Advanced Coursework Equity Act
Sponsored By: Representative Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
Introduced
Summary
Expand equitable access to advanced coursework for students in under-resourced elementary and secondary schools. The bill would create a three-track federal grant program for State Educational Agencies, local school districts, and institutions or nonprofits to boost open enrollment, universal screening, and STEM pathways for historically underrepresented students.
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- Students and families would get broader chances to enroll in advanced courses and build 21st-century STEM skills, with extra focus on Black, Latino, Native American students, English learners, students with disabilities, and low-income students.
- Local districts and schools that receive funds must use open enrollment or universal screening, set three-year subgroup enrollment and performance targets with annual milestones, train school leaders and counselors, form local advisory councils with underrepresented members, and provide multilingual family outreach.
- Most funding flows through states with 80% allocated to State Educational Agencies for subgrants, and SEAs must direct at least 65% of their grant funds to high-poverty or to schools that offer fewer advanced courses than the State average.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grant funding, sizes, and targeting
This bill would authorize $266 million a year for FY2027, FY2028, and FY2029 to run the program. Each year about 80% of funds would go to State education agencies, at least 15% to local districts, up to 4% to colleges or nonprofits, and up to 1% for Department administration. SEA grants would be $15 million to $60 million each for three years; LEA grants would be $1 million to $20 million each for three years; nonprofit/IHE grants would be up to $3 million each. SEAs must pass at least 65% of their grant dollars to high‑poverty or low‑offering districts, and SEAs may use up to 4% for technical assistance when needed.
District rules for access and fees
This bill would require each district that gets funds to carry out at least two activities, such as training leaders and teachers, expanding seats, offering tutoring, or covering advanced‑course fees for low‑income students. Districts would need to implement open enrollment or universal screening for advanced courses within one year of funding when chosen. The bill would define open enrollment as letting any student enroll without regard to past scores. It would define universal screening as testing all students and automatically enrolling those who meet at least two objective measures and providing accommodations for students with disabilities.
Bonus funds for equity growth
This bill would give a bonus equal to 5% of an SEA's or LEA's original grant to the grantee that shows the greatest growth toward equity goals. An SEA bonus could be awarded at the end of the first or second grant year; an LEA bonus at the end of the first grant year. SEAs must direct at least 50% of SEA bonus funds to LEA subgrantees that achieved the greatest growth. LEAs must direct at least 50% of LEA bonus funds to the schools that achieved the greatest growth. Bonus funds would be used in the next grant year.
State and district applications and reports
This bill would require State education agencies to show MOUs covering at least 50% of the State's districts and 50% of the State's students in year one. A local district could get a direct grant only if it is not also seeking a state subgrant for the same cycle and if it meets the high student poverty test. Grantees would need to set ambitious three‑year enrollment and performance goals disaggregated by race, sex, disability, income, and English‑learner status, form advisory councils with student and parent members, and submit proposed budgets and data plans. State and local grantees and nonprofits would file annual reports within 60 days after each grant year, and the Department would evaluate the program after the 3‑year cycle.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
TX • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 7/15/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov