To establish a grant program to support students, families, and school personnel impacted by immigration enforcement actions to ensure that schools remain safe, trauma-informed learning environments, and for other purposes.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9853 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9853

To establish a grant program to support students, families, and school
 personnel impacted by immigration enforcement actions to ensure that
  schools remain safe, trauma-informed learning environments, and for
                            other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 22, 2026

  Mr. Garcia of Illinois (for himself, Mr. Correa, Ms. Bonamici, Ms.
Omar, Ms. Norton, Mr. Garcia of California, Ms. Wilson of Florida, Mr.
   Krishnamoorthi, Ms. Crockett, Mrs. Ramirez, Ms. Craig, Ms. Lee of
    Pennsylvania, Mr. Evans of Pennsylvania, Mrs. Grijalva, and Mr.
  Espaillat) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
                  Committee on Education and Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To establish a grant program to support students, families, and school
 personnel impacted by immigration enforcement actions to ensure that
  schools remain safe, trauma-informed learning environments, and for
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may cited as the ``Right to Learn Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Community-based nonprofit organization.--The term
        ``community-based nonprofit organization'' means a nonprofit
        entity that--
                    (A) demonstrates expertise in trauma-informed care,
                educational equity, or immigrant family services; and
                    (B) is described in section 501(c)(3) of the
                Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from
                taxation under section 501(a) of such Code.
            (2) Culturally responsive care.--The term ``culturally
        responsive care'' means practices, policies, or interventions
        that--
                    (A) recognize and affirm students' cultural,
                linguistic, and community backgrounds;
                    (B) ensure that educational and mental health
                services are inclusive, equitable, and accessible to
                individuals of all racial, ethic, and national origins;
                and
                    (C) integrate students' and families' cultural
                strengths and perspectives into trauma-informed and
                educational support programs.
            (3) Early childhood program.--The term ``early childhood
        program'' means a Head Start or Early Head Start program
        carried out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.),
        or a prekindergarten program that is licensed or regulated by a
        State and that receives Federal or State funds.
            (4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a local educational agency;
                    (B) a public school;
                    (C) an early childhood program;
                    (D) an institution of higher education;
                    (E) a community-based nonprofit organization; or
                    (F) a legal service provider.
            (5) Immigration enforcement action.--The term ``immigration
        enforcement action'' means any action carried out by or on
        behalf of the Department of Homeland Security for the purpose
        of enforcing the immigration laws (as such term is defined in
        section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
        1101)).
            (6) Institution of higher education.--The term
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
        term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
        U.S.C. 1001).
            (7) Know your rights services.--The term ``Know Your Rights
        services'' means services that provide accurate, age-
        appropriate, and culturally and linguistically responsive
        information to students, families, educators, and school
        personnel regarding legal rights and available protections
        under Federal, State, and local law, including with respect to
        interactions with immigration enforcement, access to education
        and related services, due process rights, and protections
        against discrimination and unlawful search or questioning.
            (8) Legal service provider.--The term ``legal service
        provider'' means a nonprofit legal services organization, legal
        aid organization, law school legal clinic, or pro bono legal
        network that provides representation, referral, or Know Your
        Rights services to immigrant children and families.
            (9) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 8101 of the
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
        7801).
            (10) School personnel.--The term ``school personnel'' means
        teachers, principals, administrators, school counselors, social
        workers, school psychologists, nurses, paraprofessionals,
        transportation staff, food service workers, custodial staff,
        security personnel, and any other individuals employed by,
        under contract with, or volunteering on behalf of an eligible
        entity described in subparagraphs (A) though (D) of paragraph
        (4).
            (11) Specified individual.--The term ``specified
        individual'' means an individual--
                    (A) who is not a United States national and who is
                present in the United States with or without lawful
                status under the immigration laws (as such term is
                defined in section 101 of the Immigration and
                Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)); or
                    (B) who has a household member who is not a United
                States national and who is present in the United States
                with or without lawful status under the immigration
                laws (as such term is defined in section 101 of the
                Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101)).
            (12) Trauma-informed practice.--The term ``trauma-informed
        practice'', when used with respect to an approach to
        immigration enforcement action, means an approach in education
        or social services that recognizes and addresses the impact of
        traumatic stress on students, families, and staff, including
        through principles of safety, trust, empowerment, peer support,
        choice, and cultural responsiveness.

SEC. 3. PURPOSE.

    The purposes of this Act are to--
            (1) provide emergency resources to eligible entities to
        support students and educators impacted by immigration
        enforcement actions;
            (2) ensure that schools remain safe, trauma-informed
        environments for learning, especially for students who are
        specified individuals;
            (3) affirm and reinforce the constitutional right to free,
        public education for all children, regardless of immigration
        status, as recognized in Plyler v. Doe, (457 U.S. 202 (1982)),
        and to prohibit discriminatory measures based on immigration
        status;
            (4) reduce absenteeism, disengagement, bullying, and
        academic decline resulting from immigration enforcement action-
        related trauma and instability; and
            (5) support educators and staff in effectively responding
        to the needs of students who are specified individuals and
        their families.

SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAM ESTABLISHES.

    (a) Authority.--The Secretary of Education shall establish a
competitive grant program to award funds to eligible entities for the
purposes described in subsection (c).
    (b) Period of Grants.--Grants awarded under this Act shall be for a
initial period not to exceed 3 years, but may be renewed annually as
determined appropriate by the Secretary of Education based on
performance and evaluation.
    (c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under this
Act may use grant funds for the following purposes:
            (1) Student-focused stabilization services for students
        impacted by immigration enforcement actions, including--
                    (A) hiring or expanding access to bilingual
                counselors, social workers, trauma-informed staff, or
                school psychologists;
                    (B) providing emergency assistance, including
                transportation, food, clothing, temporary shelter, or
                legal service navigation (including referral to legal
                service providers, partnerships with legal service
                providers, and payment of administrative or court fees
                related to immigration proceedings);
                    (C) supporting in-school mental health services,
                community-based mental health providers, peer support
                groups, family-based counseling or therapeutic
                services, and safe and supporting school environments
                for students experiencing anxiety, fear, or trauma
                stemming from immigration enforcement actions; and
                    (D) developing and delivering curriculum or
                instructional content concerning the history,
                contributions, and experiences of immigrants in the
                United States to foster inclusion and cultural
                awareness.
            (2) School personnel-focused services and training,
        including--
                    (A) providing mental health services, peer-support
                networks, or counseling to school personnel impacted by
                immigration enforcement actions (including school
                personnel who are specified individuals); and
                    (B) professional development and training on--
                            (i) trauma-informed practices with respect
                        to immigration enforcement actions;
                            (ii) legal rights of immigrant students and
                        families; and
                            (iii) culturally responsive care and
                        immigration-related crisis response protocols.
            (3) Community collaboration and family engagement with
        respect to immigration enforcement actions, including--
                    (A) partnering with legal service providers,
                community-based nonprofit organizations, or family
                advocacy centers to provide Know Your Rights services,
                family reunification resources, and deportation defense
                or legal support;
                    (B) coordinating with local governments, local
                educational agencies, and community stakeholders to
                develop or revise protocols for school responses during
                immigration enforcement actions;
    (d) Selection Criteria; Priorities.--In awarding grants under this
Act, the Secretary of Education shall determine appropriate selection
criteria, and shall give priority to an eligible entity that meets one
or more of the following criteria:
            (1) Serves a local educational agency or student population
        that is located in a community with immigration enforcement
        action.
            (2) Serves populations with high rates of specified
        individuals.
            (3) Has established partnerships with community-based
        nonprofit organizations or legal service providers.
    (e) Technical Assistance, Oversight, and Evaluation.--The Secretary
of Education may reserve up to 5 percent of funds made available to
carry out this Act for evaluation, oversight, monitoring, and technical
assistance to grantees.

SEC. 5. PROTECTIONS AND NONDISCRIMINATION.

    (a) Collection, Use, and Treatment of Data.--
            (1) Prohibition on status inquiry or disclosure.--In
        carrying out this Act, the Secretary of Education or an
        eligible entity receiving funds under this Act may not request,
        collect, or disclose personally identifiable information
        concerning the immigration or citizenship status of any student
        or family member, except where such disclosure is expressly
        required by a Federal law other than this Act that relates to
        the collection or disclosure of immigration or citizenship
        information for the administration of a Federal program or
        investigation, or by a judicial order issued under such a law.
            (2) Data to administer grant.--To administer and carry out
        the grant program under this Act, the Secretary of Education
        and any eligible entity receiving funds under this Act may use
        non-personally identifiable information from Federal, State, or
        local governments or local educational agencies to determine,
        within a community to be served by a grant under this Act, the
        occurrence of immigration enforcement action and the population
        of specified individuals.
    (b) Nondiscrimination.--No eligible entity may deny or limit
services or supports provided under this Act on the basis of actual or
perceived immigration status of a student, family member, or school
personnel who is impacted by immigration enforcement action.
    (c) Compliance.--Each eligible entity applying for a grant under
this Act shall certify compliance with applicable Federal privacy and
civil rights laws, as determined by the Secretary of Education,
including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (20 U.S.C.
1232g) and title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et
seq.).

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act
$250,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2027 through 2031.
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