[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8303 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8303
To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to revitalize
schoolyards.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 15, 2026
Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania (for herself, Ms. Pressley, Mr. Johnson of
Georgia, Mr. Lieu, Ms. Norton, Mr. Quigley, and Ms. Tokuda) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education
and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to revitalize
schoolyards.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Revitalizing America's Schoolyards
Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a local educational agency;
(B) an educational service agency; or
(C) a nonprofit organization that has expertise in
outdoor learning, nature play, spaces, or outdoor
education working in partnership with a local
educational agency.
(2) ESEA terms.--The terms ``educational service agency'',
``elementary school'', ``high school'', ``local educational
agency'', and ``secondary school'' have the meanings given the
terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(3) Revitalized schoolyard.--The term ``revitalized
schoolyard''--
(A) means a park-like outdoor environment at an
elementary school or secondary school that has been
updated to--
(i) strengthen local ecological systems;
(ii) provide a range of hands-on learning
resources; and
(iii) foster nature play and social
opportunities while enhancing the health and
well-being of children and adults; and
(B) may--
(i) include--
(I) trees and plants where children
can access them;
(II) cultivated gardens;
(III) outdoor meeting and gathering
areas; and
(IV) other elements designed by,
and for, the students and the
surrounding community; and
(ii) serve as a facility for shared public
use.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Education.
(5) Shared public use.--The term ``shared public use''
means use as public facility that, to the extent feasible, is
open and accessible to the public, outside of school hours, but
during daylight hours.
SEC. 3. GRANT COHORT STRUCTURE, DURATION, AND AMOUNT.
(a) Reservation for Tribal Educational Agencies Including the
Bureau of Indian Education.--From the amount appropriated to carry out
this Act for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve 5 percent for
the Secretary of the Interior to carry out this Act for schools
operated by the Bureau of Indian Education or schools that are operated
by an Indian Tribe, or an organization controlled or sanctioned by an
Indian tribal government, for the children of that Tribe under a
contract with, or grant from, the Department of the Interior under the
Indian Self-Determination Act (25 U.S.C. 5321 et seq.) or the Tribally
Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.).
(b) Cohort Structure.--
(1) In general.--Grants awarded under this Act shall be
awarded in cohorts on a biennial cycle.
(2) Eligibility.--Each cohort shall be eligible for--
(A) a planning grant described in section 4(a) in
the first year; and
(B) subject to the availability of appropriated
funds and a determination by the Secretary that the
grantee has demonstrated the viability of the proposed
project, an implementation grant described in section
4(b) in the second year.
(3) Criteria for viability.--The Secretary shall establish
criteria for determining viability under paragraph (2), which
may include the adequacy of the concept plan described in
section 4(a)(3)(A).
(c) Grant Amounts and Duration.--
(1) Grant amounts.--From the amount remaining for a fiscal
year after making the reservation under subsection (a), the
Secretary shall use--
(A) 30 percent of such amount to award planning
grants under section 4(a); and
(B) 70 percent of such amount to award
implementation grants under section 4(b).
(2) Amounts.--An eligible entity may receive not more than
$1,000,000 in grant awards for both a planning grant and
implementation grant in total under section 4.
(3) Duration.--Planning grants and implementation grants
awarded under section 4 shall each be for a period of not more
than 2 years, for a total of 4 years.
(4) Reallocation.--The Secretary may authorize the
reallocation of funds awarded under a planning grant to support
implementation activities in a subsequent fiscal year, provided
such reallocation does not exceed the total award cap
established under this section and is consistent with the
purposes of the grant.
(d) Surplus Funds.--
(1) Use of surplus funds for additional grant awards.--If,
after awarding initial planning grants, the Secretary
determines that remaining unobligated funds are available due
to awardees requesting less than the maximum grant amount or
due to denial of applications for failure to demonstrate
concept plan viability under section 4(a)(3)(A), the Secretary
may use such remaining funds to make additional grant awards to
other eligible entities from the same application cycle, if--
(A) such applicants meet or exceed the minimum
criteria for awards established in the notice inviting
applications;
(B) the total amount awarded in a fiscal year does
not exceed the amount appropriated for that year; and
(C) such additional awards do not exceed the
maximum grant amount specified under subsection (c).
