Summary#
This bill, the FLEX Act, changes parts of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to give more flexibility to federal programs that help plan and run charter schools. It updates who can get grants, what grant money can be used for, and how program funds are set aside. The bill adds support for adding or expanding programs at high-quality charter schools, allows funding for facilities work and operations, and requires the Department to seek input from charter operators before proposing rules. It also includes limits on paperwork and on imposing nonstatutory regulatory requirements.
What it means for you#
- State entities that run charter grant programs may change how they award and use subgrants, including allowing up to 2 years for planning and program design.
- Charter school operators can get grant funds for starting, expanding, or strengthening schools, and for adding new academic programs, personalized learning, curricular changes, hiring staff, subscriptions, curricular support, facility renovations, portable classrooms, and some facility operations costs.
- Grants may cover technical assistance costs, including costs to provide that assistance. Some grants must address student transportation needs.
- The Department of Education must solicit input from charter school operators before issuing proposed rules and must limit regulations to what is necessary to administer the part.
- The bill allows schools to provide educational services to students of a single sex.
- The changes apply to grants awarded on or after the bill becomes law. Entities with existing grants may choose to follow the new rules for the remainder of their grant period.
Expenses#
- The bill changes how portions of program funds are reserved and used: certain set-aside percentages in section 4302(b) are increased (for example, what was 12.5 percent is changed to at least 15 percent, and what was 22.5 percent is changed to at least 25 percent), and at least 30 percent must be reserved in one part of the formula.
- The Secretary must use any remaining amounts after those reservations to support charter school facilities assistance (section 4304), national activities (section 4305), and grants under section 4303, and may decide how to allocate that remaining money among those purposes.
- From funds reserved under a particular subsection, the Secretary may use not more than 10 percent for national support activities listed in the bill.
- No dollar amounts or total cost estimates are provided in the bill text.
Proponents' View#
The bill’s text describes its purpose as providing greater flexibility in federal programs that support planning and implementing charter schools. It expands allowable uses of grant funds (including program additions and facility-related costs), increases certain set-aside percentages, requires outreach to charter operators before rulemaking, and seeks to reduce unnecessary paperwork and nonstatutory regulatory requirements.
Opponents' View#
No publicly available information.