Kids in Classes Act
Rep. Owens Introduces Kids in Classes Act to Give Parents School Funds During Closures
The Kids in Classes Act is currently in the early stages of the legislative process. It was recently sent to the House Committee on Education and Workforce for review. There are no upcoming votes scheduled at this time.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- If a public school receiving Title I federal funds closes for more than 3 days due to a public health emergency or a teacher strike, the school district must pay parents directly so they can cover education costs for their kids.
- Parents could spend the money on specific educational expenses like private school tuition, tutoring, books, online learning tools, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. They must show receipts or return any unused money within 30 days of school reopening.
From policy text
“The term `qualified educational expenses' means curriculum and curricular materials, books or instructional materials, technological educational materials, online educational materials, tutoring or educational classes outside the home, private school tuition, testing fees, diagnostic tools, and educational therapies for students with disabilities.”
View in full text - The payment amount would be calculated by dividing a school's total Title I funding by the number of students and then by the number of school days, then multiplying by the number of days the school was closed.
From policy text
“The term `covered funding amount' means the quotient of-- ``(i) an amount equal to-- ``(I) the funds provided under this part to a particular elementary school or secondary school; divided by ``(II) the number of students who attend that school; divided by ``(ii) the number of school days for which such funds have been provided.”
View in full text - The bill is motivated by research showing school closures disproportionately harm low-income students and students of color, widening educational inequality and reducing future earnings potential.
From policy text
“Researchers predict that 1 year of school closures will cost ninth graders in the poorest communities a 25-percent decrease in their post-educational earning potential, even if that year of closure is followed by 3 years of normal schooling.”
View in full text - School districts would need to set up a "failure to open direct payment plan" before the start of the first school year after the bill becomes law, and try to send payments to parents on each day a school is closed.
From policy text
“Not later than the beginning of the first school year that begins after the date of enactment of the Kids in Classes Act, and notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to be eligible to receive funds under this part, each local educational agency shall-- ``(A) establish a failure to open direct payment plan in accordance with paragraph (3)”
View in full text
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Introduced in House
Related News
2 articles
Sen. Tim Scott Joins Sunday Night in America to Discuss Kids in Classes Act
Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) appeared on 'Sunday Night in America' to discuss his newly introduced 'Kids in Classes Act,' which aims to protect students from learning loss by allowing federal education funds to follow the student if public schools close for more than three days.
Scott moves to bypass teachers unions, send federal school funds to parents
Senator Tim Scott reintroduced the 'Kids in Classes Act' this week, a measure that would allow Title I funds to follow students to private schools or tutoring services if their public school closes for more than three days due to labor strikes or health emergencies.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Kids in Classes Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
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