The Right to Learn Act of 2026 establishes a grant program to provide schools and community organizations with the resources necessary to support students and staff impacted by immigration enforcement and ensure safe, trauma-informed learning environments.
Jesús "Chuy" García
Representative
IL-4
The "Right to Learn Act of 2026" establishes a federal grant program to provide schools, early childhood programs, and community organizations with the resources necessary to support students and staff impacted by immigration enforcement. The bill aims to ensure that schools remain safe, trauma-informed environments by funding mental health services, legal resources, and staff training. Additionally, it mandates strict privacy protections to ensure that educational access remains equitable and free from discrimination regardless of immigration status.
Right to Learn Act of 2026: $250 Million Annual Grant Program to Support Schools Impacted by Immigration Enforcement
The Right to Learn Act of 2026 is a significant push to keep classrooms stable when immigration enforcement actions ripple through a community. Starting in 2027 and running through 2031, the bill authorizes $250 million every year for a new grant program. These funds aren’t just for big school districts; they’re available to public schools, early childhood programs like Head Start, colleges, and even local nonprofits that provide legal or mental health services. The goal is straightforward: make sure that when a family is dealing with a deportation or an enforcement action, the kids don’t fall through the cracks or stop showing up to class.
Stabilizing the Classroom
When a student is worried about what’s happening at home, they aren’t focusing on algebra. This bill addresses that head-on by funding "student-focused stabilization services." Under Section 4, schools can use grant money to hire bilingual counselors and social workers who specialize in trauma. It also covers the basics that can disappear during a family crisis—think emergency transportation, food, clothing, and even temporary shelter. For a teacher in a classroom where half the students are suddenly absent due to fear, these resources are designed to bring those kids back into a safe, predictable learning environment.
Support for the Front Lines
It’s not just the students feeling the pressure; school staff are often the first responders to these crises. The Act provides for "personnel-focused services," which includes mental health support and peer networks for teachers and staff who are navigating these high-stress situations. More importantly, it funds professional development. This means a school secretary or a principal can get clear training on the legal rights of immigrant families and established crisis protocols. Instead of guessing what the law says during an interaction with authorities, staff would have a playbook based on culturally responsive care and trauma-informed practices.
Privacy and the Fine Print
One of the biggest hurdles in helping immigrant communities is trust, and Section 5 of the bill tries to bake that trust into the law. It explicitly prohibits the Secretary of Education or any grant recipient from collecting or sharing the immigration status of students or their families. There are very few exceptions—essentially only if another federal law or a judge specifically orders it for a separate investigation. Furthermore, the bill mandates that services cannot be denied based on someone’s actual or perceived immigration status. It’s a "firewall" approach designed to ensure that the $250 million goes toward education and support rather than becoming a data-collection tool.