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TRUE EQUITY Act of 2023
12/15/2023, 3:55 PM
Summary of Bill HR 1429
One key provision of the TRUE EQUITY Act is the establishment of a task force dedicated to studying and addressing disparities in education, healthcare, housing, and employment. This task force would be responsible for conducting research, collecting data, and making recommendations to Congress on how to reduce these disparities and promote equal opportunity for all Americans.
Additionally, the TRUE EQUITY Act includes measures to increase funding for programs that support underserved communities, such as affordable housing initiatives, job training programs, and healthcare services. The bill also aims to strengthen anti-discrimination laws and improve access to legal resources for individuals who have experienced discrimination. Overall, the TRUE EQUITY Act of 2023 seeks to address systemic inequalities and promote a more just and equitable society for all Americans. It is currently being debated in Congress, with supporters arguing that it is a necessary step towards achieving true equality, while opponents raise concerns about the potential costs and implementation challenges of the bill.
Congressional Summary of HR 1429
Transformational Reforms and Updates to Ensure Educational Quality and Urgent Investments in Today's Youth Act of 2023 or the TRUE EQUITY Act of 2023
This bill establishes various grant programs to address educational inequities in elementary and secondary schools.
Specifically, the bill creates grant programs related to (1) early childhood education, (2) high-quality and diverse teachers and leaders, (3) college and career readiness pathways, and (4) additional resources for at-risk students. For each grant program, the Department of Education (ED) must award a single grant to an eligible state.
To be eligible for a grant, a state must establish an independent state oversight board. The oversight board must, among other duties (1) determine whether the state and its local educational agencies (LEAs) have met state educational equity goals, and (2) hold them accountable for failing to meet those goals. ED may renew a grant if the oversight board determines the state has met its goals.
In addition, for each grant program, the bill outlines the activities authorized under the program, maintenance-of-effort requirements, and matching fund requirements.
Finally, the bill permits ED to enter into a local flexibility demonstration agreement, through which a state educational agency may use funds to develop and implement a school funding system based on weighted per-pupil allocations for low-income and disadvantaged students. (Currently, ED may enter into these agreements with LEAs.)
