US Federal 2023-2024 Regular Session

US Federal House Bill HB65

Introduced
1/9/23  

Caption

Ending Common Core and Expanding School Choice Act This bill revises requirements related to federal education funding for disadvantaged children. Specifically, the bill (1) eliminates the standards, assessments, and academic accountability requirements for state and local educational agencies that receive federal funds for the education of disadvantaged children; (2) requires such funds to be allocated based on the number of children residing in each state who are living in poverty; and (3) allows educational agencies to distribute per-pupil amounts from such funds to parents for qualified elementary and secondary education expenses. The bill prohibits federal officers or employees from mandating academic standards, assessments, curricula, or accountability systems.

Impact

If passed, HB 65 would fundamentally alter the distribution of federal education funds, enabling money to 'follow' eligible low-income students to various educational institutions, including public schools, charter schools, and accredited private schools. By permitting states to allocate these funds directly to parents for educational expenses, the bill aims to empower families in choosing the education that best serves their children. This means that parents of disadvantaged children could have increased flexibility in deciding how to spend their education dollars, potentially leading to a broader array of educational options.

Summary

House Bill 65, known as the 'Ending Common Core and Expanding School Choice Act', proposes significant changes to federal education funding aimed at disadvantaged children. The primary focus of the bill is to eliminate academic standards, assessments, and accountability requirements that are currently mandated for state and local educational agencies receiving federal funds. By doing so, the bill seeks to give states more control over their education systems and allows federal education funds for disadvantaged children to be allocated based on poverty levels within states rather than following fixed federal standards.

Contention

The elimination of requirements surrounding Common Core standards in the bill has sparked considerable debate. Proponents argue that such flexibility fosters innovation in education and encourages a diverse range of educational models tailored to local needs. On the flip side, opponents fear that the lack of standardized benchmarks may result in disparities in education quality across states, particularly harming children in already under-resourced areas. There are also concerns regarding accountability in how funds are utilized when given directly to parents without federal oversight, as well as potential implications for the quality of education nationwide if a variety of standards emerge.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

US SB309

Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act or the A PLUS Act This bill creates a framework under which states may receive federal elementary and secondary education funds on a consolidated basis and use such funds for any educational purpose permitted by state law.

US HB838

Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act or the A PLUS Act This bill creates a framework under which states may receive federal elementary and secondary education funds on a consolidated basis and use such funds for any educational purpose permitted by state law.

US S0190

Provides that in local educational agencies when over 45% of the children have a family income that is at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines then the student success factor will be 50% by the core instruction per-pupil amount.

US H5978

Provides that in local educational agencies when over 45% of the children have a family income that is at or below 185% of federal poverty guidelines then the student success factor will be 50% by the core instruction per-pupil amount.

US HB422

No Subsidies for Wealthy Universities ActThis bill limits the indirect costs that are allowable under federal research awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs) with endowments above specified thresholds. (Generally, indirect costs represent expenses that are not specific to a research project but are needed to maintain the infrastructure and administrative support for federally funded research.)Specifically, the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) must annually collect information regarding the endowments of each IHE that has entered into a program participation agreement with the Department of Education.With this collected information, NCES must identify and make lists of (1) each IHE with an endowment of more than $5 billion, and (2) each IHE with an endowment of more than $2 billion (but not more than $5 billion). NCES must submit these lists to the Office of Management and Budget, which must then distribute the lists to federal agencies, Congress, and the public.The bill establishes the following limits on the indirect costs allowable under federal research awards:for an IHE with an endowment of more than $5 billion, the IHE is prohibited from using these awards for indirect costs;for an IHE with an endowment of more than $2 billion (but not more than $5 billion), the IHE is limited to an indirect cost rate of 8%; andfor all other IHEs, an indirect cost rate of 15%.The Government Accountability Office must annually report to Congress on indirect cost reimbursement on federal research awards for IHEs.

US HB245

Breath of Fresh Air Act This bill establishes a grant program for local educational agencies to purchase, and train school personnel to use, nebulizers.

US SB377

Students Helping Young Students Act of 2025This bill expands the Federal Work-Study Program to include work-study programs at institutions of higher education that compensate students who are employed in educational after-school, before-school, or nonschool community service activities at public elementary and secondary schools.

US HB66

Native American Education Opportunity Act This bill addresses education savings account programs and charter schools for tribal students. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Education and the Department of the Interior, at the request of federally recognized Indian tribes, to provide funds to tribes for tribal-based education savings account programs. Tribes must use these funds to award grants to education savings accounts for students who (1) attended or will be eligible to attend a school operated by the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE); or (2) will not be attending a school operated by the BIE, receiving an education savings account from another tribe, or attending public elementary or secondary school while participating in the program. Funds may be used for items and activities such as costs of attendance at private schools, private tutoring and online learning programs, textbooks, educational software, or examination fees. The Government Accountability Office must review the implementation of these education savings account programs, including any factors impacting increased participation in such programs. Additionally, the bill authorizes the BIE to approve and fund charter schools at any school that it operates or funds.

US HB847

Building Lasting Opportunities for Community K–12 Act or the BLOCK ActThis bill repeals on October 1, 2025, specified formula grants for programs administered by the Department of Education (ED). Beginning with FY2026, ED must instead provide block grants for these programs to each state based on amounts received in FY2025.Specifically, the bill repeals the following allocation formulas for programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965:the Education for the Disadvantaged program (which includes Basic Grants, Concentration Grants, Targeted Grants, and Education Finance Incentive Grants);State Assessment Grants;the Migrant Education Program;Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk;Supporting Effective Instruction State Grants; English Language Acquisition State Grants;Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants;the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program;the Rural Education Achievement Program (which includes both the Small, Rural School Achievement Program and the Rural and Low-Income School Program); andIndian Education Formula Grants.

US S0253

Establishes a new program where the per pupil funding, calculated annually by RIDE, would be transferred into a newly created educational funding account run by the children's scholarship fund to pay for educational expenses.

Similar Bills

No similar bills found.