 pages)