Amends the federal charter school grant program to give schools more flexibility in how they spend funds, including on adding programs, hiring staff, and covering facility operating costs.

Official title: FLEX Act

Next stop House floor: awaiting a vote

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

House

Introduced 15-JAN-2026

Referred 15-JAN-2026

Approved by committee 21-JAN-2026

Reported 13-MAY-2026

On the calendar 13-MAY-2026

Key points

Sets minimum shares of program funds reserved for three purposes, at least 15, 25, and 30 percent.
Allows subgrant funds to cover teacher and staff hiring, academic subscriptions, curricular support, facility repairs, and facility operating costs.
Permits advance payments of subgrant funds to eligible applicants and clarifies that schools may serve students of a single sex.
Requires the Secretary of Education to consult charter school operators before proposing rules and limits regulations to those necessary for administering the program.
Applies to grants awarded on or after enactment, and lets existing grant recipients opt into the changes for the rest of their grant period.

AI-generated from the Reported in House text of 13-MAY-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-MAY-2026).

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

Committee referrals (1)

Policy area

Education

Sponsor Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA) Cosponsors · 6

■ 4 D■ 2 R

4 Democrats

2 Republicans

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