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# Biden-Harris Administration Announces $47 Million in New Funding to Support School Infrastructure Investments

# Biden-Harris Administration Announces $47 Million in New Funding to Support School Infrastructure Investments

January 4, 2024

**Contact:  **press@ed.gov

                                    -        
The Biden-Harris Administration announced eight new grant awards today  totaling more than $37 million over five years under the Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) program  and one new grant for $10 million over five years under the National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI) program.  This $47 million investment, issued by the U.S. Department of Education  (Department), bolsters the capacity of states to support school districts in  improving school facilities with the goal of more equitable access to healthy,  sustainable, and modern learning environments for all students. U.S. Secretary  of Education Miguel Cardona will highlight this announcement during a visit to  Virginia today with Ranking Member of the House Education and Workforce  Committee, U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, and U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, a member of the  Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. 

“These new investments in modern, healthy, and sustainable school  infrastructure reflect the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to both  promoting student success and protecting our planet for generations to  come," said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Research has  shown that modern, well-maintained facilities and healthy learning environments  can help schools Raise the Bar by increasing student achievement, reducing  absenteeism, and improving teacher retention. At the Department of Education,  we're going to keep fighting to provide every student in every community with  access to safe and healthy 21st-century schools that inspire  learning, unleash imagination, and motivate children and youth to bring their  best each day." 

“Chronic neglect of America’s public schools has forced students and  teachers across the country to learn and work in outdated and hazardous school  buildings. Moreover, dilapidated and poorly ventilated school facilities pose  significant health threats that make it harder for teachers to teach and  students to learn," said Rep. Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03). “These new  investments announced by the Education Department will help increase school  districts capacity to improve school infrastructure. It is far past time to  improve public education infrastructure." 

The SASI program is the first in the Department’s history intended to  increase state capacity to support underserved school districts to improve  their school facilities. States receiving SASI funds will be able to conduct  school facility needs assessments in high-need school districts; hire new  staff; and develop or improve public school infrastructure data systems, among  other actions. The NCSI program will establish a national clearinghouse and  technical assistance center that will consolidate federal resources related to  public school infrastructure improvements that support safe, healthy,  sustainable, and equitable public school facilities. NCSI will also provide  targeted technical assistance to SASI grantees to expand state expertise in  school infrastructure. 

Additionally, today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury) is  releasing new information on how school districts can file for tax credits for  clean energy infrastructure through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA  provides for the largest investment in clean energy in U.S. history and has  created a unique opportunity for K-12 school districts under provisions for  direct pay. The NCSI will provide technical assistance to states and districts  on federal opportunities that support school infrastructure, including these  new tax credits.

The Department works closely across the Biden-Harris Administration to  lead school infrastructure efforts, including through an Infrastructure and Sustainability  initiative, which includes the U.S. Department of Education  Green Ribbon Schools recognition award, private sector school infrastructure  and sustainability commitments, an annual Green Strides Tour,  monthly Infrastructure and Sustainability News, as  well as other public engagement on these topics.  

The Department also partners with federal agencies such as Treasury,  the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency  (EPA), and others to provide resources, funds, and tax incentives that enhance  equitable access to healthy, safe, sustainable, and modern school facilities.  For example, the DOE now administers the Renew America’s Schools program  focused on energy improvements at public school facilities. In addition, its Efficient and Healthy Schools Program leverages DOE labs’ technical expertise to benefit schools and offers  recognition for their efforts. The Energy CLASS Prize builds capacity within  districts to identify and implement energy and health improvements. There are  currently numerous air quality initiatives at the EPA, including a significant  investment in clean school  buses, including both grants and rebates, with another $500  million round of rebates open until Jan. 31, and water quality programs such as  the Voluntary School and Childcare Lead  Testing and Reduction Grant. An additional $2 billion for  reducing greenhouse gas emissions and pollution in underserved communities is  available through the Community Change Grants.   

Working together with these various agencies at the intersection of  schools, climate, environmental justice, and infrastructure, the White House  published a toolkitsharing Federal resources for addressing  school infrastructure needs in April 2022 with an update to this toolkit anticipated  to be released in 2024.        The SASI grantees are listed below: 
**Agency**  
**Total Funding Level over Five Years** 

Alabama State Department of Education 

$4,565,574 

Arizona Department of Administration 

$4,997,500 

California Department of Education 

$4,992,083 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Public    School System 

$4,999,005 

Oregon Department of Education 

$4,999,997 

Pennsylvania Department of Education 

$2,644,993 

Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary    Education 

$4,960,860 

Virginia Department of Education 

$5,000,000 

    The NCSI grantee is listed below: 
**Grantee Consortium**  
**Total Funding Level over Five Years** 

Institute of Urban and Regional Development at the    University of California-Berkeley, 21st Century School Fund, National Council    on School Facilities, and Child Trends 

$10,000,000 

    For more information about each program’s awards, please  visit the SASI award page here and the NCSI award page here. Also consult the ED Infrastructure and Sustainability  Initiative for more information on public engagement efforts  in these areas.  
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