Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act
Sponsored By: Representative Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
In Committee
Summary
Shifts federal charter school grant support to help educators lead new schools and to strengthen state authorizers. It would add pre-charter planning grants, expand technical assistance and authorizer training, and create optional revolving loans and facility-access help.
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- Educators and developers: Would make pre-charter planning subgrants of up to $100,000 to charter developers or nonprofits that support them. Eligible developers must have at least 54 months of school-based experience, show leadership and student success, and complete an initial plan describing community needs.
- State entities and authorizers: Would let State education entities provide technical assistance, build authorizing capacity, and conduct fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools. States could also help applicants locate facilities.
- Funding and program rules: Would change the grant formula, reducing a key share from 90% to 82% and allowing up to 5% of funds to be reserved for state-level technical assistance and capacity-building activities.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Planning Grants and Startup Help for Educators
If enacted, the bill would create pre-charter planning subgrants up to $100,000 for teams developing new charter schools. Eligible teams must be led by an educator with at least 54 months of school-based experience and complete a basic opening plan describing community needs and how the school would meet them. The bill would also let State education entities give technical help, work with authorizers on fiscal oversight and audits, help find school buildings, and (at the State's choice) fund revolving loan funds to cover startup costs before grant checks arrive.
New Split of Charter Grant Funds
If enacted, the bill would change how charter school grant money is split. It would reduce the large share given to existing subgrantees from 90 percent to 82 percent. It would change another portion to be no more than 10 percent (instead of a minimum of 7 percent) and allow up to 5 percent to be reserved for pre-charter planning and State technical assistance. The bill would also narrow several legal references so some rules apply only to activities under subsection (b)(1).
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Letlow, Julia [R-LA-5]
LA • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Kiley (CA)
CA • I
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Ciscomani
AZ • R
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Timmons
SC • R
Sponsored 5/20/2025
Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/2/2025
Rep. James, John [R-MI-10]
MI • R
Sponsored 6/2/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 6/10/2025
Rep. Calvert, Ken [R-CA-41]
CA • R
Sponsored 6/17/2025
Messmer
IN • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 7/14/2025
Rep. Meuser, Daniel [R-PA-9]
PA • R
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
GA • R
Sponsored 9/2/2025
Cole
OK • R
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Lee (FL)
FL • R
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]
WA • R
Sponsored 9/8/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov