November 21, 2024

Warren, Hayes, Colleagues Reintroduce Legislation to Tackle Inequities in Public Education with Historic Investments

Bill establishes $100 billion competitive grant program to improve academic recovery and bolster student support in wake of COVID-19 pandemic 

Bill Text (PDF) | Bill One-Pager (PDF) | Section-by-Section (PDF)

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) reintroduced the Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act, a bill to create a $100 billion application-based grant program to accelerate academic progress and address students’ social, emotional, mental, behavioral, and physical health needs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Public schools across the nation have long faced significant funding gaps and lacked the resources to provide all students with a high-quality public education. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these pre-existing opportunity and achievement gaps for students in low-income communities and communities of color. While Congress sent emergency funding to schools at the height of the pandemic, the compounded effect of both pre-existing inequities and the COVID-19 pandemic on students’ academic and social development have proven to be lingering.   

The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act of 2024 builds on short-term COVID relief funding by creating a $100 billion application-based grant program administered by the Department of Education over the next ten years. States, school districts, nonprofits in partnership with school districts, and the Bureau of Indian Education may apply for grants for one of two purposes: 

  • Implement Evidence-based Strategies: 75% of funds are reserved for grantees to adopt programs that meet a high bar of evidence, such as supporting social-emotional learning, implementing culturally and linguistically responsive practices, extending instructional time, and implementing high-quality individual or small-group tutoring. 

  • Support Field- and Educator-Initiated Innovations: 25% of funds are reserved for grantees to develop or replicate new ideas and strategies designed by educators in the field to accelerate academic progress and address social, emotional, mental, behavioral, and physical health needs. Grantees must include an independent evaluation for efficacy.

The bill also reserves funds for Bureau of Indian Education, rural areas, and applicants serving low-income students. The grant program also gives priority to applicants serving disproportionately higher percentages of high-need students, including low-income students, students of color and Native American students, homeless students, migrant students, students in foster care, English learners, students with disabilities, and students most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our students, especially those in low-income communities and communities of color, were hit hard by the pandemic,” said Senator Warren. “The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act will help us take on the inequities in our education system by providing long-term funding to give educators the tools they need to support our students.” 

“Millions of students lost valuable instructional time during the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences continue to push them further and further behind. Schools nationwide struggle to address learning loss and student needs with the limited resources available to them,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “While Congress provided historic funding to schools during the pandemic, more must be done to close educational gaps exacerbated by this public health crisis. This bill responds by increasing funding streams to serve the social and emotional needs of students and recruit a diverse educator workforce.” 

Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) have cosponsored this legislation. In the House of Representatives, original cosponsors include Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.). 

The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act is endorsed by the following organizations: The Alliance of Massachusetts YMCAs, American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFT Massachusetts, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Boston Teachers Union (BTU), The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), Committee for Children, EdTrust, Healthy Schools Campaign, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, Connecticut Education Association, MA Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs, MA Parent Teacher Association, National Education Association, Peekapak Inc.       

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