YourVoice.Now Summary
Transparency & AccountabilityCharter schools could get more federal help buying and fixing buildings — with less tracking of that money.
Transparency & Accountability
Buy a building with federal grant money and the government can put a notice on file. It shows that federal money paid part of the cost. Charter school grants would no longer trigger that notice.
Grant winners must normally report once a year on property the government has a stake in. That report would no longer apply to charter school buildings.
Some groups get federal money to help charter schools borrow for buildings. They must file a report each year, with no end date in law today. The reports would stop 10 years after the grant, even for past grants.
The bill spells out the seven items a state must include in its grant application. The Education Department could not require anything beyond that list.
More about this bill
If your child goes to a charter school, this is about the building. Charter schools often rent space and have trouble borrowing to buy or fix it. States could compete for federal grants that help charter schools buy, lease, or fix up space. The money could also cover ongoing building costs. The federal government would pay up to 60 percent of that cost for the whole grant. Today that share starts at 90 percent and drops to 20 percent by the fifth year. States must explain how their plan would reach charter schools in low-income and rural areas. State grant money could also stretch further. States could set aside up to 10 percent for a revolving loan fund. Today that 10 percent must go to schools as grants they never repay. Money passed down to schools could pay for bigger fixes to meet code, not just small repairs. States could also give a charter school one-time help meeting local building codes. Most of this applies only to grants awarded after the bill becomes law. A House committee has approved it. The full House has not voted.
Congressional Summary
Equitable Access to School Facilities ActThis bill expands and revises certain grant programs under the Charter Schools Program (CSP).Currently, the CSP's State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grant (SFIG) program provides competitive grants to help states establish and enhance or administer per-pupil facilities aid for charter schools.The bill replaces the SFIG program with a new grant program, which requires the Department of Education to (1) award competitive grants to state entities with the highest-quality applications for paying the federal share of acquiring and maintaining charter school facilities; and (2) give priority to certain state entities, such as those located in a state that has tax-exempt financing for charter schools. Further, the bill outlines program requirements (e.g., cost-sharing) and allowable uses of grants.Currently, the CSP's State Entities (SE) program authorizes competitive grants to state entities and, through them, subgrants to eligible applicants to enable them to open and prepare for the operation of a new charter school or replicate or expand a charter school. The bill revises the SE program by allowing grants to be used for (1) providing assistance to charter schools with locating and accessing a facility, and (2) providing one-time assistance to ensure the facility complies with building codes. Further, state entities may reserve up to 10% of grant funds for a revolving loan fund.The bill (1) specifies that no funds made available under the CSP create a federal interest in associated property, and (2) revises reporting requirements for the CSP's Credit Enhancement grants.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to House
- Action Date
- 2026-06-02
- Date Added
- 2026-07-09
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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