PATH to Education Act

Full Title:
PATH to Education Act

Summary#

This bill creates a new federal grant program to help public transit agencies connect students and Head Start families to campuses and center-based Head Start programs. Grants would go to public transportation providers that form partnerships with eligible institutions. Eligible institutions include community colleges, minority-serving institutions, Head Start agencies that run center-based programs, area career and technical education schools, and certain rural-serving colleges.

Grants may pay to add bus or rail stops or routes (and related paratransit service), change or increase service times and frequency so students and Head Start families can get to classes and centers, and cover operating costs for those services when eligible. Applicants must submit information showing how the project will improve transit access. The Secretary of Transportation may award the grants and must give priority to partnerships that include an eligible institution where more than 25% of students receive Federal Pell Grants.

What it means for you#

  • Students at the listed types of institutions could gain new or better public transit options to reach classes.
  • Families and participants in center-based Head Start programs could get improved transit service to reach centers.
  • Public transit providers can apply for grants if they partner with eligible institutions.
  • The program emphasizes help for institutions with many low-income students (those receiving Pell Grants).

Expenses#

  • The bill directs set-aside funding to support these grants as follows (each set of set-asides is listed in different parts of the bill):
    • For carrying out the 5311(k) grants: FY2027 $1,000,000; FY2028 $2,000,000; FY2029 $3,000,000; FY2030 $4,000,000; FY2031 $5,000,000.
    • For carrying out the 5307(i) grants (set aside via section 5336(h)): FY2027 $1,000,000; FY2028 $2,000,000; FY2029 $3,000,000; FY2030 $4,000,000; FY2031 $5,000,000.
      No publicly available information on total program cost, long-term authorization levels, or anticipated budget offsets beyond these set-asides.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.