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Green New Deal for Public Schools Act of 2023
3/13/2024, 10:54 PM
Summary of Bill S 2988
Key provisions of the bill include:
1. Funding for energy-efficient upgrades: The bill allocates funds for public schools to make energy-efficient upgrades to their buildings, such as installing solar panels, improving insulation, and upgrading heating and cooling systems. These upgrades are intended to reduce energy consumption and lower carbon emissions. 2. Curriculum development: The bill encourages schools to develop and implement curriculum that focuses on environmental education, sustainability, and climate change. This includes teaching students about renewable energy, conservation, and the impact of human activities on the environment. 3. Green infrastructure improvements: The bill provides funding for schools to make improvements to their infrastructure, such as creating green spaces, implementing recycling programs, and reducing waste. These improvements are designed to promote sustainability and reduce the environmental impact of schools. 4. Teacher training and professional development: The bill includes provisions for training and professional development opportunities for teachers to enhance their knowledge and skills in environmental education. This training is intended to help teachers effectively incorporate sustainability and climate change topics into their curriculum. Overall, the Green New Deal for Public Schools Act of 2023 aims to promote environmental awareness and sustainability in public schools by providing funding, resources, and support for green initiatives and curriculum development. The bill seeks to empower schools to take action on climate change and educate the next generation of leaders on the importance of environmental stewardship.
Congressional Summary of S 2988
Green New Deal for Public Schools Act of 2023
This bill provides funding for environmental and educational resources for public elementary and secondary schools and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools.
Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to provide climate capital facilities grants to eligible entities (e.g., public schools and BIE schools). Grant recipients must use these funds to construct new, or convert existing facilities into, healthy zero-carbon schools. Healthy zero-carbon school refers to a school with highly energy-efficient facilities that produce or procure sufficient carbon-free and pollution-free renewable energy to meet the school's needs.
The bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award resource block grants to qualified local educational agencies (LEAs) to hire and retain educators and staff in high-need schools.
ED must award grants to eligible consortia of LEAs for educational equity planning and implementation.
ED must establish the Climate Change Resiliency Program to increase the resiliency of public and BIE schools during climate change-related events, natural disasters, and public health crises. Further, ED must establish a related grant program for state educational agencies. Grant recipients must use these funds for certain activities (e.g., green infrastructure projects).
The bill establishes the Office of Sustainable Schools within ED to (1) administer the resource block grant and educational equity grant programs, and (2) coordinate with specified agencies and the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy on climate capital facilities grants and the Climate Change Resiliency Program.
