This resolution designates April as "Community College Month" to recognize the significance of community colleges across the United States. It celebrates over 1,000 institutions for their role in providing accessible higher education and workforce training, and for contributing to the nation's economic prosperity.
This Senate Resolution recognizes April 14, 2026, as "World Quantum Day." It supports the day's goals of celebrating the role of quantum physics in daily life and encourages schools and educators to observe it with activities that teach students about quantum physics and engage them in STEM fields.
This Senate resolution (SRES 670) expresses support for the goals of the 2026 Day of Silence, an event designed to highlight anti-LGBTQI+ bullying, harassment, and discrimination faced by individuals in K-12 schools. It focuses on improving the educational environment for all students, particularly LGBTQI+ young people, by drawing attention to issues like unequal educational opportunity and a lack of civil rights protections. The resolution encourages states, cities, and local school districts to adopt laws and policies that explicitly prohibit bullying and discrimination against students, teachers, and other school staff based on their sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.
This bill, titled the "Biotechnology for All High School Students Act," aims to expand biotechnology education for secondary school students across the United States. It authorizes a competitive grant program for eligible entities, such as schools, colleges, and non-profit organizations, to support new and existing biotechnology education initiatives. Funds from these grants can be used for purposes like professional development for teachers, developing curricula, acquiring laboratory equipment, establishing partnerships, and creating transferable biotechnology credentials for students. The bill also establishes a National Biotechnology Education Consortium to provide support and recommendations for these programs, promoting coordination and resource sharing among various stakeholders.
The "No ICE in Schools Act" proposes to prevent educational agencies and institutions from releasing student records or other personal information for immigration enforcement purposes. It directly affects schools and colleges receiving federal funds, as well as students whose data might be sought by immigration enforcement. The bill amends existing law to prohibit federal funds from being provided to any educational entity that releases such information without specific written consent from the student's parents. This parental consent must detail the records, reasons for release, and recipient, with a copy provided to the parents.
The CREATES Act authorizes a grant program for states to establish or improve publicly accessible databases of educational and occupational credentials. The Secretary of Labor, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, would award competitive grants up to $10 million over three years to states for this purpose. States receiving grants must create repositories that identify all credentials and training providers in the state, including details on program costs, skills developed, career pathways, and employment outcomes associated with each credential. These repositories must use transparent, interoperable data formats and be continuously updated, while strictly prohibiting the collection of any personally identifiable information. This initiative aims to help individuals make informed education and career choices, and provides data for employers, educators, and counselors.
This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to expand the definition of "institution of higher education" for certain graduate medical schools located outside the United States. This change affects these foreign medical schools and their students, potentially making more students eligible for federal student loans. The bill adds an alternative criterion for schools to qualify: they must have had a clinical training program approved by a U.S. state (requiring an on-site visit) as of January 31, 2021, and continue to operate such a program in at least one U.S. state with state approval. This is in addition to the existing criterion that at least 60% of their students and graduates are not U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens.
The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to help eligible educational entities address students' academic, social-emotional, mental, behavioral, and physical health needs, including those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Administered by the Secretary of Education, the program awards funds for either implementing proven, evidence-based strategies or designing and evaluating new, educator-initiated proposals. Priority for these grants is given to entities serving high-need student populations, such as those in rural areas, low-income communities, and various disproportionately affected groups. Recipients must report annually on how funds were used and their impact on student outcomes.
The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act of 2026 establishes a federal grant program to provide funding to local and state educational agencies, non-profit partnerships, and other eligible entities. These grants aim to address students' academic, social-emotional, mental, behavioral, and physical health needs, especially those exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Funds will support either evidence-based activities or innovative, educator-initiated proposals, with specific allocations for rural areas, low-income student populations, and tribal schools. Priority will be given to applicants serving high-need students, including those from low-income families, students of color, and students with disabilities, to promote equitable educational outcomes. Grant recipients must report on how funds were used and their effect on student learning and well-being.
The Revitalizing America’s Schoolyards Act of 2026 establishes a grant program, administered by the Department of Education, to help public elementary and secondary schools transform their outdoor spaces into "revitalized schoolyards." These new outdoor environments are designed to strengthen local ecological systems, provide hands-on learning opportunities, and promote nature play and social interaction for students and the community. Eligible entities, including local schools and partner non-profits, can apply for planning grants to design these spaces and then implementation grants to build them, with priority given to schools serving a high percentage of low-income students or those vulnerable to extreme heat or flooding. The bill requires a 20% non-federal match for implementation grants, which can be waived for high-need or tribal schools, and also directs the Secretary to maintain a clearinghouse of outdoor learning resources.