(2) Priority.--In making additional awards, the Secretary
shall prioritize applicants that scored highly, but were not
initially funded due to funding limitations.
SEC. 4. PLANNING GRANTS AND IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS.
(a) Planning Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award planning grants
to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities to develop
concept plans described in paragraph (3) to turn some or all of
the outdoor spaces of the public elementary schools and
secondary schools served by the eligible entities into
revitalized schoolyards.
(2) Applications.--An eligible entity that desires to
receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require,
including the following:
(A) An initial scope of work briefly summarizing
the project.
(B) A plan for educator professional development to
support educators in using the revitalized schoolyard.
(C) Identification of State learning standards that
may be addressed through student involvement in the
revitalized schoolyard.
(D) A plan for how the eligible entity will provide
for maintenance and operation of the revitalized
schoolyard after the grant period ends.
(3) Use of funds.--
(A) Concept plan.--An eligible entity that receives
a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds
to develop a concept plan, including design and
construction documents, to turn some or all of the
outdoor spaces of the public elementary schools and
secondary schools served by the eligible entity into
revitalized schoolyards. Such concept plan shall comply
with the following:
(i) Be developed with school and public
input, including students, families, educators,
school staff, and the public.
(ii) Be developed with the goal of
longevity and resilience of the revitalized
schoolyard after the grant period under this
subsection and subsection (b) has expired.
(iii) Maximize investment in schools with
low tree canopy and vulnerability to extreme
heat or flooding.
(iv) Maximize investment in schools with a
high percentage of students eligible for a free
or reduced-price lunch under the school lunch
program established under the Richard B.
Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1751 et seq.).
(v) Include--
(I) ecological, climate, and
biodiversity goals;
(II) learning and education goals;
(III) physical and mental health
goals;
(IV) a description of how the
entity will provide accessibility in
compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C.
12101 et seq.);
(V) the number of students to be
served at each school served under the
grant, the total size of each such
school property in acres, and the size
of the proposed revitalized schoolyard
at each site in acres;
(VI) a concept plan drawing of the
design proposed for each school served
under the grant;
(VII) an estimate of the probable
cost based on the scope of work
identified in the concept plan;
(VIII) an identification of
community partners, including nonprofit
organizations or design professionals,
that have expertise in outdoor learning
spaces or outdoor education, if
applicable;
(IX) a long-term management plan
describing how the eligible entity
proposes to maintain the revitalized
schoolyard over time and how the
concept plan relates to other district
plans; and
(X) how components of the site
design may address--
(aa) growing food, planting
pollinator plants, creating
habitat for wildlife, and
creating amenities to support
students in observing nature
and participating in school
gardens;
(bb) conserving water and
managing stormwater;
(cc) supporting hands-on
learning activities and
programs across subject areas
and grade levels, such as
conducting experiments
regarding soil, wind, water,
and other elements;
(dd) using the arts, such
as preparing skits, plays,
murals, drawings, and
sculptures that celebrate
nature, including its animals,
plants, patterns, and
behaviors, to strengthen
learning objectives;
(ee) planting, to the
extent practicable, native and
nonnative species, which--
(AA) directly
protect students from
the effects of extreme
heat due to climate
change; and
(BB) cast shade on
adjacent classroom
windows in the school
building to help reduce
temperatures indoors
and save cooling costs
during the warmest
parts of the school
year; and
(ff) the use of natural
playgrounds, which include
natural and nature-based
elements, such as rock gardens,
sand boxes, log stumps,
streams, living plants, or
innovative playground elements,
that encourage gross motor play
and integrated with the outdoor
landscape and vegetation, and
which--
(AA) will absorb
less heat from the sun
and air than
traditional playgrounds
and equipment;
(BB) are inclusive
and accessible for
children of all
abilities;
(CC) allow children
to learn about nature;
and
(DD) use non-
petroleum-based
materials.
