Modifies the federal charter school grant program by changing how funds are split, adding pre-charter planning grants for experienced educators, and expanding state support for charter school oversight and facilities.

Official title: Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act

Next stop House floor: awaiting a vote

Timeline each lane is a chamber; dates pull from congress.gov actions

House

Introduced 15-MAY-2025

Referred 15-MAY-2025

Approved by committee 25-JUN-2025

Reported 13-JAN-2026

On the calendar 13-JAN-2026

Key points

Lowers the share of charter school program funds going to state-level subgrants from 90 percent to 82 percent, and allows up to 10 percent for state entities and up to 5 percent for pre-charter planning.
Creates pre-charter planning subgrants of no more than $100,000 each for developers led by educators with at least 54 months of school-based experience and a completed initial school plan.
Allows states to fund revolving loan funds for charter applicants' expenses and help applicants locate facilities, and requires states to help authorizers improve fiscal oversight and auditing.

AI-generated from the Reported in House text of 13-JAN-2026 · verify · report an error

Official CRS summary

Current. The Congressional Research Service's summary covers the bill's latest wording (Reported to House, 13-JAN-2026).

CRS is the Library of Congress's nonpartisan research office. Read it on congress.gov

Committee referrals (1)

Policy area

Education

Sponsor Julia Letlow (R-LA) Cosponsors · 17

■ 10 R■ 6 D■ 1 I

10 Republicans

6 Democrats

1 Independent

congress.gov page Reported in House (13-JAN-2026) Introduced in House (15-MAY-2025)