MAGNET Act
📝 TL;DR
The MAGNET Act expands federal magnet school grants to include state agencies and creates a new $7.5 million grant program specifically for school integration efforts. The bill prioritizes whole-school magnet programs, inclusive enrollment practices, and inter-district collaboration to promote racial and socioeconomic diversity in schools.
Sign in to view AI summaries
Get plain English explanations of what this bill actually does.
Sign in with XPlain English Explanation
The MAGNET Act (HR 10547) expands the existing federal Magnet Schools Assistance Program to promote school integration and diversity. Introduced by Representatives Courtney, Hayes, and Bishop in December 2024, the bill adds state educational agencies as eligible grant recipients alongside local school districts and creates a new supplemental diversity grant program. The legislation is grounded in extensive research findings about the academic and social benefits of racially and socioeconomically integrated schools, citing studies that show integrated schools improve outcomes for all students while segregated schools perpetuate achievement gaps. The bill responds to Government Accountability Office findings that over one-third of U.S. students attend schools where 75% or more students are of a single race or ethnicity, with predominantly minority schools also having high concentrations of low-income students.
Detailed Analysis
The bill operates through two primary mechanisms: expanding the existing Magnet Schools Assistance Program and creating an entirely new Supplemental Diversity Grant program. The expansion allows state educational agencies to apply for federal magnet school grants for the first time, broadening the pool of potential applicants beyond just local school districts. More significantly, the bill restructures grant priorities to emphasize integration-focused practices, giving preference to applicants that propose whole-school magnet programs over specialized programs within traditional schools, implement inclusive enrollment practices like weighted lotteries, and focus on inter-district collaboration.
The new Supplemental Diversity Grant program, established in Section 4408A, specifically targets entities that haven't received magnet grants in the previous three years and want to adopt evidence-based desegregation practices. This program requires detailed applications demonstrating how funds will promote racial and socioeconomic integration, including specific data collection plans and community engagement strategies. Grant recipients must track multiple success measures across student subgroups and make their progress reports publicly available.
Funding mechanisms include authorization for 'such sums as may be necessary' for fiscal years 2025-2029, with a minimum guarantee of $109 million for the traditional program and additional funds above that threshold available for the new diversity grants. The bill includes accountability measures requiring demonstration of tangible improvements in diversity and academic outcomes, with enforcement actions for non-performing recipients.
The legislation's approach reflects current educational equity research by prioritizing transportation accessibility, family engagement across diverse communities, and inter-district partnerships. It specifically prohibits application fees that could create barriers for low-income families and requires multilingual outreach efforts to ensure broad community awareness of magnet school opportunities.
🎯 Key Provisions
State Agency Eligibility Expansion: Allows state educational agencies to apply for and receive magnet school grants directly, expanding beyond the previous limitation to only local school districts and consortiums. (Section 4, amending Section 4403 by inserting 'State educational agencies' as eligible recipients)
Whole-School Magnet Priority: Gives funding preference to applicants proposing to establish complete magnet schools rather than specialized programs within traditional schools, promoting more comprehensive integration. (Section 4406(a)(4) - priority for applicants that 'propose to establish whole-school magnet schools through proposing to design and implement schools that incorporate integration into school design, mission, structure, focus, and goals')
Inclusive Enrollment Practices Requirement: Prioritizes applications that implement weighted lotteries and other research-based enrollment methods to ensure diverse student populations can access magnet programs. (Section 4406(a)(7) - priority for applicants that 'propose to design and implement inclusive enrollment practices, such as utilizing weighted lotteries and other inclusive and accessible practices')
Supplemental Diversity Grant Program: Creates an entirely new grant program for entities seeking to adopt evidence-based desegregation practices, with grants up to $7.5 million over five years. (Section 4408A(a) - authorizes grants 'to eligible entities that are looking to adopt additional effective, evidence-based practices designed to further desegregation aims and promote diversity')
Inter-District Integration Support: Provides funding for regional collaboration between urban and suburban districts, including transportation, financial incentives, and comprehensive regional planning for diversity. (Section 4408A(d)(8) - allows funding for 'collaborating with urban and suburban districts in a comprehensive regional plan' and 'providing financial incentives to help receiving schools cover the cost of transferring students')
Accountability and Reporting Requirements: Mandates annual public reporting on diversity outcomes and academic improvements, with enforcement actions for grant recipients who fail to demonstrate progress. (Section 4408A(g)(3) - 'The Secretary shall pursue enforcement actions against a grant recipient under this section that fails to demonstrate the improvements described')
👥 Impact Analysis
Direct Effects If enacted, this bill would significantly expand federal support for school integration efforts by allowing states to directly access magnet school funding and creating new revenue streams specifically for diversity initiatives. Schools and districts would have access to up to $7.5 million in supplemental grants to implement evidence-based desegregation practices, including transportation programs, community outreach, and inter-district partnerships. The legislation would immediately change grant award priorities to favor whole-school magnet programs and inclusive enrollment practices, potentially affecting how existing magnet programs operate and how new ones are designed. State educational agencies would gain new capacity to coordinate regional integration efforts and support local districts in ways previously unavailable under federal magnet school programs.
Indirect Effects The bill could accelerate school integration trends by providing financial incentives for practices that research shows increase diversity. By requiring detailed data collection and public reporting on integration outcomes, it may increase transparency and community engagement around school diversity issues. The emphasis on inter-district collaboration could help address metropolitan-area segregation patterns that cross district boundaries. However, the voluntary nature of magnet programs means the bill's impact depends heavily on local and state willingness to participate, and it may face implementation challenges in areas with limited political support for integration efforts.
Affected Groups - Students of color in segregated schools - Low-income families seeking educational options - State educational agencies - Local school districts - Magnet school operators - Suburban and urban school districts in metropolitan areas - Families in public housing - Educators and school leaders - Community organizations focused on educational equity
Fiscal Impact The bill authorizes 'such sums as may be necessary' for fiscal years 2025-2029 without specifying exact amounts, giving Congress flexibility in appropriations. However, it establishes a minimum funding floor of $109 million annually for the traditional Magnet Schools Assistance Program, with any additional appropriated funds available for the new Supplemental Diversity Grant program. Individual diversity grants are capped at $7.5 million over five years. The bill allows up to 1% of appropriated funds for technical assistance and prioritizes funding above $75 million for new grant recipients. While specific total costs aren't provided, the structure suggests significantly increased federal investment in magnet schools beyond current levels.
📋 Latest Action
12/20/2024
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.