We have an update for you on H.R. 4502. As you know, charter advocates have been very concerned about language in the bill (Section 314) threatening federal funding for charter schools. Unfortunately, H.R. 4502 passed the U.S. House of Representatives with this language intact.
H.R. 4502 in the U.S. Senate
Then, on August 3, the bill was received in the Senate. (Track the bill with this link.) To gain clarity on next steps, Lindalyn spoke with a senior education policy advisor who works with U.S. Senator Richard Burr on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee. Senator Burr is the Ranking Member on that committee.
We have learned that the bill will go to the Senate Appropriations Committee but not to Senator Burr’s HELP Committee. At this point, we do not expect either Senator Burr or Senator Tillis to be directly involved with H.R. 4502.
U.S. Senators Burr and Tillis and H.R. 4502 provisions
We also confirmed that both lawmakers favor restoring money to the federal Charter Schools Program grant and striking the discriminatory Section 314 language in the bill. Based on what we have learned, we do not expect the legislation will get out of the Appropriations Committee. We will keep you posted as we learn more.
