(5) ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE.—The term ‘‘en-
vironmental justice’’ means the fair treatment and 
meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of 
race, color, culture, national origin, or income, with 
respect to the development, implementation, and en-
forcement of environmental laws, regulations, and 
policies to ensure that each person enjoys— 
(A) the same degree of protection from en-
vironmental and health hazards; and 
(B) equal access to any Federal agency ac-
tion on justice issues related to the environment 
in order to have a healthy environment in which 
to live, learn, work, and recreate. 
(6) NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION.—The term 
‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means an organization de-
scribed in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under 
501(a) of that Code. 
(7) VULNERABILITY RANKING.—The term ‘‘vul-
nerability ranking’’ means the ranking of each public 
elementary school and secondary school in the 
United States based on the CDC SVI of the Census 
tract in which the school is located. 
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TITLE I—CLIMATE CAPITAL FA-
CILITIES GRANTS, RESOURCE 
BLOCK GRANTS, AND EDU-
CATIONAL EQUITY GRANTS 
SEC. 101. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 
(a) CREATION OF NEW OFFICE AT THE DEPART-
MENT OF EDUCATION.—There is established in the De-
partment of Education, an Office of Sustainable Schools, 
which shall— 
(1) administer the resource block grant pro-
gram under section 103 and the educational equity 
grant program under section 104; 
(2) in close collaboration with the Department 
of Energy, the White House Office of Domestic Cli-
mate Policy, the Environmental Protection Agency, 
and the Department of Agriculture, coordinate the 
activities of those grant programs with— 
(A) the activities of the climate capital fa-
cilities grant program under section 102, ad-
ministered by the Secretary of Energy; and 
(B) the activities of the climate change re-
siliency program under title II. 
(b) RESOURCE ALLOCATION PLAN.—Each applicant 
for a grant under this title shall submit with their applica-
tion a resource allocation plan, which shall include— 
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(1) a detailed explanation of how the grant 
funds will be spent; and 
(2) a values statement document, which shall be 
developed after a community-engaged planning proc-
ess, with representation from educators, principals, 
administrators, students, parents, school boards, 
caregivers, Indian Tribes (where applicable), and 
community organizations that have documented ex-
perience as local providers and partners, and which 
shall include— 
(A) an outline of the applicant’s goals to 
address environmental, economic, and edu-
cational equity in the projects and activities 
supported by the grant funds; 
(B) annual benchmarks to measure the ap-
plicant’s progress toward meeting those goals; 
(C) a plan to ensure that, to the greatest 
extent practicable, not less than 30 percent of 
all jobs funded by the grant will be— 
(i) filled by individuals hired through 
a local community-based hiring process, in 
a matter that contributes to the stated eq-
uity goals, especially individuals who reside 
in the same catchment area as students at-
tending the school in which those individ-
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uals will work, or individuals who pre-
viously attended the school in which those 
individuals will work; or 
(ii) filled by individuals who reside in 
a ZIP Code served by the local educational 
agency receiving the grant or in a neigh-
boring ZIP Code; 
(D) as applicable, a commitment to local 
hiring from businesses, nonprofit organizations, 
and cooperatives (including worker coopera-
tives) in a manner that contributes to the stat-
ed equity goals, advances the economic and so-
cial empowerment of traditionally disadvan-
taged individuals and communities (including 
low-income and low-wealth individuals and com-
munities), and creates opportunities for— 
(i) people of color; 
(ii) immigrants, regardless of immi-
grant status; 
(iii) formerly incarcerated individuals; 
(iv) women; 
(v) LGBTQIAP+ individuals; 
(vi) individuals with disabilities or 
chronic illness; 
(vii) young or elderly individuals; 
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(viii) young adults exiting the foster 
care system; and 
(ix) unhoused individuals; and 
(E) a plan to ensure the greatest prac-
ticable number of training opportunities within 
schools benefitting from grant funds under this 
Act. 
