Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act
The Learn and Serve America Reinvestment Act would (1) provide a direct, recurring appropriation to the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) specifically for the Learn and Serve America program, and (2) broaden who can participate as eligible recipients. The funding package starts in fiscal year 2026 with an annual appropriation of $40 million to support Learn and Serve America, with a minimum allocation split (at least 20% to one part and at least 80% to another part of the program) and a requirement to hire at least 10 additional CNCS staff to support planning, program design, and technology improvements. The eligibility expansion allows local educational agencies (LEAs) and consortia of LEAs to participate, and it creates a framework for state-level and statewide entities to receive awards or grants to carry out the program. It also introduces new grant rules, reporting requirements, and minor administrative changes to align the program with an “awards” framework rather than “allotments.” In short, the bill aims to inject new funding for Learn and Serve America and widen who can receive and administer those funds to include schools, school districts, and broader community-based organizations, with improved accountability and oversight.
Key Points
- 1Direct appropriation for Learn and Serve America: Starting in fiscal year 2026, CNCS would receive $40 million annually (from available Treasury funds) specifically for Learn and Serve America, with a minimum 20% to Part I and a minimum 80% to Part II of subtitle B, title I of the National and Community Service Act of 1990. The bill also requires funding to hire at least 10 additional CNCS full-time staff to support planning, program design, and technology improvements.
- 2Expanded eligibility to local education entities: The bill expands who can participate by adding Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) and, importantly, consortia of two or more LEAs within a State as eligible entities for Learn and Serve America.
- 3New “special rule” for statewide entities: State educational agencies may designate a statewide entity that has experience with service-learning or is a community-based/nonprofit organization or the State Commission on National and Community Service to receive and carry out the state’s allotment or competitive grants.
- 4Awards framework and grant administration: The bill changes terminology and operation from “allotments” to “awards” and establishes a process for awarding funds to state educational agencies, territories, and Indian tribes, including new reporting requirements on how funds are distributed and utilized.
- 5Reserved funding for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and reporting: It would reserve 2-3% of certain funds for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and require an annual Congress report detailing how funds were awarded and used by grantee type.