Steel Introduces Bill to Protect School Choice

Press Release

Today, Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) introduced legislation to stop federal bureaucrats from issuing regulations that would discourage the opening of charter schools and limit educational choices for families. Last month, the U.S. Department of Education issued new rules that will make it increasingly difficult for charter schools across the country to access federal funding. The rules, in addition to other requirements, would require a community impact study that proves a need for the charter school to operate, require charter schools to create a plan for increased diversity regardless of its location, and would mandate that schools partner with local public schools for funding and priority in state competitions. This would be required before the school could be eligible for grant funding through the federal Charter Schools Program (CSP).

In response to these burdensome rules, The Protecting Charter Schools from Federal Overreach Act of 2022 will prohibit the Secretary of Education from finalizing a proposed rulemaking that would subject charter schools to burdensome federal grant funding eligibility requirements.

"The federal government has no business restricting families' options for their children's education," said Rep. Steel. "Parents, not teachers unions or DC bureaucrats, know what is best for their children, and we cannot allow the Administration to remove school choice as an option for countless families."

It's estimated that more than 3 million students attended charter schools during the 2020-2021 school year. In the first full school year during the pandemic, more than 200,000 new students enrolled in a charter school, representing the only sector of public education to grow during this time period. It's estimated that nearly 60% of the students served by these institutions are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, over two thirds are students of color, and 14.3% were English learner students.

Rep. Steel is joined in introducing the legislation by original cosponsor Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA).

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