Bill · S. 4535· Senate(119-S-4535)
Strength in Diversity Act of 2026
A bill to establish the Strength in Diversity Program, and for other purposes.
- Introduced
- 5/14/2026
- Last activity
- 5/14/2026 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Christopher Murphy
- Cosponsors
- - 11 - 0
- 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
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+7
The bill specifically targets racial isolation through grants to increase diversity in schools.
Would children be better off under this?+6
The bill seeks to improve academic outcomes and life outcomes for students in covered schools.
Would students be better off under this?+6
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. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+6Good For Students+6Good For African Americans+5Good For Asian Americans+5Good For Hispanic Americans+5Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Native Americans+5
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+7Improves Poverty Reduction+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Public School Funding+5
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2Increases Federal Power+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+1
- 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
One bill 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