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Provides a recurring annual appropriation of $40 million to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) for Learn and Serve America programs beginning in fiscal year 2026, with set reservations between parts of the program and a small reserved amount for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Expands who can receive program funds by explicitly adding local educational agencies (LEAs) and consortia of LEAs as eligible grantees, allows competitive grants to State educational agencies, territories, and Indian tribes, requires CNCS to hire at least 10 full‑time staff to support the program, and requires an annual Congressional report on grant distribution and usage.
The bill secures and expands federal support and administrative capacity for community service and school-based service-learning programs—improving funding stability, access, and oversight—while increasing federal spending, shifting toward competitive grants that may shrink awards and disadvantage smaller districts, and centralizing some program control.
Nonprofits, community organizations, and local governments receive stable annual federal funding ($40M per year, with at least $32M directed to core program activities) to expand and sustain volunteer-driven service programs.
Local educational agencies and school consortia become directly eligible for Learn and Serve grants, expanding school-based service-learning opportunities and student engagement.
Provides dedicated, predictable funding (2–3% allocation) to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, increasing targeted support for tribal education and service-learning programs.
Taxpayers bear recurring federal costs—about $40M per year plus new staffing expenses—raising federal spending and ongoing fiscal obligations.
Shifting more funds into competitive grants and opening eligibility to more grantee types may reduce per-recipient award sizes and disproportionately disadvantage smaller or low-capacity LEAs lacking grant-writing resources.
Mandated set-asides (specified 20%/80% allocations) reduce flexibility to reallocate funds in response to changing needs, potentially limiting program responsiveness.
Introduced September 11, 2025 by Andy Kim · Last progress September 11, 2025