Education

in committee · United States · Senate Jan 28, 2026

S 3710: SOAR Permanent Authorization Act

The SOAR Permanent Authorization Act extends the District of Columbia's Scholarships for Opportunity and Results (SOAR) program permanently, replacing its temporary authorization. It allows scholarship grants to be renewed for up to five additional years without competitive bidding, expands the eligible service area to include the Washington metropolitan region (adding Maryland and Virginia counties), and updates school accreditation requirements to include U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-approved bodies. The bill increases annual funding from $60 million to $75 million starting in fiscal year 2027, extends scholarships to cover pre-kindergarten, and requires more frequent program evaluations focused on student academic progress, graduation rates, and school safety comparisons. These changes directly affect D.C. students using SOAR scholarships, participating schools, and the entities administering the program.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill permanently authorizes scholarship funding, ensuring ongoing state budget allocation for education programs without competitive bidding or funding cuts.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExtends DC scholarship program permanently, expands access to MD/VA counties, and streamlines renewal - directly enhances educational access and funding for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Procurement K-12 Education School Choice School Safety

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in committee · United States · House Mar 5, 2025

HR 1886: Affordable College Textbook Act

HR 1886, the Affordable College Textbook Act, creates a federal grant program to help colleges develop and adopt free digital textbooks (open educational resources), directly reducing costs for students. It requires colleges to publicly disclose textbook prices and indicate if materials are open textbooks on course schedules, while mandating accessibility standards for digital resources. The bill funds faculty training, quality reviews, and research on open textbook effectiveness, with grants prioritizing projects that maximize student savings and expand adoption across institutions. It aims to lower textbook costs - averaging $1,290 annually per student - by incentivizing the creation of freely accessible, high-quality digital course materials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates federal grants for free digital textbooks, reduces student costs, mandates price transparency, and funds faculty training - directly advancing educational access and affordability.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill funds digital textbook development, mandates accessibility standards, and promotes open educational resources - directly advancing digital equity and technology adoption in education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education Libraries

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in committee · United States · House Mar 3, 2025

HR 1810: Safe Schools Improvement Act

Safe Schools Improvement Act This bill requires states to direct their local educational agencies (LEAs) to establish policies that prevent and prohibit bullying and harassment of elementary and secondary school students. In particular, these policies must prohibit bullying and harassment based on race, color, national origin, disability, religion, or sex. Sex includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics (including intersex traits). Further, LEAs must provide (1) students, parents, and educational professionals with annual notice of the conduct prohibited in their disciplinary policies; (2) students and parents with grievance procedures that target such conduct; and (3) the public with annual data on the incidence and frequency of that conduct at the school and LEA level. The Department of Education must conduct and report on an independent biennial evaluation of programs and policies to combat bullying and harassment in elementary and secondary schools. The National Center for Education Statistics must collect state data to determine the incidence and frequency of the conduct prohibited by LEA disciplinary policies.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates anti-bullying policies protecting students based on race, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity in K-12 schools, directly advancing student safety and educational access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Safety

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in committee · United States · House Jun 11, 2025

HR 3938: CLASS Act of 2025

This bill prevents colleges and universities from requiring students to sign enrollment agreements that force them to resolve disputes through private arbitration instead of in court. It specifically removes the Federal Arbitration Act from student enrollment contracts (where students pay for education) and amends the Higher Education Act to prohibit institutions from enforcing restrictions on students' ability to pursue legal claims - such as limiting jury trials, choice of venue, or applicable law. The law directly affects students who enroll in higher education programs and the institutions that require such contracts. It takes effect one year after enactment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationPrevents forced arbitration in student contracts, protecting legal recourse for education disputes under Higher Education Act amendments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · United States · House Jul 23, 2025

HR 4685: ICBM Act

HR 4685, the ICBM Act, pauses the $141 billion Sentinel intercontinental ballistic missile program and extends the Minuteman III missile system's operational life until 2050. It redirects all remaining funds for the Sentinel program and its associated W87-1 warhead modification to the Department of Education for K-12 programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The bill also requires an independent National Academy of Sciences study to compare costs and technical feasibility of extending Minuteman III versus proceeding with Sentinel. This legislation directly affects U.S. defense spending priorities and redirects billions in taxpayer funds from nuclear modernization to education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects $141B from missile program to K-12 education funding under ESEA, explicitly advancing educational programs per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · United States · House Sep 10, 2025

