Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act
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The bill would rework how states divide federal Charter Schools Program grant money, letting state agencies set aside up to 5% for early-stage "pre-charter" planning grants to prospective charter school founders and raising the cap on funds usable for technical assistance from a 7% floor to a 10% ceiling.
It would also let states use grant funds for revolving loan funds and facility-finding help for charter applicants, modestly reshuffling a federal grant program that supports the creation and oversight of charter schools nationwide.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would amend the federal Charter Schools Program under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to change how state entities allocate their program grants. It would let states reserve up to 5% of funds for pre-charter planning subgrants of up to $100,000 each to charter school developers led by educators with at least 54 months of school-based experience. It would replace the current requirement to spend at least 7% of funds on technical assistance with a new cap of not more than 10%, and would correspondingly lower the share reserved for subgrants to eligible applicants from 90% to 82%. The bill would also let state entities, at their discretion, fund revolving loan funds or similar mechanisms to cover applicant expenses before subgrants are paid out, help applicants locate charter school facilities, and work with chartering agencies to improve fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools. It does not change the overall structure of the Charter Schools Program or its total funding level, only how state grantees may allocate the money they receive.
Key provisions
- 1Would allow state entities to reserve up to 5% of Charter Schools Program funds for pre-charter planning subgrants of up to $100,000 to educator-led charter developers
- 2Would replace the requirement to spend at least 7% of funds on technical assistance with a cap of not more than 10%
- 3Would lower the minimum share of funds reserved for subgrants to eligible applicants from 90% to 82%
- 4Would let state entities fund revolving loan funds or similar mechanisms for applicant expenses before subgrants are received
- 5Would let state entities help eligible applicants locate and access charter school facilities
- 6Would require state entities to work with chartering agencies to improve authorizing quality, including fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools
Who would be affected
State educational agencies and state charter school boards that receive federal Charter Schools Program grants, charter school developers and educators seeking to open new charter schools, authorized public chartering agencies responsible for overseeing charter schools, and existing eligible applicants competing for subgrant funds.
Why it matters
The reallocation could mean less money flows directly to eligible applicants opening charter schools (down from a 90% floor to an 82% share) while more becomes available for early planning support, technical assistance, loan funds, and facility help. Educator-led charter developers with sufficient classroom experience could gain new access to seed funding not previously available under the program.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, Section 4303 (20 U.S.C. 7221b) (Sec. 2)
Restructures the Charter Schools Program's fund allocation, adding pre-charter planning subgrants, loan funds, and facility assistance while changing technical-assistance and subgrant percentage requirements.
Agencies directed to act
Funding and costs
- $100,000
maximum pre-charter planning subgrant per charter school developer
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates H.R. 3453 would cost $23 million in discretionary spending (spending subject to appropriation) over the 2025–2030 period, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
CBO estimates that implementing the Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act (H.R. 3453) would increase spending subject to congressional appropriation by $23 million over the 2025–2030 period, primarily by expanding grant awards under the Charter School Program (CSP) by roughly two percent annually. The bill would also authorize up to $100,000 for pre-charter planning for qualified charter school developers and allow certain state entities to fund revolving loan funds for planning applicants. The bill has no effect on direct (mandatory) spending, revenues, or the deficit in any scoring window, and CBO projects no net direct spending increases in the four 10-year periods beginning in 2036. CBO identified no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
State entities that already administer Charter Schools Program grants would adjust their internal fund allocations under the Department of Education's grant rules: setting aside up to 5% for pre-charter planning subgrants (capped at $100,000 per recipient) to qualifying educator-led developers, adjusting technical-assistance spending within the new 10% ceiling, and lowering the eligible-applicant subgrant share to 82%. States could also choose to establish revolving loan funds and facility-assistance services for applicants, with the Department of Education continuing to oversee compliance with the amended statutory formula.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 379.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill makes changes to the Charter Schools Program (CSP), which authorizes competitive grants to state entities (e.g., state educational agencies and state charter school boards) to support high-quality charter schools.
Specifically, the bill allows state entities to use up to 5% of their CSP grant funds to make pre-charter planning subgrants to certain prospective charter applicants.
The bill specifies that state entities may also (1) fund a revolving loan fund or similar mechanisms for the expenses of eligible applicants prior to receiving CSP subgrants, and (2) provide assistance to eligible applicants in locating and accessing a charter school facility.
Under the current CSP, state entities must use at least 7% of their CSP grant funds to provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies. The bill instead allows state entities to use not more than 10% of these funds for technical assistance.
Legislative subjects
Education; Education programs funding; Educational facilities and institutions; Elementary and secondary education; School administration
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-443