Empower Charter School Educators to Lead Act
A BILL
To modify the program of grants to support high-quality charter schools.
Sec. 2 Grants to support high-quality charter schools
“(2)
“(A) provide technical assistance to eligible applicants and authorized public chartering agencies in carrying out the activities described in paragraph (1);
“(B) work with authorized public chartering agencies in the State to improve authorizing quality, including developing capacity for, and conducting, fiscal oversight and auditing of charter schools; and
“(C) at the State entity’s discretion—
“(i) fund a revolving loan fund or similar mechanisms for expenses under subsection (h) prior to an eligible applicant receiving reimbursement; and
“(ii) provide assistance to eligible applicants in locating and accessing a facility; and
“(3) provide pre-charter planning subgrants (in amounts of no more than $100,000 per prospective applicant) to charter school developers that—
“(A) intend to submit an application—
“(i) to an authorized public chartering agency to operate a charter school; or
“(ii) to nonprofit or public entities for the provision of financial support to such developers;
“(B) are led by educators who—
“(i) have not less than 54 months of school-based experience (which may include experience in teaching in or administering after school or summer school programs); and
“(ii) have demonstrated leadership competencies and success with students, as determined by the State entity; and
“(C) have successfully completed the development of an initial plan for opening a charter school, as evidenced by a description of the educational needs of the community in which the proposed charter school will be located and how the proposed charter school will be suited to meet those needs.”
“(C) reserve not more than 5 percent of such funds to carry out the activities described in subsection (b)(3); and”