# Plain Language Summary: Green New Deal for Public Schools Act of 2023

This bill would provide federal funding to help public schools make major environmental and health improvements to their buildings and operations. The money would go toward upgrading school facilities to be more energy-efficient, eliminate harmful pollutants, reduce carbon emissions, and make schools more resilient to climate impacts like extreme heat or flooding. The bill creates three main funding programs: climate capital facilities grants (administered by the Department of Energy) to pay for physical building upgrades, resource block grants to help schools plan and implement sustainability projects, and educational equity grants to ensure these improvements benefit schools in the most vulnerable communities.

The bill prioritizes schools in low-income and disadvantaged areas by using a vulnerability ranking system based on poverty rates and other factors. It requires schools receiving funding to create detailed plans showing how they'll spend the money and how they'll involve their communities—including students, parents, teachers, and local organizations—in decision-making. Schools must also commit to hiring at least 30 percent of workers from their local communities and creating training opportunities for residents. The bill includes special provisions for Native American schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education to ensure they receive adequate funding and support.

Beyond building improvements, the bill establishes a climate change resiliency program to help schools prepare for and adapt to climate-related threats. Schools would need to publicly track and report their progress on environmental, economic, and educational equity goals. The bill also aims to increase federal funding for special education and general K-12 education programs. Overall, this legislation treats school infrastructure upgrades as both a climate action and an economic opportunity, with emphasis on creating jobs and benefits for historically marginalized communities.

Green New Deal for Public Schools Act of 2023

Bowman, Jamaal

Green New Deal for Public Schools Act of 2023 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 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.