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Bill

S 4872

Keep Kids in School Act

119th Congress Introduced by Michael Bennet

Creates a federal grant program for SEAs and LEAs to reduce chronic absenteeism and improve safety through staffing, services, transportation, and data, plus a national study.

Introduced in Senate
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Bill Summary · S 4872

Purpose and scope

  • Bill: S. 4872, the Keep Kids in School Act (introduced June 23, 2026, in the Senate by Mr. Bennet; co-sponsored by Michael Bennet).
  • Main aim: Help local educational agencies reduce chronic absenteeism and create safe learning environments in public elementary and secondary schools, through a federal grant program and related activities.

Key definitions

  • Chronic absenteeism: Students at a public elementary or secondary school who are absent for 10 percent or more of the days in which they are enrolled during a school year, for any excused or unexcused reason.
  • ESEA terms, Secretary, State: Use definitions as in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and related federal terminology.

Grant program and funding mechanism

  • Program authorized: The Secretary of Education would award grants to State Educational Agencies (SEAs). SEAs would then award subgrants to Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) to help public schools reduce chronic absenteeism and foster safe learning environments.
  • Preference in funding: The Secretary must give preference to States with high chronic absenteeism rates or those serving the most vulnerable student populations.
  • Applications:
    • SEAs: must apply to the Secretary with required information.
    • LEAs: must apply to the State educational agency in their state for subgrants.
  • Use of funds (by SEAs and LEAs):
    • SEAs: grant funds are passed through to LEAs via subgrants.
    • LEAs: funds must be used to reduce chronic absenteeism and create safe learning environments. Authorized activities include:
    • Hiring additional counselors, mental health professionals, social workers, or family liaisons.
    • Providing stipends for teachers to conduct home visits for chronically absent students.
    • Supporting programs to address absenteeism and improve school safety.
    • Covering transportation costs (e.g., buses).
    • Research and data collection to track absenteeism rates, patterns, and root causes.
    • Other activities or methods proven to reduce chronic absenteeism.
  • Reporting requirements:
    • LEAs must, within 3 years of receiving a subgrant, prepare and submit to the SEA a report on the subgrant’s impact and whether the supported schools reduced chronic absenteeism.
    • SEAs must compile and submit these reports to the U.S. Secretary.

Study on chronic absenteeism and safe learning environments

  • The Comptroller General would conduct a national study on chronic absenteeism and safety in public elementary and secondary schools.
  • Study contents: Examine chronic absenteeism and assess evidence-based interventions’ effectiveness in reducing absenteeism and improving student achievement and well-being.
  • Report timeline: The Comptroller General must submit a report within 1 year of enactment, detailing study findings, conclusions, and recommendations to:
    • Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
    • House Committee on Education and the Workforce
    • Secretary of Education

Potential impact and who is affected

  • Affected entities:
    • State Educational Agencies (SEAs)
    • Local Educational Agencies (LEAs)
    • Public elementary and secondary schools (and their students)
    • Educators and school staff (counselors, mental health professionals, social workers, family liaisons, teachers)
  • Expected outcomes:
    • Reduced chronic absenteeism rates at participating schools.
    • Improved safety and learning environments in schools.
    • Enhanced data collection and analysis to identify root causes of absenteeism.
    • Increased resources for student support services and possibly transportation.

Timeline and process considerations

  • Funding flow: National appropriations would be used to grant SEA awards, which then subgrant to LEAs.
  • Reporting cadence: LEAs report to SEAs within 3 years of receiving subgrants; SEAs forward reports to the Secretary.
  • Study: Comptroller General study due within 1 year after enactment, with a broad national assessment and a final report to Congress.

Summary

The Keep Kids in School Act would create a federal grant program to empower SEAs and LEAs to reduce chronic absenteeism and improve school safety through targeted supports (staffing, home visits, programming, transportation, data systems) and by funding research and evaluation. It also mandates a government-wide study on absenteeism and safety, with a public-facing report to inform policy decisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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