# Plain Language Summary: Green New Deal for Public Schools Act of 2021

This bill would create a major federal funding program to transform America's public schools into environmentally healthy, energy-efficient buildings while creating jobs in local communities. The core idea is to give schools money to upgrade their facilities to be "zero-carbon"—meaning they produce their own clean energy and eliminate pollution—while prioritizing hiring from the neighborhoods where schools are located.

The bill establishes three main grant programs. First, the Department of Energy would provide grants for schools to either retrofit existing buildings or construct new ones that meet strict environmental standards. These retrofitted or new schools would have solar panels and renewable energy systems, eliminate toxic materials like lead and asbestos, use all-electric heating and cooking systems, and be fully accessible to people with disabilities. Second, the Department of Education would distribute "resource block grants" to help schools plan and implement these changes. Third, there would be "educational equity grants" to ensure the benefits reach schools in the most vulnerable communities, determined by poverty rates and other factors. The bill also creates a new Office of Sustainable Schools within the Department of Education to oversee these programs.

A key feature is the emphasis on local hiring and community benefits. Schools receiving grants must commit to hiring at least 30 percent of workers from their local area or from people who previously attended the school. The bill specifically encourages hiring people of color, immigrants, formerly incarcerated individuals, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and other historically disadvantaged groups. Schools must also create public dashboards showing how they're spending money and meeting their environmental and equity goals, so communities can track progress.

The bill also includes special provisions for Native American schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education, ensuring they receive dedicated funding and technical assistance while respecting tribal sovereignty. Overall, this legislation aims to make schools healthier places to learn while simultaneously creating construction and maintenance jobs in communities that need them most.

Green New Deal for Public Schools Act of 2021

Bowman, Jamaal

Green New Deal for Public Schools Act of 2021 This bill provides environmental and educational resources to public elementary and secondary schools and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Energy's (DOE'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. Next, 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 support staff in high-need schools. ED must award grants to eligible consortia of LEAs for educational equity planning and implementation. In addition, 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 DOE and the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy on climate capital facilities grants and the Climate Change Resiliency Program.