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Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2023
3/14/2024, 6:55 AM
Summary of Bill S 2608
Key provisions of the Rebuild America's Schools Act include allocating funds to states and school districts for the purpose of upgrading school buildings to meet current safety, health, and educational standards. The bill also prioritizes schools in low-income communities that are in the most urgent need of repair and improvement.
Additionally, the legislation includes measures to ensure that the funds are used efficiently and effectively, such as requiring states to develop comprehensive plans for how the money will be spent and establishing oversight mechanisms to monitor the progress of school construction projects. Overall, the Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2023 aims to provide students with safe, modern, and conducive learning environments that will support their academic success and well-being. The bill has garnered bipartisan support for its focus on improving educational infrastructure and investing in the future of America's youth.
Congressional Summary of S 2608
Rebuild America's Schools Act of 2023
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 disabled individuals.
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-poverty schools.
The bill also establishes the Office of School Infrastructure and Sustainability within the Department of Education.
Next, the bill extends through FY2028 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).
