H.R. 7340

Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026

Sponsor: Robert C. "Bobby" Scott

98 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2026

This bill provides support for long-term improvements to public elementary and secondary school facilities.

First, the bill sets forth allocations to states and establishes a need-based grant program for local educational agencies (LEAs) to improve school facilities. Further, the bill specifies allowable uses of grant funds, including carrying out major repairs, improving indoor air quality, and making facilities accessible to individuals with disabilities.

Additionally, the bill requires LEAs that receive funds for new construction, modernization, or renovation projects to comply with hazard-resistance building codes and performance criteria under the WaterSense program of the Environmental Protection Agency. Further, the bill requires such LEAs to adopt certain green practices (environmental standards) and requires the use of iron, steel, and manufactured products that are made in the United States (Buy America).

The bill restores school infrastructure tax credit bonds.

The bill also sets forth reporting requirements, including annual reports on grant program projects and a report by the Government Accountability Office that requires a study of the geographic distribution of projects, the impact of selected projects on student and staff health and safety, and the accessibility of projects to high-needs schools.

The bill also establishes the Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability within the Department of Education.

Next, the bill extends through FY2031 the Impact Aid Construction program.

Finally, the bill establishes a grant program to assist LEAs with repairing or replacing concrete foundations affected by pyrrhotite (an iron sulfide material linked to crumbling foundations).

Text of the bill

Expand all

I GRANTS FOR THE LONG-TERM IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES

II School infrastructure bonds

III USES OF FUNDS

IV REPORTS AND OTHER MATTERS

Sec. 402. Study and report on physical condition of public schools

(a) Study and report. Not less frequently than once in each 5-year period beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences, shall—

(1) carry out a comprehensive study of the physical conditions of all public schools in each State and outlying area; and

(2) submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that includes the results of the study.

(b) Elements. Each study and report under subsection (a) shall include—

(1) an assessment of—

(A) the effect of school facility conditions on student and staff health and safety;

(B) the effect of school facility conditions on student academic outcomes;

(C) the condition of school facilities, set forth separately by geographic region;

(D) the condition of school facilities for economically disadvantaged students as well as students from major racial and ethnic subgroups;

(E) the accessibility of school facilities for students and staff with disabilities;

(F) the prevalence of school facilities at which student enrollment exceeds the physical and instructional capacity of the facility and the effect of such excess enrollment on instructional quality and delivery of school wraparound services;

(G) the condition of school facilities affected by natural disasters;

(H) the effect that projects carried out with covered funds have on the communities in which such projects are conducted, including the vitality, jobs, population, and economy of such communities;

(I) the ability of building envelopes and interiors of public school facilities to protect occupants from natural elements and human threats; and

(J) the performance of school facilities projects with respect to energy and water efficiency and climate mitigation and resilience;

(2) an explanation of any differences observed with respect to the factors described in subparagraphs (A) through (J) of paragraph (1); and

(3) a cost estimate for bringing school facilities to a state of good repair, as determined by the Secretary.

V IMPACT AID CONSTRUCTION

VI ASSISTANCE FOR REPAIR OF SCHOOL FOUNDATIONS AFFECTED BY PYRRHOTITE