HouseH.R. 9513119th Congress
Community Schools and Health Equity Act
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[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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