(c) DOCUMENTATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each recipient of a grant 
under this title shall document the recipient’s 
progress toward meeting the resource allocation plan 
goals over the course of the grant period on a public 
digitized platform, which may be an existing public 
dashboard, data center, or information hub of a pub-
lic website. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—A grant recipient shall 
establish and maintain a public digitized platform 
for the purposes described in this subsection if one 
has not already been established on the date of the 
grant award. 
(3) ACCESSIBLE
DATA.—Each recipient of a 
grant under this title shall ensure that data de-
scribed in this subsection and presented on the pub-
lic digitized platform is accessible to individuals in 
multiple languages (as applicable to the relevant 
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community), accessible to individuals with different 
literacy levels, accessible to those with sensory defi-
cits, and standardized. 
(d) BUREAU OF INDIAN EDUCATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Education 
and the Secretary of Energy, as applicable, in con-
junction with the Secretary of the Interior, shall re-
serve a sufficient amount of grant funding and addi-
tional administrative expenses, for each grant pro-
gram authorized under this title, for the Bureau of 
Indian Education to fully carry out the applicable 
grant activities at all BIE schools and schools fund-
ed by BIE, which shall include providing any nec-
essary technical assistance to assist a BIE school or 
school funded by BIE in creating a resource alloca-
tion plan or meeting other grant requirements in col-
laboration with the applicable Indian Tribe and com-
munity members. 
(2) ENSURING SOVEREIGNTY AND SELF-DETER-
MINATION.—The Secretary of Education, the Sec-
retary of Energy, and the Secretary of the Interior 
shall ensure that the administration of funds re-
served under paragraph (1) and provision of tech-
nical assistance under paragraph (1) is carried out 
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in accordance with principles of Indian Tribal sov-
ereignty and self-determination. 
SEC. 102. CLIMATE CAPITAL FACILITIES GRANTS. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) HEALTHY
GREEN
RETROFIT.—The term 
‘‘healthy green retrofit’’, with respect to a facility, 
means the holistic modification of the entire facility 
to remove health harms, eliminate greenhouse gas 
emissions, and ensure a safe, accessible, and com-
fortable environment, including through measures 
that achieve or convert the facility to address the 
following goals: 
(A) Optimal air quality. 
(B) Detoxification of air, water, and mate-
rials. 
(C) Enhanced light quality. 
(D) Improved energy efficiency. 
(E) Improved water quality and efficiency. 
(F) Safe and effective wastewater treat-
ment. 
(G) Electrification and decarbonization. 
(H) Optimized energy management. 
(I) Distributed renewable energy. 
(J) Structural integrity. 
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(K) Resilience to the impacts of climate 
change and natural hazards. 
(L) Comfort and accessibility for all users 
of the facility, including temperature control. 
(2) HEALTHY
ZERO-CARBON
SCHOOL.—The 
term ‘‘healthy zero-carbon school’’ means a public 
school, BIE school, or school funded by BIE— 
(A) with highly energy-efficient facilities 
that produce onsite, or procure, sufficient car-
bon-free and pollution-free renewable energy to 
meet the total annual energy consumption of 
the public school, BIE school, or school funded 
by BIE; 
(B) that does not contain any asbestos, 
mold, fungus, lead, polychlorinated biphenyl 
(PCB), or other contaminant identified as high- 
priority by the Office of Sustainable Schools; 
(C) the space heating, water heating, and 
lighting systems of which are all-electric; 
(D) the food service facilities of which use 
all-electric systems that include contemporary 
induction burners and convection stoves; 
(E) that has installed onsite renewable en-
ergy, including solar photovoltaic systems, bat-
teries, 
flywheels, 
compressed 
air 
systems, 
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pumped hydroelectric systems, thermal energy 
storage systems, and any other technologies 
that provide distributed renewable energy gen-
eration, energy storage, and resilience to ex-
treme weather events, whenever conditions per-
mit; 
(F) that continuously provides clean air, 
clean water, and a comfortable learning and 
working environment, including with respect to 
temperature; 
(G) that integrates natural and mechanical 
systems for natural daylight, views to the out-
doors, and operable windows; 
(H) that provides full accessibility in com-
pliance with— 
(i) the Americans with Disabilities Act 
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.); and 
(ii) applicable provisions of section 
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 
U.S.C. 794); and 
(I) that is designed to promote a safe, in-
clusive, and welcoming environment for all stu-
dents and staff. 
(3) NATIONAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Na-
tional Laboratory’’ has the meaning given the term 
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in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15801). 
(4) 
PUBLIC
SCHOOL.—The 
term 
‘‘public 
school’’ means— 
(A) a public elementary school; and 
(B) a public secondary school. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Assist-
ant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall es-
tablish program under which the Secretary shall provide 
grants to eligible entities described in subsection (d)(1)— 
(1) to conduct healthy green retrofits at facili-
ties of the eligible entities to convert existing public 
schools, BIE schools, or schools funded by BIE into 
healthy zero-carbon schools; and 
(2) to construct new, healthy zero-carbon 
schools, subject to the condition that each new, 
healthy zero-carbon school so constructed shall be lo-
cated not less than 2,500 feet from any oil or gas 
wells in the vicinity of the healthy zero-carbon 
school. 
(c) APPLICATION.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity desiring a 
grant under subsection (b) shall submit an applica-
tion to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary 
may reasonably require. 
(2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—On request of an 
eligible entity applying for a grant under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall provide to the eligible entity 
technical assistance to develop the resource alloca-
tion plan required under section 101(b). 
(3) APPROVAL.—The Secretary shall approve 
each application that meets the requirements of this 
section. In the case of an application that does not 
meet such requirements, the Secretary shall consult 
with the eligible entity and shall provide technical 
assistance, as necessary, to ensure that the eligible 
entity meets such requirements. 
(d) DESCRIPTION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
any of the following shall be eligible to receive a 
grant under this section: 
(A) A public school. 
(B) A local educational agency, on behalf 
of 1 or more public schools. 
(C) A BIE school. 
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(D) A school funded by BIE. 
(2) LIMITATION.—During the 4-year period be-
ginning on the date of establishment of the grant 
program under subsection (b), only an eligible entity 
described in paragraph (1) that is a public school 
ranked as one of the 1⁄3 most vulnerable schools in 
the United States, based on the vulnerability rank-
ing, a local educational agency applying on behalf of 
such a school, or any BIE school or school funded 
by BIE, shall be eligible to receive a grant under 
this section. 
(e) ALLOCATION OF GRANT FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 
the Secretary shall provide to each eligible entity 
that submits an application approved by the Sec-
retary under subsection (c)(3) a grant in accordance 
with this section. 
(2) ALLOCATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall al-
locate grant funds to eligible entities described 
in paragraph (1) in accordance with the for-
mula established under paragraph (3), subject 
to the conditions described in subparagraph 
(B). 
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(B) CONDITIONS
FOR
HEALTHY
GREEN 
RETROFIT
PROJECTS.—In 
allocating 
grant 
funding to carry out projects described in sub-
section (b)(1), the Secretary shall make alloca-
tions as follows: 
(i) The amount of a grant provided 
under this section to an eligible entity that 
uses such amount to serve a public school 
ranked as one of the 1⁄3 most vulnerable 
schools in the United States, based on the 
vulnerability ranking, a local educational 
agency applying on behalf of such a school, 
or any BIE school or school funded by 
BIE, shall be sufficient to cover 100 per-
cent of cost of carrying out a project de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1). 
(ii) The amount of a grant provided 
under this section to an eligible entity that 
uses such amount to serve a public school 
ranked as one of middle 1⁄3 of schools in 
the United States, based on the vulner-
ability ranking, or a local educational 
agency applying on behalf of such a school, 
shall be sufficient to cover 2⁄3 of the cost 
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of carrying out a project described in sub-
section (b)(1). 
(iii) The amount of a grant provided 
under this section to an eligible entity that 
uses such amount to serve a public school 
ranked as one of the 1⁄3 least vulnerable 
schools in the United States, based on the 
vulnerability ranking, or a local edu-
cational agency applying on behalf of such 
a school, shall be sufficient to cover 1⁄3 of 
the cost of carrying out a project described 
in subsection (b)(1). 
(C) LOANS.— 
(i) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible entity 
described in clause (ii) or (iii) of subpara-
graph (B) may submit to the Secretary an 
application for a no-interest or low-interest 
loan to cover any remaining costs of car-
rying out a project described in subsection 
(b)(1). 
(ii) LIMITATION.—The total amount 
of loans provided by the Secretary under 
clause 
(i) 
shall 
be 
not 
more 
than 
$446,000,000,000. 
(3) FUNDING FORMULA.— 
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(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the Secretary shall establish a for-
mula for purposes of paragraph (2), based on 
the results of the initial audit conducted under 
subsection (h)(1)(A). 
(B) REVISIONS.—After each subsequent 
audit is conducted under subsection (h)(1)(B), 
the Secretary shall revise the formula estab-
lished under subparagraph (A), based on the re-
sults of that audit. 
(f) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A recipient of a grant under 
this section shall use the grant— 
(A) to conduct healthy green retrofits to 
convert 1 or more facilities to a healthy zero- 
carbon school as soon as practicable after re-
ceiving the grant funds; or 
(B) to construct a new, healthy zero-car-
bon school. 
(2) ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT SCHOOL SAFETY, 
SECURITY, AND
A
WELCOMING
SCHOOL
ENVIRON-
MENT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out activi-
ties to comply with paragraph (1), a grant re-
cipient shall— 
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(i) consider and seek to incorporate, 
to the greatest extent practicable, design 
and construction strategies to promote 
safety and security, support accessibility, 
prevent violence, promote a sense of be-
longing, improve student mental health 
and physical well-being, and foster a posi-
tive, inclusive, and welcoming school cul-
ture and environment, including through 
evidence-based, trauma-informed physical 
updates, such as— 
(I) access control measures; 
(II) internal door locks; 
(III) appropriate lighting, includ-
ing natural daylight; 
(IV) noise, temperature, and odor 
control; 
(V) spaces for storytelling, col-
laboration, 
connection, 
play, 
and 
movement; 
(VI) student-curated displays; 
(VII) clear wayfinding; 
(VIII) design principles to facili-
tate high-quality emergency response 
or planning; and 
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(IX) other design and construc-
tion measures; and 
(ii) engage students, parents, edu-
cators, and school staff early in the design 
process. 
(B) LIMITATION.—A grant recipient may 
not use grant funds under this section— 
(i) for measures that subject students 
to potential penalties imposed by law en-
forcement, unduly surveil students, or oth-
erwise detract from a positive, inclusive, 
and welcoming school culture and environ-
ment; and 
(ii) for measures that would reduce 
the accessibility of the school environment 
for children with disabilities. 
(3) ADDITIONAL
AUTHORIZED
USES.—After 
complying with paragraph (1), a recipient of a grant 
under this section may use the grant to pursue other 
projects, consistent with the goals of a healthy green 
retrofit, and in doing so, is encouraged to install 
green rooftops that reduce stormwater runoff and 
maximize urban island heat effect reduction benefits. 
Such rooftops shall meet the minimum performance 
standard specified within the Living Architecture 
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Performance Tool (LAPT) rating system, and shall 
be implemented or completed in consultation with at 
least one Green Roof Professional (GRP) as accred-
ited by the Green Roof Industry Association. 
(4) SOLAR PV SYSTEMS.—A recipient of a grant 
under this section is encouraged to use the grant to 
purchase and install 1 or more solar photovoltaic 
systems to maximize returns, rather than leasing 
roof space to other individuals or entities. 
