The All in For Attendance Act aims to reduce chronic student absenteeism by requiring schools to implement specific support strategies for students missing 10 percent or more of school days. It mandates the creation of data systems to track attendance reasons, establishes advisory programs to engage families, and requires schools to partner with community organizations to remove barriers like transportation or health issues. The legislation also prohibits schools from using suspensions, fines, or academic penalties as punishment for student absences. Additionally, it directs funds toward evidence-based interventions such as social and emotional learning programs, restorative justice, and high-impact tutoring to improve student engagement and attendance.
This bill, known as the Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2026, allows public housing utility allowances to cover high-speed internet service, equipment, and installation fees for families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches. The legislation sets the covered internet cost at the lowest monthly rate available in the area while explicitly permitting families to choose more expensive plans or bundled services if they prefer. Additionally, the bill requires internet service providers to offer a specific filtering technology that blocks visual content harmful to minors, ensuring a level of protection comparable to existing certified standards. These changes directly affect households living in public housing by expanding the types of living expenses that can be subsidized through their utility benefits.
The FRESH Act establishes a grant program to help schools purchase and install refrigeration equipment for storing and dispensing milk. This funding is available to local school districts, tribal organizations, and their consortia on a competitive basis, with the federal government covering up to 75 percent of the project costs. The bill authorizes $4 million annually from 2027 through 2031 to support these initiatives under the National School Lunch Act.
The Student Suicide Prevention Awareness Act of 2026 requires schools to display clear and visible signage promoting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in various locations such as entrances, common areas, restrooms, and digital bulletin boards. This legislation mandates that the signage include the lifeline phone number, instructions on how to access support via call, text, or chat, and information stating that the service is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Additionally, the bill directs the Department of Health and Human Services to coordinate a public awareness campaign involving schools and to update existing signage to meet these new requirements by 2027. These changes directly affect educational institutions by establishing specific standards for how and where suicide prevention resources must be communicated to students.
The Loan Forgiveness for Educators Act of 2026 expands existing federal student loan relief programs to offer full debt cancellation for teachers and early childhood educators who work in high-need schools or specific early childhood programs for five years. Under the bill, eligible educators can receive 100 percent forgiveness of their outstanding loans after completing five years of service, which may be consecutive or nonconsecutive, while also qualifying for monthly loan payments to be made by the government during their employment. The legislation defines "high need schools" as those with at least 30 percent of students from low-income families and includes various early childhood settings, while also extending benefits to parents who borrow PLUS loans for their qualifying children or who are educators themselves. To support implementation, the law requires the Department of Education to publish a list of eligible schools and programs, allows for self-certification in some early childhood roles, and ensures that educators who leave their positions early or are promoted within the same organization do not lose their eligibility for forgiveness.
This bill directs the U.S. Department of Education to encourage colleges and universities to create evidence-based plans for preventing suicide and improving mental health. The Department must coordinate these efforts with the Department of Health and Human Services and align them with existing federal suicide prevention programs. Additionally, the bill requires the Secretary of Education to submit reports to Congress on these initiatives within one year and three years of enactment. Crucially, the legislation explicitly states that it does not create new legal obligations for schools or grant the Department new regulatory authority.
The Scratch Cooked Meals for Students Act establishes a pilot program to provide competitive grants to school food authorities for preparing meals using unprocessed or minimally processed ingredients. These grants, which cover costs such as equipment upgrades, staff training, and technology systems, are available for a two-year period and are prioritized for schools serving high numbers of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. To support implementation, the bill requires recipients to collaborate with a designated technical assistance center to create strategic plans and mandates a final report detailing changes in ingredient usage and menu preparation methods. The program is funded with up to $20 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2031, with a portion reserved for administrative and technical assistance expenses.
This bill creates a new funding program to hire more school counselors, psychologists, and social workers at schools with high numbers of low-income students. It provides federal grants to states, which then distribute money to local school districts to help them meet recommended staffing ratios of 250 students per counselor and 500 students per psychologist. To receive these funds, states must contribute matching money and submit detailed plans showing how they will improve student-to-provider ratios in their highest-need schools. The program is designed to address rising mental health issues among youth by increasing access to professional support directly within the school environment.
The Elementary and Secondary School Counseling Act creates a new funding program to hire more counselors, psychologists, and social workers for schools with high numbers of low-income students. These funds are distributed to states, which then award subgrants to local school districts to help them reach recommended staffing ratios of 250 students per counselor, 500 per psychologist, and 250 per social worker. To qualify for the money, states must match the federal grant with their own funds and submit detailed plans showing how they will prioritize high-need schools. The bill also requires regular reporting on how many mental health staff are hired and the current student-to-staff ratios in participating schools.
This bill authorizes federal grants to help states and local school districts create wellness programs specifically designed to support the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of school staff, including teachers, administrators, and support personnel. The funding, available for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, would be distributed competitively to states, which must then provide subgrants to local agencies that prioritize schools serving high-need student populations. Recipients are required to develop initiatives addressing stress management, workplace conditions, and job satisfaction while reporting annually on program effectiveness and staff retention rates. Additionally, the legislation updates the authorization period for these funds and adjusts the structure of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to include this new category of support.
