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HR 83 · 119th CongressIn Committee
Ending Common Core and Expanding School Choice Act
Latest updateJan 3, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Education
Sponsor
Andy Biggs
Introduced
January 3, 2025
Latest action
January 3, 2025
Legislative Progress
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Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Plain-Language Summary
AI GeneratedUnder current federal education law, Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act provides federal funding to schools serving low-income students, but the funds are allocated to school districts and schools rather than following individual students. States must implement federally-aligned academic standards and assessments, including Common Core State Standards or comparable frameworks. This structure ties federal dollars to specific schools and districts, limiting parental choice and requiring compliance with federal curriculum and testing mandates that some states view as overly prescriptive.
This bill amends Title I to redirect federal funding so that it follows eligible low-income children to their school of choice. The Department of Education shall allocate Title I funds to state education agencies based on the number of eligible children (ages 5-17 from families below the poverty line) in each state. States then calculate a per-pupil amount and distribute these funds according to state law—either to schools the child attends or directly to parents. Eligible expenses include tuition at accredited private schools, charter schools, public schools outside the child's district, and state-approved supplemental educational services. The bill also prohibits federal officers from mandating Common Core standards, other multi-state academic standards, or aligned assessments, and repeals Part B of Title I, which authorized federal grants for state assessment development.
Implementation occurs immediately upon enactment for the next fiscal year. States design their own distribution mechanisms—whether funds go to schools, parents, or educational savings accounts—subject to state law. The bill eliminates federal assessment grant programs, shifting standard-setting authority entirely to states. This creates a portable funding model where disadvantaged students can access private school tuition or supplemental services using federal dollars, contingent on state authorization. The change reduces federal curriculum influence but requires states to establish verification systems ensuring funds are used for qualified education expenses.
Key Provisions
- 1Directs the Department of Education to allocate Title I funds to states based on the number of low-income children (ages 5-17) residing in each state, then requires states to calculate a per-pupil amount for distribution according to state law.
- 2Authorizes states to direct federal funds to follow eligible children to public schools, charter schools, accredited private schools, or supplemental educational service programs they attend, with states determining whether funds go to schools or parents.
- 3Prohibits federal officers from mandating Common Core State Standards, other multi-state academic standards, or aligned assessments, and bars conditioning federal funds on implementation of federally-prescribed academic standards or accountability systems.
- 4Repeals Part B of Title I (state assessment grants) and eliminates the federal authorization for grants supporting state development of academic assessments.
- 5Requires states to determine how to verify that funds distributed to parents are used for qualified education expenses and whether to establish educational savings accounts or dedicated accounts to hold such funds.
★ Why this matters
Federal education funding becomes portable, following low-income students to their chosen school rather than remaining tied to school districts. States gain authority to set academic standards and assessments without federal mandates, and low-income families gain access to private school tuition and supplemental services using federal dollars. Federal curriculum influence is eliminated, but states must build new systems to track and verify how funds are spent.
● Who this affects
Low-income families with children ages 5-17 in states that authorize school choice programs gain access to private school tuition and alternative educational services. State education agencies must redesign funding distribution systems and establish verification mechanisms for parental spending. Public school districts lose guaranteed enrollment-based funding for disadvantaged students, potentially reducing revenue if families choose private or charter schools. Charter schools and accredited private schools gain access to federal dollars for low-income students. State legislatures and state education agencies gain full authority over academic standards and assessments, no longer subject to federal alignment requirements.
Bill Text
View on Congress.govShow / hide bill text preview
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 83
To amend part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 to allow States, in accordance with State law, to let
Federal funds for the education of disadvantaged children follow low-
income children to the public school, charter school, accredited
private school, or supplemental educational service program they
attend, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 3, 2025
Mr. Biggs of Arizona introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on Education and Workforce
A BILL
To amend part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education
Act of 1965 to allow States, in accordance with State law, to let
Federal funds for the education of disadvantaged children follow low-
income children to the public school, charter school, accredited
private school, or supplemental educational service program they
attend, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Ending Common Core and Expanding
School Choice Act''.
SEC. 2. STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN.
(a) In General.--Part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) is amended to read as
follows:
``PART A--STATE EDUCATIONAL AGENCY GRANTS TO ELIGIBLE CHILDREN
``SEC. 1111. ALLOCATIONS TO STATES.
``(a) In General.--For each fiscal year, the Secretary shall
allocate the amount appropriated to carry out this part among State
education agencies based on the number of eligible children residing in
each State.
``(b) Eligible Child.--In this section, the term `eligible child'
means a child aged 5 to 17, inclusive, from a family with an income
below the poverty level on the basis of the most recent satisfactory
data published by the Department of Commerce.
``(c) Criteria of Poverty.--In determining the families with
incomes below the poverty level for the purposes of this section, a
State educational agency shall use the criteria of poverty used by the
Census Bureau in compiling the most recent decennial census, as the
criteria have been updated by increases in the Consumer Price Index for
All Urban Consumers, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
``SEC. 1112. FUNDS FOLLOWING ELIGIBLE CHILDREN.
``(a) Calculation of Per Pupil Amount.--For each fiscal year, the
State educational agency shall calculate the per pupil amount by
dividing the amount made available to the agency under section 1111 by
the number of eligible children (as defined in section 1111(b))
residing in the State.
``(b) Use of Funds.--Each State educational ag…Party Positions
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