Us Congress 2025-2026 Regular Session

Us Congress Senate Bill SB309

Introduced
1/29/25  

Caption

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.

Impact

One of the potential impacts of SB309 is the shifting of more control over educational funding from the federal level to the state level. States would be empowered to manage and consolidate funds from a variety of sources, allowing for more tailored approaches to education reforms. While this could foster innovative solutions to improve educational outcomes, there are concerns related to the accountability measures that will be implemented. The bill mandates that states report on student progress and the use of federal funds to ensure transparency, which is crucial in maintaining public trust.

Summary

SB309, also known as the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act (A PLUS Act), is designed to authorize states to submit declarations of intent to the Secretary of Education. This would enable states to combine certain federal education funds to improve academic performance, thereby simplifying the management of these funds. The primary goal of the bill is to provide flexibility to states and local communities in determining how best to enhance educational outcomes, especially for disadvantaged students. By reducing bureaucratic hurdles and compliance burdens, states can focus resources on implementing effective education reforms.

Contention

Debate surrounding SB309 is likely to reflect broader discussions about the role of federal versus state authority in education. Supporters argue that states need greater control over educational resources to effectively address local needs, while critics may fear that consolidating funds could lead to inequities, with disadvantaged communities potentially losing out on necessary funding. The bill explicitly excludes individuals with disabilities education funding from consolidation, which may lead to discussions around the balance of support across various student needs.

Congress_id

119-S-309

Policy_area

Education

Transparency

To ensure accountability, states under SB309 would be required to provide public reports on student performance and the utilization of funds. This is aimed at disaggregating data to highlight achievement disparities among different student groups. Such transparency could be a vital component in safeguarding against the misuse of consolidated funds and ensuring that educational reforms are informed by data-driven evaluations.

Introduced_date

2025-01-29

Companion Bills

US HB838

Related bill 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.

Previously Filed As

US SB110

A PLUS Act Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act

US HB631

A PLUS Act Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act

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 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 SB5593

A bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to expand the Magnet Schools Assistance Program.

US SB871

A bill to amend section 7014 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to advance toward full Federal funding for impact aid, and for other purposes.

US HB938

To abolish the Department of Education and to provide funding directly to States for elementary and secondary education, and for other purposes.

US HB5

Parents Bill of Rights Act This bill establishes various rights of parents and guardians regarding the elementary or secondary school education of their children. Local educational agencies (LEAs) and schools must comply with the requirements of the bill in order to receive federal education funds. Specifically, the bill requires schools to notify parents and guardians of their rights regarding the education of their children. These rights include the right to review the curriculum of their child's school; know if the state alters its challenging academic standards; meet with each teacher of their child at least twice each school year; review the budget, including all revenues and expenditures, of their child's school; review a list of the books and other reading materials in the library of their child's school; address the school board of the LEA; receive information about violent activity in their child's school; and receive information about any plans to eliminate gifted and talented programs in the child's school. Additionally, the bill directs each LEA to post on a publicly accessible website (or otherwise widely disseminate to the public) the curriculum for each elementary and secondary school grade level. The LEA must also include in its annual report card the overall budget of the LEA and the budget for each elementary and secondary school. The bill also provides for additional family educational and privacy rights, including by prohibiting schools from selling student information for commercial or financial gain.

US HB10518

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide grants to local educational agencies to encourage girls and underrepresented minorities to pursue studies and careers in STEM fields.

US HB1591

To amend section 7014 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to advance toward full Federal funding for impact aid, and for other purposes.

Similar Bills

US SB1651

Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act

US SB2645

Preventing HEAT Illness and Deaths Act of 2024 Preventing Health Emergencies And Temperature-related Illness and Deaths Act of 2024

US SB3392

AREA Act Advancing Research in Education Act Educational Technical Assistance Act of 2002

US SB1171

Ending Trading and Holdings In Congressional Stocks (ETHICS) Act

US SB3312

Artificial Intelligence Research, Innovation, and Accountability Act of 2024

US SB1764

Western Wildfire Support Act of 2024

US SB4495

PREPARED for AI Act Promoting Responsible Evaluation and Procurement to Advance Readiness for Enterprise-wide Deployment for Artificial Intelligence Act

US SB5310

Federal Acquisition Security Council Improvement Act of 2024