Sponsors (10)
The bill seeds new secondary agricultural CTE opportunities with targeted startup grants and accountability measures, but limited funding, grant-size limits, and non‑sustainable funding design constrain how many schools can benefit and whether programs persist long-term.
Secondary school students — especially those in rural and career/technical tracks — gain access to new agricultural CTE programs with hands-on curriculum and work-based learning that are aligned to workforce and postsecondary pathways.
Teachers and school districts can receive startup grants (up to $100,000 per award) and program support, reducing initial capital barriers to launching agricultural education programs.
Programs must report performance and undergo independent evaluation, increasing accountability and likely improving program quality and student outcomes over time.
The small authorization ($5 million through FY2028) combined with $100,000 per-grant caps means very few schools can be funded at a level needed for equipment-heavy agricultural programs, sharply limiting the law's national reach.
Grant funds are not intended to sustain programs indefinitely, so schools may struggle to maintain programs after grant expiration without committed local, state, or private funding.
Reporting, independent evaluation, and data-sharing requirements create additional administrative burdens and compliance costs for schools and districts, which may be especially onerous for small or under-resourced programs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a competitive grant program authorizing $5M through FY2028 to fund new secondary-school agricultural programs with grants up to $100,000 for up to five years.
Introduced August 8, 2025 by Glenn Thompson · Last progress August 8, 2025
Creates a competitive grant program to help secondary schools start new agricultural education programs. The program is authorized at $5,000,000 total through FY2028, with individual grants capped at $100,000 and grant periods up to five years. Eligible recipients under the Perkins Act must apply with partner information, sustainability plans, and assurances; programs must coordinate with existing Perkins requirements, protect student privacy, undergo independent evaluation, and report annual performance data disaggregated by subgroups.