# Plain Language Summary: Ending Common Core and Expanding School Choice Act

This bill fundamentally changes how federal education money reaches low-income students. Instead of sending education funding directly to school districts, the money would follow individual low-income children to whatever school they attend—whether that's a traditional public school, charter school, private school, or tutoring program. Here's how it works: the federal government would calculate how much money each low-income child is "worth" based on the total federal education budget divided by the number of eligible children in a state. That per-pupil amount would then go wherever the child goes. If a family chooses to send their low-income child to a private school, the federal money follows them there. If they stay in public school, the money stays there. States would have flexibility in how to distribute these funds—they could give the money directly to schools, give it to parents to manage themselves through educational savings accounts, or use other methods allowed by state law.

The bill also strips away federal control over what schools teach and how they're evaluated. It explicitly prohibits the federal government from requiring states or schools to adopt Common Core standards (a set of academic standards that many states have used) or any other standardized curriculum. Schools would no longer be required to give standardized tests or follow federal accountability systems. The bill repeals existing federal programs that fund state testing and assessment systems, giving states complete control over their own academic standards and testing decisions.

The practical effect is significant: low-income families would gain more choice in where to educate their children, since federal funding would no longer be locked into district schools. However, this also means that traditional public schools serving low-income areas could lose substantial funding if families choose to leave. The bill represents a major shift toward school choice and away from federal oversight of education standards and testing, putting more decision-making power in the hands of individual states and families.

Ending Common Core and Expanding School Choice Act

Rep. Biggs, Andy [R-AZ-5]

Ending Common Core and Expanding School Choice Act This bill&nbsp;modifies requirements&nbsp;related to federal&nbsp;education funding for disadvantaged children. Specifically, the bill (1)&nbsp;eliminates the standards, assessments, and academic accountability requirements for state and local educational agencies that receive federal funds for the education of disadvantaged children; (2) requires such funds to be allocated based on the number of children residing in each state who are living in poverty; and (3) allows educational agencies to distribute per-pupil amounts from such funds to parents for qualified elementary and secondary education expenses. The bill prohibits federal officers or employees from mandating academic standards, assessments, curricula, or accountability systems.