A Democratic bill with 11 Democratic cosponsors · See all 12 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Strength in Diversity Act of 2026 aims to address the effects of racial and socioeconomic isolation in schools. The bill establishes a program where the Secretary awards grants to eligible entities for developing and implementing strategies to increase diversity. These grants include both planning grants for assessment and implementation grants for specific actions. The program focuses on improving student outcomes and reducing isolation in covered schools. This includes initiatives like revising school boundaries or improving transportation.
Yes· 3 of 13
- Scored +7
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill specifically targets racial isolation through grants to increase diversity in schools.
- Scored +6
Would children be better off under this?
The bill seeks to improve academic outcomes and life outcomes for students in covered schools.
- Scored +6
Would students be better off under this?
The bill is designed to improve student achievement, graduation rates, and social-emotional learning.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Improved Student Outcomes: The bill aims to improve academic and life outcomes for students facing racial or socioeconomic isolation through various interventions (Section 5).
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Increased School Diversity: The grant program is designed to increase racial and socioeconomic diversity in covered schools (Section s, Section 4).
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Enhanced Teacher Diversity: Implementation grants can be used for recruiting, hiring, or training staff to increase teacher diversity in covered schools (Section 6).
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Better School Readiness and Graduation Rates: Performance measures include tracking increases in school readiness, student achievement, and high school graduation rates (Section 7).
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Expanded Access to Mental Health: The program tracks improvements in access to mental health and social-emotional learning (Section 7).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Impact on Nearby School Demographics: Entities applying for grants must consider how their activities might impact the demographics and student enrollment of nearby covered schools not included in the grant (Section 5).
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Potential for Redrawing School Lines: The bill involves developing options such as school boundary redesign or revised feeder patterns, which could alter existing school structures (Section 6).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill seeks to improve academic outcomes and life outcomes for students in covered schools. Would students be better off under this? — The bill is designed to improve student achievement, graduation rates, and social-emotional learning. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill aims to reduce racial isolation which disproportionately affects minority communities. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — The bill aims to reduce racial isolation which disproportionately affects minority communities. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill aims to reduce racial isolation which disproportionately affects minority communities. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill specifically addresses socioeconomic isolation and targets high-poverty schools. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes consultation with Indian Tribes and addresses racial isolation.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill specifically targets racial isolation through grants to increase diversity in schools. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill addresses socioeconomic isolation by targeting high-poverty schools.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into public schools? — The bill authorizes grants to improve diversity and student outcomes in public schools.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires data collection and annual reporting to track program progress. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill expands federal oversight and grant-making authority within the education sector.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill includes tracking and improving access to mental health as a performance measure for grant recipients.
- 9/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/2/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/14/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
5 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts