H.R. 8303

[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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