# The SCHOOL Act of 2021: What It Actually Does

This bill would fundamentally change how federal education funding works by allowing money to follow individual students rather than staying with school districts. Currently, when the federal government sends education funding to states, that money goes to local school districts, which then decide how to spend it. Under this bill, the funding would instead be divided equally among all eligible students, and families could direct their share to whichever school their child attends—whether that's a traditional public school, a private school, or homeschooling.

Here's how it would work in practice: If a state receives $100 million in federal education funding for 1 million eligible students, that's $100 per student. A family could then choose where their child learns, and that $100 would follow the student to their chosen school. If a student attends public school, the money goes to that public school. If a student attends private school or is homeschooled, the money would go into an "education savings account" controlled by the parents, who could spend it on things like tutoring, online courses, private school tuition, textbooks, technology, or special education services. The bill covers federal funding for general education programs as well as special education funding for students with disabilities.

The bill applies to several major federal education programs, including Title I (which funds schools serving low-income students), special education funding, and various other education grants. It also includes safeguards stating that children eligible for free or reduced-price school lunches would still receive those benefits, and that the federal government cannot control how private schools or homeschools operate. Supporters argue this gives families more choice and control over their children's education, while critics worry it could reduce funding for public schools serving the most disadvantaged students, since wealthier families might be more likely to leave the public system.

SCHOOL Act of 2021

Support Children Having Open Opportunities for Learning Act of 2021 or the SCHOOL Act of 2021 This bill allows certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education to follow the student to the school that they attend (i.e., public, private, or home school), regardless of whether the student is learning in person or remotely. These funds may be used for educational and instructional materials, tutoring, tuition for private school, and extracurricular activities.