(B) Technical assistance.--
(i) In general.--An eligible entity that
receives a grant under this subsection may use
grant funds to hire or contract a qualified
grant writer or consultant as an allowable
administrative cost to assist the eligible
entity in preparing and submitting an
application for an implementation grant under
subsection (b).
(ii) Maximum amount.--An eligible entity
may use not more than 10 percent of the total
grant award to hire or contract a qualified
grant writer or consultant as described in
clause (i).
(b) Implementation Grants.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award implementation
grants to eligible entities that received a planning grant
under subsection (a) and developed a concept plan in accordance
with subsection (a).
(2) Applications.--
(A) In general.--An eligible entity that desires to
receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and accompanied by such information as the
Secretary may require.
(B) Multiple grants.--An eligible entity may apply
for more than 1 grant under this subsection in order to
complete individual schools in separate phases.
(3) Use of funds.--
(A) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds
to implement some or all of the concept plan developed
in accordance with subsection (a) by turning some or
all of the outdoor spaces of the public elementary
schools and secondary schools served by the eligible
entity into revitalized schoolyards.
(B) Permissible uses.--An eligible entity that
receives a grant under this subsection may use not more
than 25 percent of the grant funds--
(i) for professional development for school
leadership, educators, and paraprofessionals
related to outdoor teaching and bringing
students outside for learning; and
(ii) to support an educator or other school
staff member or school partner to establish,
maintain, and steward the revitalized
schoolyard of the elementary schools and
secondary schools served by the eligible entity
and provide professional development described
in clause (i).
(4) Match.--
(A) In general.--An eligible entity that receives a
grant under this subsection shall provide matching
funds from non-Federal sources in an amount equal to 20
percent of the grant award.
(B) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the matching
requirement under subparagraph (A) for an eligible
entity that--
(i) receives a grant under this subsection
and serves students not less than 40 percent of
whom are eligible for a free or reduced-price
lunch under the school lunch program
established under the Richard B. Russell
National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et
seq.), which calculation, in the case of high
schools served by the eligible entity, may be
completed using comparable data from the
schools that feed into the high schools; or
(ii) receives a grant under this subsection
and serves a school described in section 3(a).
SEC. 5. PRIORITY.
In awarding grants under this Act, the Secretary shall give
competitive priority to an eligible entity--
(1) that serves students not less than 75 percent of whom
are eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch under the school
lunch program established under the Richard B. Russell National
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.), which calculation,
in the case of high schools served by the eligible entity, may
be completed using comparable data from the schools that feed
into the high schools; or
(2) that serves a school--
(A) that serves students not less than 75 percent
of whom are eligible for a free or reduced-price lunch
under the school lunch program established under the
Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C.
1751 et seq.), which calculation, in the case of high
schools served by the eligible entity, may be completed
using comparable data from the schools that feed into
the high schools; and
(B) where the proposed revitalized schoolyard will
be developed.
SEC. 6. CLEARINGHOUSE.
The Secretary shall maintain a clearinghouse of information that--
(1) provides examples of outdoor learning spaces, including
successful models being used;
(2) includes input from nonprofit organizations,
professionals, and other community members with expertise in
outdoor learning spaces and environmental education;
(3) provides links and information about State and local
entities with expertise in outdoor learning spaces and
environmental education;
(4) reflects best practices on designs for outdoor spaces
relating to nature play, non-petroleum based materials,
maintenance, stewardship resources, example partnership
programs, green infrastructure in schools examples, outdoor
learning resources, lesson plans, and planning tools; and
(5) is housed within the National Center on School
Infrastructure, or other clearinghouse, as appropriate.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act such
sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
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