Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act

This bill updates the federal grants program for charter schools to focus more on educator-led school startups and stronger oversight. It lets states give more hands-on help to applicants and to the agencies that approve charter schools, including help with financial reviews and audits, and support in finding school buildings. It also allows states to set up revolving loan funds to cover some costs before federal reimbursements arrive. Overall, it changes parts of the charter school grant law to support high-quality planning and accountability.

Educator teams can get “pre-charter” planning grants of up to $100,000 if they plan to apply to open a charter school. These teams must be led by educators with at least 54 months of school-based experience, show strong leadership and results with students, and have an initial plan that explains the community’s needs and how the school will meet them.

Key points

• Who is affected: Educator-led charter school developers, state education offices, and charter school authorizers.
• What changes: States can provide technical help, improve oversight and auditing, offer facility help, and run revolving loan funds; educator teams can receive planning grants up to $100,000 with experience and planning requirements.
• Money rules: The bill shifts how states can use grant funds by changing several percentage limits (for example, moving one share from 90% to 80%, another from “at least 7%” to “no more than 10%,” and raising one cap from 3% to 5%), and allowing up to 5% for the added support activities.
• Timing: No specific start date is stated in this text.