Healthy Schools for Healthy Kids Summit in DC is scheduled for August 5, 2026, in Washington, DC. Its goal: to strengthen our mutual resolve and develop a strategic national agenda. Experts in public health, education, research, industry, and philanthropy will explore opportunities to improve school physical environments, strengthen children’s health and learning, build climate resilience, and accelerate the adoption of evidence-based solutions. Spearheaded by Healthy Schools Network, collaborators include the International WELL Building Institute, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the Children’s Environmental Health Network, American University’s Center for Environmental Policy, and other national partners.
Register now for the summit. Space is limited.
Coalition/Healthy Schools Network leads high-level meeting with new EPA office
On June 11, in our position as leader of the Coalition for Healthier Schools, Healthy Schools Network led a policy discussion with US EPA’s newly reorganized Office of Children’s Health Protection and Indoor Environments Division, including our national partners the American Lung Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and U.S. Green Building Council’s Center for Green Schools. EPA has Congressional funding and a new section specifically on school environments. We discussed topics including how the Coalition can assist and provide input on the office’s priorities.
Learn more about the Coalition here.
Focus on Extreme Heat
On June 25th, in collaboration with the Federation of American Scientists, Healthy Schools Network convened a workgroup of NGOs to address high heat in schools nationally. The meeting followed up on our support of New York State’s heat law, which mandates that all districts adopt plans to reduce high heat and to evacuate classrooms when the temperature reaches 88℉. Our joint call to action: extend national protection against high heat to children in multiple settings. Right now, workers and children at home are covered under the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA); however, there are no explicit regulations or guidance for children and youth in schools, childcare, or other congregate settings. Stay tuned for more information on this important issue and back-to-school announcements you can use for your own outreach efforts.
Learn more here.
This is a “hot” topic – Did you know?
- Children’s bodies can heat up 2-3 times faster than adults.
- Teachers are an aging population to consider in addressing high heat issues.
- Some medications can increase a person’s vulnerability to heat.
OMB proposes major overhaul of federal grants that could affect nonprofits nationwide
The Office of Management and Budget’s new Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance could reshape how Healthy Schools Network and partners access funding for school IAQ, climate resilience, and child health programs. Key shifts include stricter alignment with administration priorities, expanded termination powers, and enhanced oversight. The comment period closes July 13, 2026.
Key Points
Pre-issuance reviews and priorities: Agencies must align programs with administration policies. Discretionary awards undergo review for consistency with “national interest,” presidential priorities, and restrictions on certain activities (e.g., DEI-related racial preferences, gender ideology, illegal immigration support, or “anti-American values”). Preference for lower indirect cost rates and broader recipients.
Risk assessment and termination: Expanded criteria for applicant risk (e.g., “questionable practices,” affiliations). Easier termination/suspension of awards if they no longer align with current agency priorities or “national interest,” with limited appeal rights. Subrecipient oversight tightened, including reputation risks.
Other impacts: Changes to allowability (e.g., membership fees, conferences), procurement, reporting, foreign collaborations, site visits, and more. Aims to reduce waste but raise concerns about political influence, instability, and barriers for nonprofits/research institutions.
For further information:
- George Washington University update
- Summary of all proposed changes developed by the National Council of Nonprofits
Helpful tips: what to include in your comment letter by July 13, 2026.
- Provide specific, local examples of how the changes would affect your organization.
For example:- How might these changes impact federal funding you already have and manage (staffing, infrastructure, etc.)?
- Will they make projects more expensive, more cumbersome, more confusing?
- Will they change how you work with subrecipients and contractors?
- There is no required format or length for your comments.
- Remember: these comments will be made publicly available. Do not include any personally identifiable information that you would not want to be made public.
School safety grant opportunity
The Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services announced the School Safety Enhancement (SSE) grants competition. The grant will provide $93 million to “support States in implementing evidence-based school safety measures, including improving school infrastructure security, strengthening emergency response planning and coordination, and enhancing training and preparedness exercises for school personnel and school resource officers (SROs).” State Education Agencies (SEAs) are eligible to apply. The deadline is July 28, 2026.
