Biden Infrastructure Plan Includes Billions for Schools and Community Colleges
On Wednesday, President Biden unveiled a $2 trillion infrastructure package, the American Jobs Plan. The proposal includes traditional infrastructure needs, such as roads and bridges, and targets many other priorities—including billions of dollars for repairs to schools and community colleges, as well as money for workforce training programs.
The plan provides $100 billion to help repair existing classrooms and to build new public school buildings. Community colleges are given $12 billion in federal funding for physical and technological upgrades, while $48 billion has been allocated for workforce training and worker protection programs, including adult literacy. This investment is poised to double the number of apprenticeships and support career and technical training programs in middle and high schools.
Biden’s infrastructure package also includes a significant investment to expand broadband services and bring down broadband pricing. Additional components include replacing lead pipes to improve water infrastructure (including in schools), reaching the goal of a national school bus fleet that is 20% electric vehicles, incentivizing schools to adopt more environmentally friendly policies, and investing in STEM programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other minority-serving institutions.