Equitable Access to School Facilities Act was reported by committee and awaits a floor vote

Equitable Access to School Facilities Act This bill expands and revises certain grant programs under the Charter Schools Program (CSP). Currently, the CSP's State Charter School Facilities Incentive Grant (SFIG) program provides competitive grants to help states establish and enhance or administer per-pupil facilities aid for charter schools. The bill replaces the SFIG program with a new grant program, which requires the Department of Education to (1) award competitive grants to state entities with the highest-quality applications for paying the federal share of acquiring and maintaining charter school facilities; and (2) give priority to certain state entities, such as those located in a state that has tax-exempt financing for charter schools. Further, the bill outlines program requirements (e.g., cost-sharing) and allowable uses of grants. Currently, the CSP's State Entities (SE) program authorizes competitive grants to state entities and, through them, subgrants to eligible applicants to enable them to open and prepare for the operation of a new charter school or replicate or expand a charter school. The bill revises the SE program by allowing grants to be used for (1) providing assistance to charter schools with locating and accessing a facility, and (2) providing one-time assistance to ensure the facility complies with building codes. Further, state entities may reserve up to 10% of grant funds for a revolving loan fund. The bill (1) specifies that no funds made available under the CSP create a federal interest in associated property, and (2) revises reporting requirements for the CSP's Credit Enhancement grants.