The U.S. Department of Education recently announced new grant awards totaling more than $47 million. This investment, distributed over five years, is intended to bolster states’ ability to support school districts in enhancing school facilities, thereby promoting equitable access to modern, healthy, and sustainable learning environments for all students.
The announcement was made by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona during a visit to Virginia with U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, a ranking member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, 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 Secretary Cardona. He underscored the positive impact that modern, well-maintained facilities and healthy learning environments can have on student achievement, absenteeism, and teacher retention.
The grants, which include eight new awards under the Supporting America’s School Infrastructure (SASI) program and one new grant under the National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI) program, mark a milestone in the Department’s history. The SASI program is the Department’s first initiative designed to boost state capacity to aid underserved school districts in improving 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 consolidates federal resources related to public school infrastructure improvements. Moreover, it will provide targeted technical assistance to SASI grantees to expand state expertise in school infrastructure.
Additionally, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released new information on how school districts can file for tax credits for clean energy infrastructure through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The NCSI will provide technical assistance to states and districts on federal opportunities that support school infrastructure, including these new tax credits.
The SASI grants have been awarded to eight states and territories: Alabama, Arizona, California, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Virginia. The NCSI grant has been awarded to a consortium led by the Institute of Urban and Regional Development at the University of California-Berkeley.
By improving school infrastructure, the Department aims to inspire learning, unleash imagination, and motivate students to bring their best each day.
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