Access to School Supplies Act of 2026

(a) Pilot program. Using amounts appropriated under section 8 and not reserved under section 3, the Secretary of Education shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary makes grants, annually and on a competitive basis, to not more than 10 qualified local educational agencies to assist such agencies in acquiring school supplies as described in subsection (c).

(b) Qualified local educational agency applications

(1) Eligibility. To be eligible to receive a grant under subsection (a), a qualified local educational agency shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require. At a minimum, each such application shall include the information described in paragraph (2).

(2) Contents of application. Each application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include assurances that the qualified local educational agency will—

(A) prioritize the distribution of funds to schools served by the qualified local educational agency that are among the schools with the greatest needs, as determined by such agency;

(B) comply with the reporting requirement under section 6; and

(C) provide a description of how the agency will determine the needs of individual schools, in coordination with each school.

(3) Reapplication. A qualified local educational agency that receives a grant under subsection (a) may reapply for a grant under such subsection for one or more additional award periods.

(4) Priority. In making grants under subsection (a), the Secretary shall prioritize the award of grants to qualified local educational agencies that demonstrate the highest level of need for such grants, as determined by the Secretary.

(c) Use of funds. A qualified local educational agency that receives a grant under subsection (a) shall use the grant to purchase school supplies—

(1) for students to participate in classroom activities; and

(2) for instructional staff to provide such activities.

(d) Contracts with outside entities. A qualified local educational agency may contract with outside entities for purposes of carrying out the activities authorized under subsection (c).

(e) Limitations. A qualified local educational agency that receives a grant under subsection (a) for a fiscal year may reserve not more than 2 percent of the amount of the grant for the administrative costs of carrying out its responsibilities, including the preparation of the annual reports required under section 6.

(f) Geographic diversity. In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that, to the extent practicable, grants are distributed among qualified local educational agencies that will serve geographically diverse areas, including urban, suburban, and rural areas.