HR 3593: Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025

HR 3593, the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025, reauthorizes and expands federal funding for nursing education programs to address workforce shortages. It directly affects nursing schools, nurse practitioner, nurse-midwifery, nurse anesthesia, and clinical nurse specialist programs by expanding grant eligibility to include these specific training pathways. Key provisions include increasing annual funding from $137 million to $184 million (2026-2030), requiring schools to use funds for simulation/technology resources and faculty/student expansion, and adding clinical partnerships with healthcare facilities. The bill also updates terminology and adds protections for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in nursing education settings.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases federal funding for nursing education programs, directly supporting higher education workforce development through expanded grants and budget increases.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill increases nursing workforce funding from $137M to $184M annually and expands grant eligibility for nursing education programs, directly strengthening healthcare workforce capacity.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentFunds nursing education programs to address workforce shortages, expanding training pathways and increasing annual funding to strengthen nursing workforce development.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce

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in committee · United States · House Jun 24, 2025

HR 4103: Break the Cycle of Violence Act

This bill creates federal funding for community-based violence intervention programs in high-violence areas, targeting communities with 35+ homicides annually or 20+ homicides with rates double the national average. It establishes grants for community organizations to implement trauma-informed violence interruption strategies, hospital-based programs for injured patients, and job training for "opportunity youth" (16-25 year olds not in school or work). The legislation authorizes $300 million in 2026, increasing to $700 million annually through 2033, with requirements for evidence-based approaches that reduce violence without contributing to mass incarceration. It creates a National Community Violence Response Center to coordinate data collection, research, and best practices for these programs. The focus is on prevention through economic opportunity, trauma care, and community-driven interventions rather than traditional law enforcement approaches.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds community violence intervention, trauma-informed programs, and job training for youth to reduce recidivism and promote reform.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides job training for opportunity youth (not in school/work), supporting educational access and workforce development.80% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds hospital-based trauma programs and violence interruption services, directly advancing healthcare access and mental health support in high-violence communities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Law Enforcement Hospitals

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in committee · United States · Senate Dec 11, 2025

S 3448: Keeping All Students Safe Act

The Keeping All Students Safe Act prohibits inappropriate seclusion and restraint in schools, including mechanical, chemical, and certain physical restraints that pose safety risks. It requires schools to use less restrictive interventions first, train staff in crisis intervention, and notify parents within 24 hours of any restraint incident. The law mandates meetings between schools and parents after incidents to discuss prevention strategies and provides documentation requirements. It applies to all public schools receiving federal funding, with specific protections for students with disabilities. States must submit compliance plans and report on restraint use, including demographic data on affected students.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts inappropriate restraint use in schools, protecting student civil rights and promoting safer educational environments, which aligns with criminal justice reform principles.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits unsafe restraints, mandates staff training and parent notifications to protect student safety in schools, aligning with educational safety protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety Special Education Student Health

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in committee · United States · House Dec 18, 2025

HR 6857: Protecting Students on Campus Act of 2025

HR 6857 requires all colleges and universities receiving federal funds to prominently display a link to the Department of Education’s civil rights complaint portal on their website homepage and to post annual Title VI awareness materials in high-traffic campus locations (like student centers) and on campus websites. The bill mandates these institutions to annually report discrimination complaints (based on race, color, or national origin) to the Department of Education’s Inspector General. It also requires the Department to provide monthly congressional briefings on complaint volumes and resolution timelines, while the Inspector General must audit institutions with the highest complaint rates and study why some complaints go to schools versus the federal office. This directly affects every federally funded higher education institution in the U.S. by changing how they handle and report civil rights complaints.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill protects civil rights and enhances accountability in educational institutions, which relates to criminal justice reform and civil rights protection.75% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates anti-discrimination reporting and awareness in higher ed, strengthening student protections and access under civil rights laws.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Higher Education

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in committee · United States · House Jan 15, 2025

HR 468: Mel’s Law

This bill requires colleges and universities to establish a policy for awarding posthumous degrees to students who were enrolled in a degree program, died before completing it, and were in good academic standing at the time of death. It amends the Higher Education Act to mandate this institutional policy and updates accreditation standards to ensure they do not consider the number of posthumous degrees awarded. The policy must be implemented within one year of the law's enactment. This directly affects higher education institutions by changing their degree-issuance procedures for deceased students meeting specific criteria.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires institutions to award posthumous degrees, protecting student academic achievements and aligning with educational access policies95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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