HR 2798 creates a federal tax credit allowing individuals to claim 75% of qualified cash or securities donations (up to $5,000 or 10% of adjusted gross income) to eligible charter school organizations. To qualify, organizations must be 501(c)(3) entities meeting strict criteria, including being in the top 10% for student performance in their state or receiving specific federal grants, and must undergo annual audits. The credit is subject to a $5 billion annual cap, allocated first to states (with $10 million per state) and then nationally on a first-come, first-served basis. This directly affects individual donors making qualifying contributions and charter school organizations seeking to expand operations through tax-advantaged funding.
HR 3250 creates a federal grant program to support the development and adoption of evidence-based innovative learning models in K-12 schools. The bill directly affects the Department of Education's Institute for Education Sciences, state education agencies, and local school districts, which would receive funding to develop, research, and implement these models. Key mechanisms include competitive grants for early development, mid-phase evaluation, and expansion of promising models; requirements that models be evidence-based and developed with school community input; and annual reporting requirements for grantees. The bill prohibits federal mandates on specific learning models while requiring that grant funds supplement rather than replace existing funding. The program is authorized for funding from 2026-2035 (Title I) and 2027-2036 (Title II).
The ACE Act (HR 750) expands 529 education savings plans to cover K-12 expenses, allowing families to use these accounts for tuition, curriculum materials, books, online learning, approved tutoring, standardized tests, and educational therapies for students with disabilities. It doubles the annual distribution limit from $10,000 to $20,000 for elementary and secondary expenses and increases gift tax exclusions for 529 contributions by up to $20,000 per year. The bill also requires states to implement school choice programs (like vouchers or education savings accounts) to qualify for tax-exempt school bonds, with specific eligibility thresholds for states. This directly affects families using 529 plans for K-12 education, homeschoolers, and states seeking tax-exempt bond funding for schools.
The SCHOOL Act of 2025 (HR 2275) changes how federal education funds flow by requiring states to allocate funds based on where students attend school, rather than where the school district is located. It directly affects children aged 5-17 (and students with disabilities under IDEA) enrolled in public, private, or home schools by allowing states to distribute funds through education savings accounts for eligible families. Key provisions include using federal funds for tuition, materials, therapies, and other educational expenses at the family's chosen school, while ensuring funds supplement - rather than replace - existing local resources. The bill explicitly prohibits federal control over private schools and maintains eligibility for programs like free school meals.
This bill changes how federal education funds are distributed by directing funds to follow eligible low-income students (ages 5-17 from families below poverty level) to their families or schools. It allows states to use these funds for qualified expenses like public school tuition, private school tuition at approved schools, or supplemental programs. The bill explicitly prohibits federal officials from mandating specific curricula, assessments, or standards - such as Common Core - requiring states to maintain control over education content. It also repeals existing federal assessment grants, shifting focus to student-centered funding.
This bill creates a 75% federal tax credit for individuals donating cash or securities to approved nonprofit charter school organizations. The credit is limited to 10% of adjusted gross income or $5,000 annually, and applies only to organizations meeting strict criteria (like 501(c)(3) status, performance-based state selection, and annual audits). It requires these organizations to spend 100% of donations on charter school creation/expansion within five years and caps total annual tax credits at $5 billion, allocated by state. The credit is designed to incentivize private funding for charter schools while ensuring accountability through spending rules and oversight.
The Student Empowerment Act (S 152) expands the use of 529 education savings accounts to cover more K-12 school expenses for students in public, private, religious, or homeschool settings. It allows funds to pay for tuition, curriculum materials, books, online resources, licensed tutoring (with teacher credentials), standardized tests, dual enrollment fees, and licensed educational therapies for students with disabilities. The bill directly affects families using 529 accounts who educate children in elementary or secondary school, including homeschoolers. It changes existing tax rules to include these specific K-12 expenses under 529 account distributions, effective after the bill's enactment. The policy change aims to provide greater flexibility for families managing educational costs at the K-12 level.
This bill establishes tax credits for individuals and corporations who contribute to scholarship granting organizations that provide educational scholarships for eligible students. The individual tax credit is limited to 10% of adjusted gross income or $5,000, while corporate credits are capped at 5% of taxable income. The bill defines "eligible students" as those from households with income not exceeding 300% of the area median gross income, and specifies that scholarships can cover tuition, materials, tutoring, and educational therapies. The bill includes a $10 billion annual cap on tax credits, with a first-come, first-served allocation system, and requires scholarship organizations to meet specific financial and operational standards.
The FLEX Act amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to increase funding for high-quality charter schools. It raises required funding reserves for program expansion (from 12.5% to 15% and 22.5% to 25%) and mandates at least 30% of funds be reserved for charter school facilities, national activities, and program support. The bill explicitly allows funding for "addition or expansion of programs" at existing charter schools (e.g., new academic programs or personalized learning) and permits single-sex educational services. It also clarifies that funds can cover facility operations, renovations, and student transportation needs. This directly affects charter schools, state education entities administering grants, and charter management organizations receiving federal support.
The Strength in Diversity Act of 2025 provides federal grants to schools and districts with racial or socioeconomic isolation to develop and implement strategies increasing diversity. It authorizes planning grants (up to 2 years) for assessments and community engagement, and implementation grants (up to 3 years) for activities like transportation plans, teacher recruitment, innovative school assignments, and equitable enrollment systems. Recipients must track measurable progress on academic outcomes (e.g., graduation rates, achievement gaps) and diversity metrics, including reducing isolation in covered schools (public K-12 schools and publicly-funded early childhood programs). The bill requires robust community input, data-driven evaluation, and plans for sustainability beyond the grant period, with funding authorized for fiscal years 2025-2029.
