WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act of 2024. This legislation would create a $100 billion application-based program administered by the U.S. Department of Education over the next ten years to accelerate academic progress and address social, emotional, mental, behavioral, and physical health needs in schools, including those associated with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Millions of students lost valuable instructional time during the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequences continue push them further and further behind. Schools nationwide struggle to address learning loss and student needs with the limited resources available to them,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “While Congress provided historic funding to schools during the pandemic, more must be done to close educational gaps exacerbated by this public health crisis. This bill responds by increasing funding streams to serve the social and emotional needs of students and recruit a diverse educator workforce.”
“Our students, especially those in low-income communities and communities of color, were hit hard by the pandemic,” said Senator Warren. “The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act will help us take on the inequities in our education system by providing long-term funding to give educators the tools they need to support our students.”
According to the National Education Association (NEA), the 2023-24 school year saw the gap between pre-COVID and post-COVID test scores widen in nearly all grades by 36% in reading and 18% in math. To close this disparity, the average student would need the equivalent of 4.8 additional months of schooling to catch up in reading and an additional 4.3 months in math.
States, school districts, nonprofits in partnership with school districts, and the Bureau of Indian Education can apply for grants for one of two purposes:
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Implement Evidence-Based Strategies: 75% of funds are reserved for grantees to adopt programs that meet a high bar of evidence, which may include supporting social-emotional learning, implementing culturally and linguistically responsive practices, extending instructional time, and implementing high-quality individual or small-group tutoring.
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Support Field- and Educator-Initiated Innovations: 25% of funds are reserved for grantees to develop or replicate new ideas and strategies designed by educators in the field to accelerate academic progress and address social, emotional, mental, behavioral, and physical health needs, including those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Grantees must include an independent evaluation for efficacy.
The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act reserves funds for the Bureau of Indian Education, rural areas, and applicants serving low-income students. The Department must also give priority to applicants serving disproportionately higher percentages of high-need students, including low-income students, students of color and Native American students, homeless students, migrant students, students in foster care, English learners, students with disabilities, and students most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act of 2024 has been cosponsored by Representatives Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC) and Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02) in the House of Representatives, and Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) in the Senate.
The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act is endorsed by the Connecticut Education Association (CEA), National Education Association (NEA), American Federation of Teachers (AFT), EdTrust, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), Committee for Children, AFT Massachusetts, Peekapak Inc., and Boston Teachers Union (BTU).
“The Educational Equity Grant Challenge Act will directly invest in addressing post-COVID-19 challenges faced by most school districts. By increasing funding opportunities districts will have the tools to meet the needs of students. CABE applauds Congresswoman Hayes for leading this bill and her work to improve equity in education," said Patrice McCarthy, Executive Director and General Counsel, Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.