Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act

Bill: 119-s-1795
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]
Introduced: 2025-05-15
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Education programs funding

Educational facilities and institutions

Elementary and secondary education

School administration
Latest action: action_date: 2025-05-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:

tv_txt: II 119th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1795 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 15, 2025 Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Booker , Mr. Cassidy , and Mr. Bennet ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To modify the program of grants to support high-quality charter schools.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act . 2. Grants to support high-quality charter schools Section 4303 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7221b ) is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking and after the semicolon; and (B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following: (2) (A) provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in carrying out the activities described in paragraph (1); (B) work with authorized public chartering agencies in the State to improve authorizing quality, including developing capacity for, and conducting, fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools; and (C) at the State entity’s discretion— (i) fund a revolving loan fund or similar mechanisms for expenses under subsection (h) prior to an eligible applicant receiving reimbursement; and (ii) provide assistance to eligible applicants in locating and accessing a facility; and (3) provide pre-charter planning subgrants (in amounts of no more than $100,000 per prospective applicant) to charter school developers that— (A) intend to submit an application— (i) to an authorized public chartering agency to operate a charter school; or (ii) to nonprofit or public entities for the provision of financial support to such developers; (B) are led by educators who— (i) have not less than 54 months of school-based experience (which may include experience in teaching in or administering after school or summer school programs); and (ii) have demonstrated leadership competencies and success with students, as determined by the State entity; and (C) have successfully completed the development of an initial plan for opening a charter school, as evidenced by a description of the educational needs of the community in which the proposed charter school will be located and how the proposed charter school will be suited to meet those needs. ; (2) in subsection (c)(1)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 90 percent and inserting 80 percent ; (B) in subparagraph (B)— (i) by striking not less than 7 percent and inserting not more than 10 percent ; and (ii) by striking and after the semicolon; (C) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D); (D) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, by striking 3 percent and inserting 5 percent ; and (E) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following: (C) reserve not more than 5 percent of such funds to carry out the activities described in subsection (b)(3); and ; (3) in subsection (d)(1)(B), by striking this section and inserting subsection (b)(1) ; (4) in subsection (e)(2), by striking this section and inserting subsection (b)(1) ; (5) in subsection (f)(1)(A)(vi)— (A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by inserting under subsection (b)(1) after program ; and (B) in subclause (II), by striking subgrant funds under this section and inserting subgrant funds under subsection (b)(1) ; and (6) in subsection (h), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking this section and inserting subsection (b)(1) .