TRUE EQUITY Act

To provide for a Federal partnership to ensure educational equity and quality. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Transformational Reforms and Updates to Ensure Educational Quality and Urgent Investments in Today's Youth Act of 2023 TRUE EQUITY Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) The fate of our Nation and the opportunities it creates for our children and grandchildren to enjoy successful careers and rewarding lives depends on the quality, equal access, and effectiveness of pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade education in every local school district across the country. (2) Our education systems must prepare students to compete in an interconnected, global economy. (3) Despite the current combinations of Federal, State, and local funding and innovative educational policies, States with historically well regarded kindergarten through grade 12 education systems may find their students falling behind their peers nationally and internationally. In Maryland, a State with a historically well regarded kindergarten through grade 12 education system, fourth and eighth graders placed in the middle of the pack nationally in reading and math scores on the National Assessment of Education Progress. (4) The United States as a whole scored well down the second quartile among students from 72 countries on the Programme for International Student Assessment. (5) Even in States with reading and math scores higher than the national average, there may be significant and persistent racial, ethnic, and income disparity gaps between students of color and low-income students compared to their higher income and white peers. (6) These same disparities carry into college enrollment, with fewer students of color and low-income students enrolling in college than their higher income and white peers. (7) The novel coronavirus (COVID–19) health pandemic forced the physical closure of schools nationwide in March 2020, moving students from the classroom to online learning. The public health necessity to turn to online learning further exacerbated the significant and persistent racial, ethnic, and income disparity learning gaps as students struggled to access educational technology devices and the internet. (8) At the start of online learning, Maryland school districts reported that on average, nearly 25 percent of Maryland students had not logged into their new online classrooms or picked up paper work packets, falling out of sight and behind their peers. (9) Millions of children fell further behind as a result of opportunity gaps that fail to provide students with ready access to individualized instruction, healthy meals, mental health counseling services, and hands on career training programs. (10) As school systems have returned full time to the in-person learning environment, assessments to determine the effect of COVID–19 have shown that achievement and opportunity gaps have only widened between students of color and low-income students and their higher income and white peers. (11) In order to address these inequities in education and harm caused by COVID–19, certain States, including Maryland, have researched and enacted bold, transformative Federal, State, and local funding and policy changes to their pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade education systems, with five main policy areas under the 2021 authorized Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, which includes the following focus areas: (A) Investing in high-quality early childhood education and care through a significant expansion of full day pre-school, to be free for all low-income three- and four-year-olds, so that all children have the opportunity to begin kindergarten ready to learn. (B) Investing in teachers and school leaders by elevating the standards and status of the teaching profession, including a performance-based career ladder and salaries comparable to other fields with similar education requirements. (C) Creating a world-class instructional system with an internationally benchmarked curriculum that enables most students to achieve college and career ready (D) Providing supports to students that need it the most with broad and sustained support for schools serving high concentrations of poverty, with after school and summer academic programs and student access to needed health and social services. (E) Ensuring excellence for all through an accountability-oversight board that has the authority to ensure transformative education system recommendations are successfully implemented and produce the desired improvements in student achievement. 3. Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that— (1) no matter a child’s ZIP Code, they deserve equal access to a quality, public pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade education; (2) no inequities in student achievement, college enrollment, or Federal, State, and local funding should be tolerated; (3) the Federal Government should live up to its original commitment in 1975 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq. (4) the Federal Government should be an active partner with State educational agencies and local educational agencies that are willing to modify policies and commit additional State and local resources to address education inequities. 4. Definitions In this Act: (1) Local educational agency The term local educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 (2) Secretary The term Secretary (3) State educational agency The term State educational agency 20 U.S.C. 7801 I Early childhood education 101. Early childhood education grant program (a) Authorization (1) In general The Secretary shall award a single grant, on a competitive basis, to an eligible State to enable the State to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (c). (2) Eligible state In this section, the term eligible State (A) that has established a State Oversight Board as described in section 501; and (B) that commits to educational equity. (3) Duration; renewal The grant awarded under this section shall be for a 2-year duration, and may be renewed by the Secretary for not more than 4 additional 2-year periods if the State Oversight Board of the State determines that the State has met the educational equity goals of the State, as described in section 501. (4) Maintenance of effort If the Secretary does not renew a grant awarded under this section to a State for an additional 2-year period for failure to meet the educational equity goals of the State, the State shall provide, from non-Federal sources, amounts for such 2-year period that are not less than the sum of the grant amount provided by the Secretary and the matching funds provided by the State under subsection (d) for the initial 2-year grant period. (b) Application An eligible State that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require, including providing the State's educational equity goals and the accountability consequences for the State and local educational agencies in the State if the State Oversight Board determines that the State or a local educational agency fails to meet the educational equity goals of the State, including the potential withholding of funds, as described in section 501. (c) Authorized activities (1) In general An eligible State that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out activities authorized under the following provisions: (A) Section 619 and part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419 and 1431 et seq.). (B) Paragraphs (1)(B)(i), (5)(A), and (5)(B) of section 640(a) of the Head Start Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9835(1)(B)(i) (C) Section 9212 of the Every Student Succeeds Act ( 42 U.S.C. 9831 (2) Subgrants An eligible State that receives a grant under this section may use the grant funds to award subgrants to local educational agencies to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1). (3) Compliance with programs In using grant funds provided under this section or subgrant funds provided under paragraph (2) to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1), the eligible State or local educational agency shall comply with the requirements of the programs under which such activities are authorized. (d) Matching requirement Each eligible State that receives a grant under this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 200 percent of the amount of the grant (which may be provided in cash or in kind) to carry out the activities supported by the grant. (e) Supplement, not supplant An eligible State shall use Federal funds received under this section only to supplement the funds that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be made available from State and local sources for activities described in subsection (c), and not to supplant such funds. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (1) $275,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; (2) $288,750,000 for fiscal year 2025; (3) $303,187,500 for fiscal year 2026; (4) $318,346,875 for fiscal year 2027; (5) $334,264,219 for fiscal year 2028; (6) $350,977,430 for fiscal year 2029; (7) $368,526,301 for fiscal year 2030; (8) $386,952,616 for fiscal year 2031; (9) $406,300,247 for fiscal year 2032; and (10) $426,615,259 for fiscal year 2033. II High-quality and diverse teachers and leaders 201. High-quality and diverse teachers and leaders grant program (a) Authorization (1) In general The Secretary shall award a single grant, on a competitive basis, to an eligible State to enable the State to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (c). (2) Eligible state In this section, the term eligible State (A) that has established a State Oversight Board as described in section 501; and (B) that commits to educational equity. (3) Duration; renewal The grant awarded under this section shall be for a 2-year duration, and may be renewed by the Secretary for not more than 4 additional 2-year periods if the State Oversight Board of the State determines that the State has met the educational equity goals of the State, as described in section 501. (4) Maintenance of effort If the Secretary does not renew a grant awarded under this section to a State for an additional 2-year period for failure to meet the educational equity goals of the State, the State shall provide, from non-Federal sources, amounts for such 2-year period that are not less than the sum of the grant amount provided by the Secretary and the matching funds provided by the State under subsection (d) for the initial 2-year grant period. (b) Application An eligible State that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require, including providing the State's educational equity goals and the accountability consequences for the State and local educational agencies in the State if the State Oversight Board determines that the State or a local educational agency fails to meet the educational equity goals of the State, including the potential withholding of funds, as described in section 501. (c) Authorized activities (1) In general An eligible State that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out activities authorized under the following provisions: (A) Section 2101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6611 (B) Subpart 1 of part B of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6631 et seq. (C) Sections 2242, 2243, 2245 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6672 (D) Section 3131 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6861 (E) Subparts 1 and 2 of part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1451 et seq. (2) Subgrants An eligible State that receives a grant under this section may use the grant funds to award subgrants to local educational agencies to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1). (3) Compliance with programs In using grant funds provided under this section or subgrant funds provided under paragraph (2) to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1), the eligible State or local educational agency shall comply with the requirements of the programs under which such activities are authorized. (d) Matching requirement Each eligible State that receives a grant under this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 200 percent of the amount of the grant (which may be provided in cash or in kind) to carry out the activities supported by the grant. (e) Supplement, not supplant An eligible State shall use Federal funds received under this section only to supplement the funds that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be made available from State and local sources for activities described in subsection (c), and not to supplant such funds. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (1) $340,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; (2) $357,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; (3) $374,850,000 for fiscal year 2026; (4) $393,592,500 for fiscal year 2027; (5) $413,272,125 for fiscal year 2028; (6) $433,935,731 for fiscal year 2029; (7) $455,632,518 for fiscal year 2030; (8) $478,414,144 for fiscal year 2031; (9) $502,334,851 for fiscal year 2032; and (10) $527,451,594 for fiscal year 2033. III College and career readiness pathways 301. College and career readiness pathways grant program (a) Authorization (1) In general The Secretary shall award a single grant, on a competitive basis, to an eligible State to enable the State to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (c). (2) Eligible state In this section, the term eligible State (A) that has established a State Oversight Board as described in section 501; and (B) that commits to educational equity. (3) Duration; renewal The grant awarded under this section shall be for a 2-year duration, and may be renewed by the Secretary for not more than 4 additional 2-year periods if the State Oversight Board of the State determines that the State has met the educational equity goals of the State, as described in section 501. (4) Maintenance of effort If the Secretary does not renew a grant awarded under this section to a State for an additional 2-year period for failure to meet the educational equity goals of the State, the State shall provide, from non-Federal sources, amounts for such 2-year period that are not less than the sum of the grant amount provided by the Secretary and the matching funds provided by the State under subsection (d) for the initial 2-year grant period. (b) Application An eligible State that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require, including providing the State's educational equity goals and the accountability consequences for the State and local educational agencies in the State if the State Oversight Board determines that the State or a local educational agency fails to meet the educational equity goals of the State, including the potential withholding of funds, as described in section 501. (c) Authorized activities (1) In general An eligible State that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out activities authorized under the following provisions: (A) Section 135 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2355 (B) Subpart 11 of part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as added by section 302 of this Act. (2) Subgrants An eligible State that receives a grant under this section may use the grant funds to award subgrants to local educational agencies to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1). (3) Compliance with programs In using grant funds provided under this section or subgrant funds provided under paragraph (2) to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1), the eligible State or local educational agency shall comply with the requirements of the programs under which such activities are authorized. (d) Matching requirement Each eligible State that receives a grant under this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 200 percent of the amount of the grant (which may be provided in cash or in kind) to carry out the activities supported by the grant. (e) Supplement, not supplant An eligible State shall use Federal funds received under this section only to supplement the funds that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be made available from State and local sources for activities described in subsection (c), and not to supplant such funds. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; (2) $52,500,000 for fiscal year 2025; (3) $55,125,000 for fiscal year 2026; (4) $57,881,250 for fiscal year 2027; (5) $60,775,312 for fiscal year 2028; (6) $63,814,077 for fiscal year 2029; (7) $67,004,780 for fiscal year 2030; (8) $70,355,019 for fiscal year 2031; (9) $73,872,770 for fiscal year 2032; and (10) $77,566,408 for fiscal year 2033. 302. Jumpstart to college grant programs Part A of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq. 11 Jumpstart to College 420T. Definitions In this subpart: (1) Eligible entity The term eligible entity (2) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education (3) ESEA terms The terms dual or concurrent enrollment program early college high school educational service agency four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate local educational agency secondary school State (4) Low-income student The term low-income student (5) Recognized postsecondary credential The term recognized postsecondary credential 29 U.S.C. 3102 420U. Authorization of appropriations To carry out this subpart, there are authorized to be appropriated $137,500,000 for fiscal year 2024 and each of the 9 succeeding fiscal years. 420V. Grants to States (a) In general The Secretary shall award a single grant to a State, on a competitive basis, to assist the State in supporting or establishing early college high schools or dual or concurrent enrollment programs. (b) Duration The grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of 2 years, and may be renewed by the Secretary for not more than 4 additional 2-year periods. (c) Grant amount The Secretary shall ensure that the amount of the grant under this section is sufficient to enable the grantee to carry out the activities described in subsection (f). (d) Matching requirement For each year that a State receives a grant under this section, the State shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of the grant received by the State for such year to carry out the activities supported by the grant. (e) Supplement, not supplant A State shall use a grant received under this section only to supplement funds that would, in the absence of such grant, be made available from other Federal, State, or local sources for activities supported by the grant, not to supplant such funds. (f) Uses of funds (1) Mandatory activities A State shall use grant funds received under this section to— (A) support the activities described in its application under subsection (g); (B) plan and implement a statewide strategy for expanding access to early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs for students who are underrepresented in higher education to raise statewide rates of secondary school graduation, readiness for postsecondary education, and completion of recognized postsecondary credentials, with a focus on students academically at risk of not enrolling in or completing postsecondary education; (C) identify any obstacles to such a strategy under State law or policy; (D) provide technical assistance (either directly or through a knowledgeable intermediary) to early college high schools and other dual or concurrent enrollment programs, which may include— (i) brokering relationships and agreements that forge a strong partnership between elementary and secondary and postsecondary partners; and (ii) offering statewide training, professional development, and peer learning opportunities for school leaders, instructors, and counselors or advisors; (E) identify and implement policies that will improve the effectiveness and ensure the quality of early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs, such as eligibility and access, funding, data and quality assurance, governance, accountability, and alignment policies; (F) update the State’s requirements for a student to receive a regular high school diploma to align with the challenging State academic standards and entrance requirements for credit-bearing coursework as described in subparagraphs (A) and (D) of section 1111(b)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (G) incorporate indicators regarding student access to and completion of early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs into the school quality and student success indicators included in the State system of annual meaningful differentiation as described under section 1111(c)(4)(B)(v)(I) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (H) disseminate best practices for early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs, which may include best practices from programs in the State or other States; (I) facilitate statewide secondary and postsecondary data collection, research and evaluation, and reporting to policymakers and other stakeholders; and (J) conduct outreach programs to ensure that secondary school students, their families, and community members are aware of early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs in the State. (2) Allowable activities A State may use grant funds received under this section to— (A) establish a mechanism to offset the costs of tuition, fees, standardized testing and performance assessment costs, and support services for low-income students, and students from underrepresented populations enrolled in early college and high schools or dual or concurrent enrollment; (B) establish formal transfer systems within and across State higher education systems, including two-year and four-year public and private institutions, to maximize the transferability of college courses; (C) provide incentives to school districts that— (i) assist high school teachers in getting the credentials needed to participate in early college high school programs and dual or concurrent enrollment; and (ii) encourage the use of college instructors to teach college courses in high schools; (D) support initiatives to improve the quality of early college high school and dual or concurrent enrollment programs at participating institutions; and (E) reimburse low-income students to cover part or all of the costs of an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate examination. (g) State Applications (1) Application To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a State shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Contents of application The application under paragraph (1) shall include, at minimum, a description of— (A) how the State will carry out the mandatory State activities described in subsection (f)(1); (B) how the State will ensure that any programs funded with a grant under this section are coordinated with programs under— (i) the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ( 20 U.S.C. 2301 et seq. (ii) the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq. (iii) the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and (iv) the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; (C) how the State intends to use grant funds to address achievement gaps for each category of students described in section 1111(b)(2)(B)(xi) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; (D) how the State will access and leverage additional resources necessary to sustain early college high schools or other dual or concurrent enrollment programs; (E) how the State will identify and eliminate barriers to implementing effective early college high schools and dual or concurrent enrollment programs after the grant expires, including by engaging businesses and nonprofit organizations; and (F) such other information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. . IV More resources to ensure all students are successful 401. Student success grant program (a) Authorization (1) In general The Secretary shall award a single grant, on a competitive basis, to an eligible State to enable the State to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (c). (2) Eligible state In this section, the term eligible State (A) that has established a State Oversight Board as described in section 501; and (B) that commits to educational equity. (3) Duration; renewal The grant awarded under this section shall be for a 2-year duration, and may be renewed by the Secretary for not more than 4 additional 2-year periods if the State Oversight Board of the State determines that the State has met the educational equity goals of the State, as described in section 501. (4) Maintenance of effort If the Secretary does not renew a grant awarded under this section to a State for an additional 2-year period for failure to meet the educational equity goals of the State, the State shall provide, from non-Federal sources, amounts for such 2-year period that are not less than the sum of the grant amount provided by the Secretary and the matching funds provided by the State under subsection (d) for the initial 2-year grant period. (b) Application An eligible State that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may require, including providing the State's educational equity goals and the accountability consequences for the State and local educational agencies in the State if the State Oversight Board determines that the State or a local educational agency fails to meet the educational equity goals of the State, including the potential withholding of funds, as described in section 501. (c) Authorized activities (1) In general An eligible State that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out activities authorized under the following provisions: (A) Part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq. (B) Part C of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6391 et seq. (C) Part D of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6421 et seq. (D) Part E of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6491 et seq. (E) Subparts 2 and 3 of part B of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6641 et seq. (F) Subpart 1 of part A of title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6821 et seq. (G) Subpart 1 of part A of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7111 et seq. (H) Part B of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7171 et seq. (I) Part D of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7231 et seq. (J) Sections 4624 and 4625 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7274 and 7275). (K) Section 4641 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7291 et seq. (L) Section 611 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( 20 U.S.C. 1411 (2) Subgrants An eligible State that receives a grant under this section may use the grant funds to award subgrants to local educational agencies to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1). (3) Compliance with programs In using grant funds provided under this section or subgrant funds provided under paragraph (2) to carry out the activities described in paragraph (1), the eligible State or local educational agency shall comply with the requirements of the programs under which such activities are authorized. (d) Matching requirement Each eligible State that receives a grant under this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 200 percent of the amount of the grant (which may be provided in cash or in kind) to carry out the activities supported by the grant. (e) Supplement, not supplant An eligible State shall use Federal funds received under this section only to supplement the funds that would, in the absence of such Federal funds, be made available from State and local sources for activities described in subsection (c), and not to supplant such funds. (f) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section— (1) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; (2) $787,500,000 for fiscal year 2025; (3) $826,875,000 for fiscal year 2026; (4) $868,218,750 for fiscal year 2027; (5) $911,629,688 for fiscal year 2028; (6) $957,211,172 for fiscal year 2029; (7) $1,005,071,731 for fiscal year 2030; (8) $1,055,325,318 for fiscal year 2031; (9) $1,108,091,584 for fiscal year 2032; and (10) $1,163,496,163 for fiscal year 2033. V Governance and accountability 501. State oversight boards (a) In general In order to be eligible to receive a grant under title I, II, III, or IV, a State shall establish a State Oversight Board that is independent of the State educational agency, ensures educational equity in the State, and holds the State educational agency and local educational agencies in the State accountable for failure to meet such educational equity. (b) Authority of state oversight boards A State Oversight Board established pursuant to this section shall— (1) determine implementation plans and guidelines for the State educational agency and local educational agencies in the State to meet the educational equity goals determined by the State under subsection (c); (2) determine whether the State and local educational agencies in the State have met the educational equity goals determined by the State; (3) hold the State and local educational agencies in the State accountable for a failure to meet the educational equity goals, pursuant to the accountability consequences described under subsection (c); and (4) provide to the Secretary, on an annual basis, the progress of the State and local educational agencies in the State towards meeting the educational equity goals. (c) Authority of state A State that establishes a State Oversight Board under this section shall determine— (1) the educational equity goals of the State, that includes a requirement that the State and local educational agencies in the State maintain a level of financial support for elementary and secondary education that is not less than the level of such support for fiscal year 2023; and (2) the accountability consequences for the State and local educational agencies in the State if the State Oversight Board determines that the State or a local educational agency fails to meet the educational equity goals of the State, including the potential withholding of funds. (d) Technical assistance and oversight (1) In general The Secretary and the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education shall provide technical assistance— (A) to States in implementing the educational equity goals of the State; and (B) to State Oversight Boards in carrying out subsection (b), including in determining whether the State and local educational agencies in the State have met the educational equity goals determined by the State. (2) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $1,000,000 for each fiscal year. VI State flexibility for equitable per-pupil funding 601. State flexibility for equitable per-pupil funding Section 1501 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 6491 (1) in subsection (a), by inserting and certain State educational agencies on behalf of a State's local educational agencies local educational agencies (2) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)(A), by inserting and certain State educational agencies on behalf of a State's local educational agencies local educational agencies (B) in paragraph (2), by inserting and certain State educational agencies on behalf of a State's local educational agencies local educational agencies (3) in subsection (c)— (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting or 1 State educational agency on behalf of the State's local educational agencies local educational agencies (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting or State educational agency local educational agency (ii) in subparagraph (A), by inserting or consolidated State local (C) in paragraph (3)— (i) by striking any local any (ii) by striking the local the (4) in subsection (d)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)— (I) by striking Each local Each (II) by inserting or consolidated State local (ii) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking local (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking local (iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking local educational educational (v) in subparagraph (G), by striking local educational educational (vi) in subparagraph (H), by striking local educational educational (vii) in subparagraph (I), by striking local educational educational (viii) in subparagraph (G), by striking local educational educational (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking local educational educational (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking local educational educational (iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking local educational educational (5) in subsection (e), by striking local educational educational (6) in subsection (f)— (A) by striking local educational educational (B) by inserting or consolidated State local (7) in subsection (g), by inserting or consolidated State local (8) in subsection (h)— (A) by striking local educational educational (B) by inserting or consolidated State local (9) in subsection (i), by striking local educational educational (10) in subsection (j), by inserting or consolidated State local (11) in subsection (k)— (A) by striking local educational educational (B) by inserting or consolidated State local (12) in subsection (l)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by inserting or State educational agency local educational agency (ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking and (iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (iv) by adding at the end the following: (F) title I of the TRUE EQUITY Act; (G) title II of the TRUE EQUITY Act; (H) title III of the TRUE EQUITY Act; and (I) title IV of the TRUE EQUITY Act. ; and (B) in paragraph (2), by striking is in the highest 2 quartiles of schools served by a local educational agency, based on the percentage of enrolled students from low-income families serves students not less than 55 percent of whom are students who are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq. (13) by adding at the end the following: (m) Funding flexibility for TRUE EQUITY Act funds (1) Technical assistance A State educational agency that submits a consolidated State flexibility demonstration agreement under this section shall provide technical assistance to local educational agencies in the State that desire to participate in the program under this section in submitting applications to enter into local flexibility demonstration agreements with the Secretary. (2) Duration and renewal Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Secretary— (A) is authorized to enter into local flexibility demonstration agreements for not more than 2 years with local educational agencies that are selected under subsection (c) and submit proposed agreements that meet the requirements of subsection (d) for flexibility to consolidate eligible Federal funds that are described in subparagraph (F), (G), (H), or (I) of subsection (l); and (B) may renew for not more than 4 additional 2-year terms a local flexibility demonstration agreement described in subparagraph (A). .

Summary: Transformational Reforms and Updates to Ensure Educational Quality and Urgent Investments in Today's Youth Act of 2023 or the TRUE EQUITY Act of 2023 This bill establishes various grant programs to address educational inequities in elementary and secondary schools. Specifically, the bill creates grant programs related to (1) early childhood education, (2) high-quality and diverse teachers and leaders, (3) college and career readiness pathways, and (4) additional resources for at-risk students. For each grant program, the Department of Education (ED) must award a single grant to an eligible state. To be eligible for a grant, a state must establish an independent state oversight board. The oversight board must, among other duties (1) determine whether the state and its local educational agencies (LEAs) have met state educational equity goals, and (2) hold them accountable for failing to meet those goals. ED may renew a grant if the oversight board determines the state has met its goals. In addition, for each grant program, the bill outlines the activities authorized under the program, maintenance-of-effort requirements, and matching fund requirements. Finally, the bill permits ED to enter into a local flexibility demonstration agreement, through which a state educational agency may use funds to develop and implement a school funding system based on weighted per-pupil allocations for low-income and disadvantaged students. (Currently, ED may enter into these agreements with LEAs.)