Equitable Access to School Facilities Act
New Bill Proposes $500 Million to Help Charter Schools Find and Fix School Buildings
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- This bill creates a new grant program to help charter schools pay for their buildings. It provides $100 million each year from 2026 to 2030 to help these schools buy, rent, or renovate their facilities.
- The goal is to make sure charter schools have the same access to money and buildings as traditional public schools. Currently, many charter schools have to use their classroom budgets to pay for rent, which leaves less money for teaching.
- States that make it easier for charter schools to get permits or use empty public buildings will be first in line for this federal funding. The bill also encourages states to stop rules that prevent charter schools from buying old government property.
- The policy allows states to set up special loan programs. These revolving loan funds would give schools low-cost loans to fix up classrooms or make sure buildings meet safety codes and are ready for students.
- This plan focuses heavily on helping schools in rural areas and low-income neighborhoods. It also provides technical help to ensure new schools are planned well and can support high-quality education for their students.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
Life & Work
Charter school students would benefit from improved school buildings and facilities. The bill authorizes $100 million per year for five years to help charter schools buy, lease, build, or renovate facilities, with a focus on schools in low-income and rural communities. Better buildings mean safer, more comfortable learning environments, which can improve educational outcomes.
Disabilities
Milestones
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in Senate
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesHouse Education advances bills to bolster charter school expansion
The House Education and Workforce Committee advanced the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act (H.R. 7086) on a party-line vote. The bill aims to incentivize states to treat charter schools similarly to traditional public schools in terms of land use and facility acquisition.
Bill Cassidy holds event on expanding access to charter schools after introducing bill to cut 'red tape'
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA) hosted a briefing on charter school innovation shortly after reintroducing the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act. The bill focuses on ensuring schools have sufficient facilities and capital, particularly in low-income and rural communities.
National Alliance for Public Charter Schools conducts in-house lobbying on federal funding bills
Lobbying efforts have intensified for S. 1723, the Equitable Access to School Facilities Act, which would create $100 million annually for charter facilities aid. The bill aims to close the funding gap that forces many charters to divert classroom money to rent.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Equitable Access to School Facilities Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(2)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.