# Access to School Supplies Act of 2022

This bill creates a temporary federal grant program to help school districts buy basic classroom supplies for students and teachers in low-income schools. The federal government would set aside up to $100 million per year for five years (2023-2027) to fund this pilot program, which would test whether providing free school supplies actually helps students learn better and reduces the burden on families.

The program would work by having the Department of Education award grants to up to 10 school districts each year that serve high-poverty schools. These districts would then use the money to purchase items like books, notebooks, pencils, and other materials needed for classroom instruction. The goal is straightforward: make sure students in struggling schools have the supplies they need to participate fully in class without their families having to buy them. This matters because many low-income families struggle to afford back-to-school supplies, and some students show up to class without basic materials, which can affect their ability to learn.

To receive funding, school districts would need to prove they serve schools where most students come from low-income families, and they'd have to promise to focus the money on their neediest schools. Districts would also need to report back annually on which schools received supplies, how much money was spent, and how many students and teachers benefited. Only 2 percent of the grant money could be used for administrative costs, meaning at least 98 percent goes directly to buying supplies. The program includes a small set-aside for U.S. territories and Native American schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education.

This is a pilot program, meaning it's designed to test an idea on a limited scale before potentially expanding it. The program automatically ends on September 30, 2027, unless Congress votes to extend it. The bill also includes a "supplement, not supplant" requirement, which means districts can't use this money to replace funding they already planned to spend on supplies—it has to be additional money on top of what they'd normally spend.

Access to School Supplies Act of 2022

Bush, Cori

Access to School Supplies Act of 2022 This bill directs the Department of Education to carry out a pilot program to make competitive grants for up to 10 qualified local educational agencies to purchase school supplies. School supplies refer to books, supplies, and supplementary materials used by students and instructional staff in the classroom.