Warren, Hayes Renew Fight to Tackle Inequities in Public Schools, Ensure Every Student Receives High-Quality Education

Skip to primary navigation Skip to content × Close Mobile Nav About About Elizabeth Committee Assignments About Massachusetts Voting Record Contact Share Your Opinion Help with a Federal Agency Office Locations Send me Updates Share Your CFPB Story Save Our Schools Services Help with a Federal Agency Return to Repayment Guide Visiting DC/Tours Flag Request Internships Meeting Requests Academy Nominations Special Recognitions Grants Small Businesses Veterans, Servicemembers and Military Families FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act Requests FY 2027 Appropriations Requests Oversight Reports Letters Social Security War Room Save Our Schools Campaign Legislation Newsroom News Coverage Press Releases Op-Eds Videos × Close Site Search search Elizabeth Warren Senator Elizabeth Warren's Facebook Page (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's BlueSky (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Twitter (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Youtube (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Instagram (This link opens in new window or tab.) About About Elizabeth Committee Assignments About Massachusetts Voting Record Contact Share Your Opinion Help with a Federal Agency Office Locations Send me Updates Share Your CFPB Story Save Our Schools Services Help with a Federal Agency Return to Repayment Guide Visiting DC/Tours Flag Request Internships Meeting Requests Academy Nominations Special Recognitions Grants Small Businesses Veterans, Servicemembers and Military Families FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act Requests FY 2027 Appropriations Requests Oversight Reports Letters Social Security War Room Save Our Schools Campaign Legislation Newsroom News Coverage Press Releases Op-Eds Videos Español Close Search Open Search Popup Popup Search Close Search Popup MENU Senator Elizabeth Warren's Facebook Page (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's BlueSky (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Twitter (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Youtube (This link opens in new window or tab.) Senator Elizabeth Warren's Instagram (This link opens in new window or tab.) Home Newsroom Press Releases April 14, 2026 Warren, Hayes Renew Fight to Tackle Inequities in Public Schools, Ensure Every Student Receives High-Quality Education Text of Bill (PDF) Washington, D.C. — Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representative Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) reintroduced the Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act , a bill to create a $100 billion application-based education grant program to accelerate students’ academic progress and address social, emotional, mental, behavioral, and physical health needs, including but not limited to the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Public schools across the nation have long lacked sufficient funding and resources to provide all students with a high-quality public education. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened these pre-existing opportunity and achievement gaps for students in low-income communities and communities of color. “Our government is failing students, especially those in low-income communities and communities of color, by refusing to invest in closing education gaps worsened by COVID,” said Senator Warren . “Our bill takes a massive step toward bridging these gaps and making sure every kid in this country receives a high quality education.” “Almost 6 years later, while many parts of our country have recovered from the COVID 19 pandemic, we still see lasting impacts on our students,” said Congresswoman Jahana Hayes . “In Connecticut students are still facing chronic absenteeism, lower reading scores, and increased mental health challenges. The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act of 2026 is a comprehensive piece of legislation to address the lasting impacts of the pandemic and truly invest in equitable access to education.” The Educational Equity Challenge Grant Act creates a $100 billion application-based grant program administered by the Department of Education over the next ten years. States, school districts, nonprofits in partnership with school districts, and the Bureau of Indian Education can apply for grants for one of two purposes: 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. 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 pande