Community Schools and Health Equity Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9513 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9513

 To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to
support the integration of school-based health services into community
                    schools, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 29, 2026

   Mr. Garcia of Illinois (for himself, Ms. Norton, and Mr. Figures)
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in
   each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To direct the Secretary of Education to carry out a grant program to
support the integration of school-based health services into community
                    schools, 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 be cited as the ``Community Schools and Health Equity
Act''.

SEC. 2. GRANT PROGRAM FOR COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AND HEALTH EQUITY.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Education, in coordination with
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall carry out a program
under which the Secretary of Education makes grants to eligible
entities, on a competitive basis, to support the implementation or
expansion of school-based health services in community schools.
    (b) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an eligible entity shall submit to the Secretary of Education
an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Secretary may require.
    (c) Use of Funds.--An eligible entity that receives a grant under
this section shall use the grant to carry out one or more of the
following activities:
            (1) Expanding or establishing school-based health services,
        including partnerships with Federally qualified health centers.
            (2) Hiring and training personnel, including school nurses,
        mental health professionals, social workers, and community
        school coordinators.
            (3) Providing wraparound services including nutrition
        assistance, housing support referrals, family engagement, and
        legal services.
            (4) Supporting programs that address social determinants of
        health affecting students and families.
            (5) Providing culturally and linguistically appropriate
        services for English learners and immigrant families.
            (6) Supporting trauma-informed practices and crisis
        response services.
            (7) Building partnerships with institutions of higher
        education to develop health career pathways for students.
    (d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary
of Education shall give priority to eligible entities that--
            (1) serve high concentrations of low-income students;
            (2) serve a significant number of English learners or
        students from immigrant families;
            (3) demonstrate unmet health or mental health needs among
        students;
            (4) are located in medically underserved areas or health
        professional shortage areas; or
            (5) propose to partner with Federally qualified health
        centers or public health agencies to carry out activities
        supported with the grant.
    (e) Interagency Coordination.--The Secretary of Education and the
Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter into a memorandum of
understanding for purposes of coordinating the implementation of the
grant program under this section. At a minimum, such memorandum shall
provide for coordination between the Secretaries on--
            (1) reducing the administrative burdens of implementing the
        program; and
            (2) providing technical assistance to eligible entities.
    (f) Reporting and Oversight.--
            (1) Grantee reports.--On an annual basis for each year an
        eligible entity receives a grant under this section, the entity
        shall submit to the Secretary of Education a report on the
        activities carried out with the grant. Each report shall
        include, with respect to the year covered by the report--
                    (A) identification the number of students served by
                activities supported with the grant;
                    (B) a description of student outcomes related to
                health, attendance, and academic performance; and
                    (C) to the extent practicable, the information
                described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) and other
                relevant student data disaggregated by income, race,
                ethnicity, and English learner status.
            (2) Reports to congress.--Not later than three years after
        the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than
        once every three years thereafter, the Secretary of Education
        shall submit to Congress a report on the grant program under
        this section. Each report shall include, with respect to the
        period covered by the report--
                    (A) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the
                program; and
                    (B) based on the results of the program,
                identification of any best practices or recommendations
                for improving coordination between the education and
                the health systems.
    (g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this Act shall be construed
to alter or supersede any Federal privacy protections, including
section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g;
commonly known as the ``Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of
1974'') and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of
1996 (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.).
    (h) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Community school.--The term ``community school'' means
        a full-service community school (as defined in section 4622 of
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
        7272)).
            (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
                    (A) a local education agency;
                    (B) a consortium of local educational agencies; or
                    (C) a partnership between a local educational
                agency and one or more--
                            (i) community-based organizations;
                            (ii) Federally qualified health centers (as
                        defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social
                        Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x));
                            (iii) public health agencies; or
                            (iv) institutions of higher education.
            (3) Local educational agency.--The term ``local educational
        agency'' has the meaning given that term in section 8101 of the
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
        7801).
            (4) School-based health services.--The term ``school-based
        health services'' means comprehensive health services provided
        to students in a school setting, including primary care, mental
        health services, preventative services, and medical referrals.
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