(5) EFFICIENCY STANDARDS.—In carrying out 
a project using a grant provided under this section, 
an eligible entity shall carry out reasonable measures 
to meet the following energy efficiency standards, as 
applicable: 
(A) For a new construction project, design 
and operate the applicable facility— 
(i) to achieve— 
(I) a site energy use intensity 
equal to or less than 25 kBtu/sf/year; 
or 
(II) an Energy Star score of 90; 
and 
(ii) to offset not less than 30 percent 
of energy consumption with onsite renew-
able energy. 
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(B) For a project to modify an existing fa-
cility, design and operate the facility— 
(i) to achieve— 
(I) a site energy use intensity 
equal to or less than 35 kBtu/sf/year; 
or 
(II) an Energy Star score of 70; 
and 
(ii) to offset not less than 20 percent 
of energy consumption with onsite renew-
able energy. 
(6) ADDITIONAL STANDARDS.—In carrying out 
a project using a grant provided under this section, 
an eligible entity shall adhere to the applicable guid-
ance contained in— 
(A) the design guide of the American Soci-
ety of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Condi-
tioning Engineers (ASHRAE) entitled ‘‘Achiev-
ing Zero Energy—Advanced Energy Design 
Guide for K–12 School Buildings’’; and 
(B) the document of the National Renew-
able Energy Laboratory entitled ‘‘A Guide to 
Zero Energy and Zero Energy Ready K–12 
Schools’’. 
(g) MEASUREMENTS AND ASSESSMENTS.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—On conclusion of a healthy 
green retrofit or construction project funded by a 
grant under this section, the applicable eligible enti-
ty shall submit to the Secretary a measurement and 
assessment of the energy performance of each facil-
ity affected by the project, as determined— 
(A) before and after the project; and 
(B) based on standards agreed to by the 
eligible entity and the Secretary. 
(2) PUBLICATION.—The Secretary shall make 
all data submitted under paragraph (1) relating to 
performance changes publicly available to enable 
subsequent healthy green retrofit project sponsors to 
learn from, and improve on, the processes and tech-
nologies used. 
(h) COMPREHENSIVE AUDITS OF HEALTHY GREEN 
RETROFIT NEEDS.— 
(1) AUDITS.— 
(A) INITIAL AUDIT.—Not later than 180 
days after the date on which the Office of Sus-
tainable Schools is established under section 
101(a), the Secretary, working jointly with the 
head of the Office of Sustainable Schools, shall 
complete an audit of a representative sample of 
public schools, BIE schools, and schools funded 
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by BIE across the United States to identify 
healthy green retrofit needs. 
(B) SUBSEQUENT AUDITS.—After the ini-
tial audit is completed under subparagraph (A), 
the Secretary, working jointly with the head of 
the Office of Sustainable Schools, periodically 
shall complete an audit of all public schools, 
BIE schools, and schools funded by BIE across 
the United States to identify healthy green ret-
rofit needs. 
(2) REQUIREMENT.—Each audit under para-
graph (1) shall take into account— 
(A) local climatic conditions; 
(B) regional variation; 
(C) the high capital needs of public schools 
served by local educational agencies that enroll 
a high percentage of low-income children, BIE 
schools, and schools funded by BIE; 
(D) regional labor costs and labor markets; 
and 
(E) other necessary criteria, as determined 
by the Secretary. 
(i) CONSULTATIONS.—In administering the grant 
program established under subsection (b) and conducting 
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each audit under subsection (h)(1), the Secretary shall col-
laborate closely with, and seek technical assistance from— 
(1) the National Laboratories, particularly the 
National Renewable Energy Laboratory; 
(2) the Environmental Protection Agency; and 
(3) other Federal departments and agencies, as 
the Secretary determines to be necessary. 
(j) DESIGN GUIDE.—The Secretary shall encourage 
the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to develop a 
new design guide for schools that takes into account best 
practices and lessons learned from the implementation of 
the grant program established under subsection (b). 
(k) LABOR STANDARDS.— 
(1) LABOR AND BUY AMERICAN PROVISIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Each contractor or 
subcontractor for a project funded by a grant 
under this section shall carry out the following: 
(i) Ensure that the materials used by 
the contractor or subcontractor are sub-
stantially manufactured, mined, and pro-
duced in the United States in accordance 
with chapter 83 of title 41, United States 
Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Buy 
American Act’’). 
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(ii) Ensure that all laborers and me-
chanics employed by the contractor or sub-
contractor in the performance of construc-
tion, alteration, repair, or maintenance 
work financed in whole or in part with as-
sistance under this section shall be paid 
wages at rates not less than those pre-
vailing on similar construction in the local-
ity, as determined by the Secretary of 
Labor, in accordance with subchapter IV 
of chapter 31 of title 40, United States 
Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Davis- 
Bacon Act’’). With respect to the labor 
standards in this clause, the Secretary of 
Labor shall have the authority and func-
tions set forth in Reorganization Plan 
Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1267; 5 
U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of title 40, 
United States Code. 
(iii) With respect to a project or set of 
projects located in the same local edu-
cational agency costing not less than 
$25,000,000, consent to a project labor 
agreement. 
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(iv) Not hire employees through a 
temporary staffing agency unless the rel-
evant State workforce agency certifies that 
temporary employees are necessary to ad-
dress an acute, short-term labor demand. 
(v) Have an explicit neutrality policy 
on any issue involving the organization of 
employees of the contractor or subcon-
tractor, and all contractors and sub-
contractors, for purposes of collective bar-
gaining. 
(vi) For each project related to a 
healthy green retrofit or new construction 
of a school, demonstrate an ability to use 
and to commit to use individuals enrolled 
in a registered apprenticeship program who 
shall, to the greatest extent practicable, 
constitute not less than 20 percent of the 
individuals working on the project. 
(vii) To the greatest extent prac-
ticable, provide preferential treatment in 
hiring laborers and mechanics that are— 
(I) hired from within 50 miles of 
their official residence; 
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(II) veterans or active or retired 
military; 
(III) highly skilled union work-
ers; or 
(IV) returning citizens who were 
formerly incarcerated individuals. 
(viii) Not require mandatory arbitra-
tion for any dispute involving a worker en-
gaged in a service for the contractor or 
subcontractor. 
(ix) Consider an individual performing 
any service under the grant as an em-
ployee, and not an independent contractor, 
of the contractor or subcontractor, respec-
tively, unless— 
(I) the individual is free from 
control and direction in connection 
with the performance of the service, 
both under the contract for the per-
formance of the service and in fact; 
(II) the service is performed out-
side the usual course of the business 
of the contractor or subcontractor, re-
spectively; and 
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(III) the individual is customarily 
engaged in an independently estab-
lished trade, occupation, profession, or 
business of the same nature as that 
involved in such service. 
(B) ACTION TO ENFORCE INDEPENDENT 
CONTRACTOR
REQUIREMENT.—A third party, 
including a State or local government, may 
bring an action in any court of competent juris-
diction to enforce the requirements of subpara-
graph (A)(ix). 
(2) PRE-APPRENTICESHIP.—To the greatest ex-
tent practicable, in carrying out a project funded by 
a grant under this section, grant recipients shall give 
preference to contractors or subcontractors that par-
ticipate in pre-apprenticeship programs that have 
written agreements with one or more registered ap-
prenticeship programs. 
(l) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to provide grants 
under subsection (b) $446,000,000,000 for the 10- 
fiscal-year period following the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
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(2) ADMINISTRATIVE
EXPENSES.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for 
the administrative expenses of carrying out this sec-
tion such sums as are necessary. 
SEC. 103. RESOURCE BLOCK GRANTS. 
(a) PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award a 
grant to each qualified local educational agency with 
an approved application to enable the qualified local 
educational agency to bring additional eligible edu-
cators and support staff into elementary schools and 
secondary schools and establish community partner-
ships, and carry out other activities described in this 
section, with the goals of— 
(A) expanding social service programming; 
(B) developing locally designed and rooted 
educational programs; 
(C) developing and implementing trauma- 
informed violence prevention strategies; 
(D) promoting safe, secure, and welcoming 
school and community environments; 
(E) strengthening the educator pipeline; 
(F) diversifying the workforce; 
(G) better integrating knowledge of the 
local community into schools; and 
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(H) providing support, training, and career 
pathways for paraprofessionals. 
(2) CONSULTATION AND INTEGRATION.— 
(A) CONSULTATION BY THE SECRETARY.— 
The Secretary shall consult with States and In-
dian Tribes, as appropriate, in administering 
the grant program under this section. During 
such consultation, the Secretary shall strongly 
encourage the States to integrate the locally de-
signed and rooted educational programs, devel-
oped under paragraph (1) (as applicable), into 
State educational plans and activities, and to 
support, replicate, and disseminate such edu-
cational programs, as appropriate. 
(B) CONSULTATION
BY
LEAS.—A local 
educational agency that receives a grant under 
this section shall consult with the Secretary, the 
State educational agency, and Indian Tribes (as 
applicable) in implementing such grant. 
(3) ADDITIONAL
LOCAL
EDUCATIONAL
AGEN-
CIES.—Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if funding 
under this section remains after the Secretary has 
awarded grants to each qualified local educational 
agency that submits an application under this sec-
tion, in amounts that are sufficient to meet the 
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needs of those agencies, the Secretary shall award 
grants under this section to other local educational 
agencies that are not qualified local educational 
agencies, in accordance with the priority require-
ments described in subsection (b)(3). 
(b) APPLICATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A local educational agency 
desiring a grant under this section shall submit an 
application to the Secretary, at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may reasonably require, which shall include 
the following: 
(A) The resource allocation plan described 
in section 101. 
(B) A description of the local educational 
agency’s plan to attempt to hire eligible edu-
cators and support staff who, in accordance 
with section 101(b)(2)(C)— 
(i) reside in the same catchment area 
as students attending the school in which 
those eligible educators and support staff 
will work, or who previously attended the 
school in which the educators and staff will 
work; or 
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(ii) reside in the same ZIP Code, or 
a neighboring ZIP Code, as the school in 
which the educators and staff will work. 
(C) An assurance that after the 10-year 
period during which grant funds will pay for 
the eligible educator and support staff positions 
described in this section, the local educational 
agency will— 
(i) retain those positions, and a de-
scription of the local educational agency’s 
plan to fund those positions after such pe-
riod; and 
(ii) attempt to maintain and continue 
to fund community partnerships supported 
by such grant, to the extent that the other 
entities in those partnerships desire to con-
tinue the activities supported with grant 
funds. 
(D) A description of the local educational 
agency’s plan to— 
(i) aim to meet target student-to-staff 
ratios of 12:1 for students in kindergarten 
through grade 8, and 15:1 for students in 
grades 9 through 12 (where staff is de-
fined broadly to refer to any adult profes-
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sional employed in the school whose work 
directly relates to education, including the 
eligible educators and support staff de-
scribed in this section); 
(ii) aim to place a lead teacher and 
paraprofessional in all prekindergarten 
through grade 3 classes; 
(iii) aim to hire at least 1 full-time 
equivalent school psychologist for every 
500 students, at least 1 full-time equiva-
lent school counselor for every 250 stu-
dents, and at least 1 full-time equivalent 
school social worker for every 250 students 
served by the agency; and 
(iv) where applicable, aim to shift spe-
cial educators from a caseload model to a 
workload analysis model to ensure suffi-
cient capacity and time to support stu-
dents. 
(E) A description of the local educational 
agency’s plan— 
(i) to progress toward ending the 
school-to-prison pipeline and zero tolerance 
discipline, including by reducing suspen-
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sions, expulsions, and referrals to law en-
forcement; 
(ii) for progressing toward reallo-
cating resources spent on punishment to 
restorative justice practices; and 
(iii) to progress toward ending the use 
of seclusion, restraint, and corporal pun-
ishment. 
(2) APPROVAL.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ap-
prove each application that meets the require-
ments of this section. 
(B) CONSULTATION AND TECHNICAL AS-
SISTANCE.—In the case of an application that 
does not meet such requirements, the Secretary 
shall— 
(i) consult with the local educational 
agency and shall provide technical assist-
ance, as necessary, to ensure that the local 
educational agency meets such require-
ments; and 
(ii) review and approve revised appli-
cations that meet such requirements. 
(3) PRIORITY.—If the Secretary awards grants 
under this section to local educational agencies that 
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are not qualified local educational agencies, in ac-
cordance with subsection (a)(3), the Secretary shall 
give priority to local educational agencies that meet 
one of the following criteria: 
(A) Serving a percentage that is higher 
than the State median of students who are 
counted under section 1113(a)(5)(A) of the Ele-
mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 6313(a)(5)(A)). 
(B) Serving a percentage that is higher 
than the State median of students who are chil-
dren with a disability. 
(C) Serving a percentage that is higher 
than the State median of students who are 
English learners. 
(D) Serving schools that have a per-pupil 
expenditure that is lower than the State median 
per-pupil expenditure. 
(c) QUALIFIED LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY.—In 
this section, the term ‘‘qualified local educational agency’’ 
means— 
(1) a local educational agency that serves one 
or more schools that are ranked as one of the 1⁄3 
most vulnerable schools in the United States, based 
on the vulnerability ranking; 
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(2) a local educational agency that serves ele-
mentary schools or secondary schools that are in the 
bottom 1⁄3 of all schools in the State when ranked 
by student-to-staff ratios from lowest to highest ra-
tios based on the most recent data from the Na-
tional Center for Education Statistics; or 
(3) a BIE school or school funded by BIE. 
(d) USES OF FUNDS.— 
(1) SUPPORT FOR ELIGIBLE EDUCATORS AND 
SUPPORT STAFF.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A local educational 
agency receiving a grant under this section 
shall use not less than 80 percent of grant 
funds— 
(i) to hire, on a full-time basis, and 
pay the salaries of eligible educators and 
support staff described in subparagraph 
(B) for a period of 10 years; 
(ii) to increase the salaries of para-
professionals 
and 
promote 
paraprofes-
sionals who meet the requirements for pro-
motion; and 
(iii) to provide or facilitate access for 
paraprofessionals to affordable training by 
establishing partnerships with community 
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colleges and local institutions of higher 
education, establishing tuition reimburse-
ment programs, or offering similar initia-
tives for training. 
(B) ELIGIBLE EDUCATORS AND SUPPORT 
STAFF.—The eligible educators and support 
staff described in this subparagraph are— 
(i) paraprofessionals; 
(ii) mental health professionals, in-
cluding psychologists, therapists, and social 
workers; 
(iii) school counselors; 
(iv) librarians; 
(v) nurses; 
(vi) restorative justice specialists; 
(vii) community school site coordina-
tors; 
(viii) teachers, including special edu-
cation teachers; 
(ix) coordinators for culturally respon-
sive education; 
(x) facilities and food service workers; 
(xi) learning specialists, including 
mathematics and reading specialists; 
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(xii) English as a Second Language 
instructors; 
(xiii) Native language and cultural 
specialists; and 
(xiv) staff to support other social serv-
ices programming. 
(2) COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, EDUCATIONAL 
PROGRAMMING, AND
SOCIAL
SERVICE
PROGRAM-
MING.—In addition to carrying out the activities de-
scribed in paragraph (1), a local educational agency 
receiving a grant under this section shall use not 
less than 2.5 percent and not more than 20 percent 
of such funds for community partnerships, edu-
cational programming, social service programming, 
and violence prevention and school safety initiatives, 
which shall include one or more of the following: 
(A) Development of place-based and expe-
riential education and community-driven edu-
cational programs, with a focus on educational 
programs that affirm and explore the under-
lying principles of the Green New Deal, includ-
ing the significance of and the connections be-
tween racial, economic, and environmental and 
climate justice, and that are responsive to the 
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