HR 3453

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 15, 2025

Ms. Letlow (for herself, Ms. Tokuda, Mr. Kiley of California, Mr. Case, and Mr. Ciscomani) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce

January 13, 2026

Additional sponsors: Mr. Timmons, Ms. McDonald Rivet, Mr. James, Mr. Carter of Louisiana, Mr. Calvert, Mr. Messmer, Mr. Cleaver, Mr. Meuser, Mr. Harder of California, Mr. Carter of Georgia, Mr. Cole, Ms. Lee of Florida, and Mr. Baumgartner

January 13, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 15, 2025]

A BILL

To modify the program of grants to support high-quality charter schools.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act”.

SEC. 2. GRANTS TO SUPPORT HIGH-QUALITY CHARTER SCHOOLS.

Section 4303 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7221b) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1)(C), by striking “and” after the semicolon; and

(B) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:

“(2)(A) provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in carrying out the activities described in paragraph (1);

“(B) work with authorized public chartering agencies in the State to improve authorizing quality, including developing capacity for, and conducting, fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools; and

“(C) at the State entity’s discretion—

“(i) fund a revolving loan fund or similar mechanisms for the expenses of eligible applicants under subsection (h) prior to the receipt of subgrant funds under paragraph (1); and

“(ii) provide assistance to eligible applicants in locating and accessing a facility; and

“(3) provide pre-charter planning subgrants (in amounts of no more than $100,000 per subgrantee) to charter school developers that—

“(A) intend to submit an application—

“(i) to an authorized public chartering agency to operate a charter school; or

“(ii) to nonprofit or public entities for the provision of financial support to such developers;

“(B) are led by educators who—

“(i) have not less than 54 months of school-based experience (which may include experience in teaching in or administering after school or summer school programs); and

“(ii) have demonstrated leadership competencies and success with students, as determined by the State entity; and

“(C) have successfully completed the development of an initial plan for opening a charter school, as evidenced by a description of the educational needs of the community in which the proposed charter school will be located and how the proposed charter school will be suited to meet those needs.”;

(2) in subsection (c)(1)—

(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking “90 percent” and inserting “82 percent”;

(B) in subparagraph (B)—

(i) by striking “not less than 7 percent” and inserting “not more than 10 percent”; and

(ii) by striking “and” after the semicolon;

(C) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (D);

(D) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:

“(C) reserve not more than 5 percent of such funds to carry out the activities described in subsection

(b)(3); and”;

(3) in subsection (d)(1)(B), by striking “this section” and inserting “subsection (b)(1)”;

(4) in subsection (e)(2), by striking “this section” and inserting “subsection (b)(1)”;

(5) in subsection (f)(1)(A)(vi)—

(A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), by inserting “under subsection (b)(1)” after “program”; and

(B) in subclause (II), by striking “subgrant funds under this section” and inserting “subgrant funds under subsection (b)(1)”; and

(6) in subsection (h), in the matter preceding paragraph

(1), by striking “this section” and inserting “subsection

(b)(1)”. Union Calendar No. 379

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 3453

[Report No. 119-443]

A BILL

To modify the program of grants to support high-quality charter schools.

January 13, 2026

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed