FLEX Act

Key Points

• The bill raises minimum federal funding percentages for charter school programs. The share reserved for facilities assistance goes from 12.5% to at least 15%, national activities funding rises from 22.5% to at least 25%, and a new 30% floor is set for state-level grants.
• Charter schools gain new flexibility in spending grant money. Eligible expenses now include hiring and compensating teachers and school leaders, buying academic subscriptions (including digital ones), covering building renovations or portable classrooms, and paying for facility operations and management.
• High-quality charter schools can now use federal grants to add or expand programs like personalized learning or new curricular approaches, not just open new schools or replicate existing ones.
• The bill requires charter schools receiving federal funds to address student transportation needs, and prioritizes expanding seats for rural students and students with disabilities.
• The Department of Education would be limited to issuing only regulations that are necessary and could not impose additional requirements beyond what the law says. Charter school operators must also be consulted before any new rulemaking.