Us Congress 2023-2024 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB60

Introduced
1/24/23  

Caption

Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish a program to provide children with parents on active duty in the uniformed services with funds to pay educational expenses. Specifically, ED must establish a tax-exempt Military Education Savings Account for dependent children of parents in the uniformed services for the payment of the children's educational expenses. Funds in the savings account may be used for specified purposes, including the cost of attendance at a private elementary or secondary school or institution of higher education, private tutoring, or costs associated with an apprenticeship or other vocational training program.

Impact

The program is expected to have a profound impact on the educational landscape for military families, as it allows parents to tailor their child's educational experience according to their individual needs and preferences. By providing financial resources that cover expenses for alternative educational pathways, this legislation opens avenues that may have been previously unaffordable for many military households. Additionally, the tax-exempt status of these accounts offers substantial savings for both families and the federal treasury, following a defined allocation process that ensures funds are directed towards approved educational services.

Summary

SB60, known as the 'Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2023', aims to enhance educational opportunities for children of military personnel by allowing parents to establish Military Education Savings Accounts (MESAs). These accounts will facilitate financial support for a range of educational expenses, while promoting flexibility in educational choices for military families. The initiative targets eligible military dependent children, providing them with the funds necessary to cover costs related to attendance at private schools, tutoring, or vocational training programs. Furthermore, the program encourages participation in various educational services.

Contention

Despite its positive aspirations, SB60 has sparked debates concerning the implications of such a program on public education funding and oversight. Critics raise concerns about the potential for diverting essential resources from traditional public schools, raising equity issues in education. There are also worries about accountability and proper usage of the funds within MESAs, as well as the program's ability to adequately serve children with disabilities or specific educational needs. The requirement for oversight and ethical regulations surrounding qualified educational service providers adds another layer of complexity to the implementation of SB60.

Companion Bills

US HB452

Same As Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish a program to provide children with parents on active duty in the uniformed services with funds to pay educational expenses. Specifically, ED must establish a tax-exempt Military Education Savings Account for dependent children of parents in the uniformed services for the payment of the children's educational expenses. Funds in the savings account may be used for specified purposes, including the cost of attendance at a private elementary or secondary school or institution of higher education, private tutoring, or costs associated with an apprenticeship or other vocational training program.

Previously Filed As

US HB452

Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish a program to provide children with parents on active duty in the uniformed services with funds to pay educational expenses. Specifically, ED must establish a tax-exempt Military Education Savings Account for dependent children of parents in the uniformed services for the payment of the children's educational expenses. Funds in the savings account may be used for specified purposes, including the cost of attendance at a private elementary or secondary school or institution of higher education, private tutoring, or costs associated with an apprenticeship or other vocational training program.

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 SB1244

Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2025

US SCA5

Educational expenses: education savings accounts.

US HB463

Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere Act This bill allows tax-exempt distributions from qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to be used for additional educational expenses in connection with elementary or secondary school. The bill also allows certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education to follow a student from a low-income household to the public school that the student attends or for tax-exempt educational expenses. Under current law, tax-exempt distributions in connection with elementary or secondary school are limited to tuition for a public, private, or religious school. The bill allows these distributions to be used additionally for curriculum and curricular materials, books or other instructional materials, online educational materials, tutoring or educational classes outside the home, testing fees, fees for dual enrollment in an institution of higher education, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. Distributions may also be used for tuition and the purposes above in connection with a home school (whether treated as a home school or a private school under state law). In addition, the bill directs state educational agencies to allocate grant funds to ensure the funding follows students to their public school or for other tax-exempt educational expenses outlined by the bill. Each state that carries out these allocations must establish a plan that allows the parent of an eligible child to apply for grant funds.

US HB65

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.

US HB1335

Relating to the establishment of an education savings account program for certain children with special needs and other educational disadvantages.

US SB57

Student Empowerment Act This bill allows tax-exempt distributions from qualified tuition programs (known as 529 plans) to be used for additional educational expenses in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school. (Under current law, distributions in connection with an elementary or secondary school are limited to tuition for a public, private, or religious school.) The bill allows the distributions to be used for additional educational expenses, including curriculum and curricular materials, books or other instructional materials, online educational materials, tutoring or educational classes outside the home, testing fees, fees for dual enrollment in an institution of higher education, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. Distributions may also be used for tuition and the purposes above in connection with a homeschool (whether treated as a homeschool or a private school under state law).

US HB88

True School Choice for Alabama Act, established to provide education savings accounts (ESAs) for parents of children to use in providing education services for those children.

US HB129

Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education (CHOOSE) Act of 2024, established to provide education savings accounts (ESAs) for parents of children to use in providing education services for those children.

Similar Bills

US HB452

Education Savings Accounts for Military Families Act of 2023 This bill directs the Department of Education (ED) to establish a program to provide children with parents on active duty in the uniformed services with funds to pay educational expenses. Specifically, ED must establish a tax-exempt Military Education Savings Account for dependent children of parents in the uniformed services for the payment of the children's educational expenses. Funds in the savings account may be used for specified purposes, including the cost of attendance at a private elementary or secondary school or institution of higher education, private tutoring, or costs associated with an apprenticeship or other vocational training program.

US SB2265

STEADFAST Act Speeding the Execution of Arms Deliveries for Allies and Securing Trust Act

US HB5072

Taiwan Peace through Strength Act of 2023

US SB1997

Taiwan Peace through Strength Act of 2023

US SB2127

Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2024

US HB4365

Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2024

US SB651

Special Inspector General for Ukraine Assistance Act

US SB1471

Truncating Onerous Regulations for Partners and Enhancing Deterrence Operations (TORPEDO) Act of 2023