Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4258
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-22T14:02:08Z
AI-Generated Summary
Revitalizing America's Schoolyards Act of 2026 (S. 4258)
Purpose
This bill authorizes the U.S. Secretary of Education to award grants to local school districts, support agencies, or qualified nonprofits partnering with school districts. The goal is to transform outdoor spaces at public elementary and secondary schools into "revitalized schoolyards"—park-like areas that improve local ecology, provide hands-on learning tools, encourage nature-based play, and boost health and well-being for children and adults. These spaces may include trees, gardens, gathering areas, and be open to the public outside school hours.
Key Provisions
- Eligible Recipients: Local educational agencies (school districts), educational service agencies (groups supporting multiple districts), or nonprofits with expertise in outdoor learning partnering with school districts.
- Grant Structure:
- 5% of funds reserved for Tribal schools, including those run by the Bureau of Indian Education or Tribes.
- Grants awarded in biennial cohorts: planning grants (year 1) followed by implementation grants (year 2), if viable.
- 30% of funds for planning; 70% for implementation. Maximum $1 million total per recipient over both grants; each up to 2 years (total 4 years).
- Unused planning funds can shift to implementation or support additional awards.
- Planning Grants: Develop detailed "concept plans" with community input (students, families, educators, public). Plans prioritize schools with low tree cover, climate risks (heat/flooding), and high poverty (free/reduced lunch eligibility). Must include ecology, education, health goals; accessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act; cost estimates; long-term maintenance; and features like gardens, native plants for shade, natural playgrounds.
- Up to 10% for hiring grant writers/consultants.
- Implementation Grants: Build the concept plans. Up to 25% for teacher training on outdoor education and site stewardship. Requires 20% non-federal match, waivable for high-poverty (≥40% free/reduced lunch) or Tribal schools.
- Priorities: Schools with ≥75% free/reduced lunch students.
- Clearinghouse: Secretary maintains an online resource hub with examples, best practices, lesson plans, and links to experts on outdoor learning.
- Funding: Authorizes "such sums as necessary" for fiscal years 2027–2031.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This introduces a new grant program not previously authorized. It builds on existing definitions from the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (terms like local educational agency) but creates fresh mechanisms for schoolyard revitalization, including cohort-based funding, reservations for Tribal entities, and a dedicated clearinghouse. No amendments to prior laws.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: U.S. Department of Education administers grants and clearinghouse; Department of the Interior handles Tribal portion. Increases administrative workload but promotes efficient use of funds via reallocations and priorities.
- Citizens: Improves outdoor school spaces for millions of students, emphasizing equity for low-income and climate-vulnerable areas. Enhances learning (e.g., science, arts via nature), physical/mental health, and community access. Potential cost savings from shade trees reducing indoor cooling needs.
- International Relations: None.
Main Stakeholders
- School Districts and Agencies: Primary applicants; benefit from planning/implementation funds.
- Students and Schools: Especially in high-poverty (free/reduced lunch), low-tree-canopy, or climate-risk areas; gain better play/learning spaces.
- Tribal Schools and Communities: Dedicated funding share.
- Educators and Staff: Professional development for outdoor teaching.
- Nonprofits and Communities: Partners in design/maintenance; public access outside school hours.
- Local Governments: Involved in input and long-term upkeep.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Equity Focus: Prioritizes high-poverty and underserved schools, aligning with federal goals for educational equity and environmental justice (e.g., climate resilience via native plants, stormwater management).
- Accessibility and Compliance: Mandates Americans with Disabilities Act standards; no waivers noted.
- Flexibility: Waivers for matching funds and reallocations support implementation without rigid barriers.
- No Major Constitutional Issues: Standard federal grant authority under spending power; respects Tribal sovereignty via dedicated funds and laws like Indian Self-Determination Act.
- Political Neutrality: Bipartisan potential in education/environment; referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee for review.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-03-26: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 2026-03-26: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act of 2026 — issued 2026-03-26 — PDF (17 pages)