Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 27 - 0.
Introduced:Oct 17, 2025
Primary Sponsor
Gwen Moore
Representative
Democratic
WI-4
Cosponsors
82
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Education
Summary
This bill aims to make public schools more environmentally friendly and equitable. It would provide grants to help schools become 'healthy zero-carbon' by upgrading their facilities to use renewable energy. The bill would also give funding to hire more teachers and staff at high-need schools, as well as support programs to make schools more resilient to climate change and disasters.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill aims to make public schools more environmentally friendly and equitable. It would provide grants to help schools become 'healthy zero-carbon' by upgrading their facilities to use renewable energy. The bill would also give funding to hire more teachers and staff at high-need schools, as well as support programs to make schools more resilient to climate change and disasters.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Green New Deal for Public Schools Act of </strong><b>2023</b></p> <p>This bill provides environmental and educational resources to public elementary and secondary schools and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools. </p> <p>Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to provide climate capital facilities grants to eligible entities (e.g., public schools and BIE schools). Grant recipients must use these funds to construct new, or convert existing facilities into, healthy zero-carbon schools. <em>Healthy zero-carbon school</em> refers to a school with highly energy-efficient facilities that produce or procure sufficient carbon-free and pollution-free renewable energy to meet the school's needs.</p> <p>The bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to award resource block grants to qualified local educational agencies (LEAs) to hire and retain educators and staff in high-need schools.</p> <p>ED must award grants to eligible consortia of LEAs for educational equity planning and implementation. </p> <p>ED must establish the Climate Change Resiliency Program to increase the resiliency of public and BIE schools during climate change-related events, natural disasters, and public health crises. Further, ED must establish a related grant program for state educational agencies. Grant recipients must use these funds for certain activities (e.g., green infrastructure projects).</p> <p>The bill establishes the Office of Sustainable Schools within ED to (1) administer the resource block grant and educational equity grant programs, and (2) coordinate with specified agencies and the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy on climate capital facilities grants and the Climate Change Resiliency Program.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Provides grants to help public schools and Native American schools upgrade their facilities to use renewable energy and become 'healthy zero-carbon' buildings
Directs the Department of Education to award grants to school districts to hire and retain more teachers and staff at high-need schools
Establishes a program to increase the resilience of public schools to climate change, natural disasters, and public health crises
Creates a new Office of Sustainable Schools within the Department of Education to oversee these initiatives
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
If this bill becomes law, it would affect public elementary and secondary schools across the country, as well as schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education. It would provide substantial new funding and resources to make schools more environmentally sustainable, equitable, and resilient to major challenges. This could lead to significant improvements in school facilities, increased educational opportunities and staffing at high-need schools, and better preparedness for climate change impacts.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Education
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
5784, 119th Congress (2025). "AI–WISE Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-5784
