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H.R. 9513House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Community Schools and Health Equity Act

Sponsored by Jesús G. "Chuy" GarcíaRep. Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL)
Introduced June 29, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated July 2, 2026 at 12:33 PM UTC

The Community Schools and Health Equity Act creates a new grant program that directs the Education Department, in partnership with Health and Human Services, to fund the integration of comprehensive health services into community schools. The program targets schools serving low‑income, English‑learning, and medically underserved students, aiming to improve health, attendance, and academic performance through on‑site care and related support services.

Key Provisions

  • The Secretary of Education, working with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, will run a competitive grant program that funds schools or partnerships to add or expand health services on campus.
  • Eligible applicants include local school districts, groups of districts, or partnerships that involve schools and community health organizations, federally qualified health centers, public health agencies, or colleges.
  • Grant money can be used to set up or grow health services (like primary care, mental‑health, and preventive care), hire nurses and counselors, provide nutrition, housing referrals, legal aid, and other wrap‑around supports, and create culturally and linguistically appropriate programs for English learners and immigrant families.
  • Funding priority goes to entities serving many low‑income students, English learners, students in medically underserved or health‑professional shortage areas, or those that partner with health centers or public‑health agencies.
  • The two secretaries must sign a memorandum of understanding to coordinate the program, reduce paperwork, and offer technical help.
  • Grant recipients must file annual reports on services delivered, student health and academic outcomes, and demographic data; the Education Secretary must also report to Congress every three years on the program’s effectiveness.

Legislative Activity

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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.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 29, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

June 29, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

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.

Education and Workforce Committee

June 29, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued June 29, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 9513

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 29, 2026

Mr. García 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.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Community Schools and Health Equity Act.

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.