H.R. 3453

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3453 Reported in House (RH)]

<DOC>

Union Calendar No. 379
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 3453

[Report No. 119-443]

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

_______________________________________________________________________

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