Rebuild America’s Schools Act

Summary#

This bill, the Rebuild America’s Schools Act of 2026, creates new federal grant and bond programs to help states and local school districts repair, modernize, build, and decarbonize public elementary and secondary school facilities. It authorizes a major competitive grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Education for high-need local educational agencies and requires states to develop plans, provide limited matching funds, and create public inventories of school facility conditions. The bill also revives certain tax-credit bonds and creates a new category of "school infrastructure bonds" that provide a federal tax credit for bond holders. It sets rules for how covered funds may be used, prohibits several uses (for example routine maintenance, sports venues, and vehicles), requires green building and hazard-resistance standards, and establishes reporting, data, and oversight requirements. The bill includes a temporary increase in Impact Aid construction funds and a separate program to help repair school foundations damaged by pyrrhotite.

What it means for you#

  • If you work for or live in a school district: your state may get an allocation that can be awarded to high-need local school districts for school repairs, upgrades, new construction, energy efficiency, and safety projects. Districts that receive grants must prepare a 10-year facilities master plan and report on project results.
  • If you are a student or family: funds could be used to improve indoor air quality, drinking water safety, heating/cooling systems, and to reduce hazardous materials in schools. Funds cannot be used for routine repairs, sports stadiums, or vehicles.
  • If you are a contractor or small business: projects must use U.S.-produced iron, steel, and manufactured products unless a waiver applies; states and districts must report contract awards and may be asked to increase contracts with certified small, minority-, veteran-, or women-owned businesses.
  • If you are a state official: the state must submit a plan to receive funds, may reserve up to 5% for technical assistance and database work, and must publish and update an online inventory of school facility conditions.

Expenses#

  • Title I grants: authorizes $20,000,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031 (available through FY2036).
  • School infrastructure bonds: creates a national limit of $10,000,000,000 per calendar year for each of 2027, 2028, and 2029 for bonds that may be designated as school infrastructure bonds.
  • Qualified zone academy bonds: extends and adjusts limitations, including $1,400,000,000 for 2027 and each calendar year thereafter for that program.
  • Impact Aid construction: increases authorization to $100,000,000 for each fiscal year 2027 through 2031.
  • Pyrrhotite foundation repairs (Title VI): authorizes such sums as may be necessary beginning in fiscal year 2027; grants can cover up to 50% Federal share per project, with States generally providing at least 40% from non-Federal sources.
  • State and local matching: states generally must contribute 10% of their Title I allocation from non-Federal sources (with special rules if more than $7,000,000,000 are appropriated), and must commit to maintaining a proportional share of state spending on school facilities.
  • No comprehensive estimate of total federal outlays or economic effects is included in the bill text. No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

The bill’s stated purpose is to support long-term improvements to public school facilities. It emphasizes improving health and safety, energy and water efficiency, resilience to natural disasters, decarbonization (including electrification and on-site renewable energy), and reducing exposure to toxic substances. Provisions also aim to direct funds to high-need and low-capacity districts, to increase transparency about facility conditions, and to support jobs and local contracting opportunities.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.