Equitable Access to School Facilities Act

Key Points

• This bill creates a new grant program to help charter schools find, buy, and fix up their buildings. It aims to make school facilities more affordable and higher quality for students by providing federal support for construction and leasing costs.
• States can apply for federal money to cover up to 60 percent of the costs for these projects. The bill gives priority to states that treat charter schools the same as traditional public schools when it comes to land use, building permits, and access to public property.
• Many charter schools struggle to find adequate space or pay for expensive repairs. This plan helps them access public buildings and provides extra support for schools located in low income or rural areas.
• States would be allowed to set up special revolving loan funds. These funds would provide money to charter schools for renovations or to make sure their buildings meet local safety and building codes.
• The bill also cuts down on some federal paperwork. It clarifies that the federal government does not have a permanent legal interest in these buildings just because it provided some of the funding, which simplifies how schools manage their property.

Impact Analysis

Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.