S.309 - Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act; A PLUS Act (119th Congress)
Summary
The "Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success Act" (A PLUS Act) aims to grant states greater flexibility in managing federal education funds. It allows states to submit a declaration of intent to the Secretary of Education to consolidate certain funds, excluding those from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to improve student academic achievement.
The Act seeks to reduce administrative costs and compliance burdens associated with federal education programs. It emphasizes state accountability to the public for advancing student achievement, especially for disadvantaged children.
Key provisions include definitions for terms like "accountability" and "declaration of intent," outlining the contents and duration of such declarations, and specifying transparency requirements for reporting student progress.
Expected Effects
If enacted, the A PLUS Act would likely lead to a shift in control over federal education funding from the federal government to individual states. States would have increased autonomy in determining how to allocate these funds to best meet their specific educational needs.
This could result in more innovative and tailored approaches to education reform at the state level. However, it could also lead to inconsistencies in educational standards and outcomes across different states.
The Act's emphasis on transparency and accountability could drive improvements in student performance reporting and resource allocation.
Potential Benefits
- Increased state flexibility in using federal education funds, potentially leading to more effective and innovative programs.
- Reduced administrative burden, allowing more resources to be directed towards actual educational programs.
- Enhanced accountability to parents and taxpayers through improved reporting on student progress.
- Potential for states to tailor educational policies to better address the unique needs of their students.
- Encourages states to remove fiscal and accounting barriers, promoting efficient use of resources at the local level.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for inconsistencies in educational standards and outcomes across different states.
- Risk that some states may not prioritize the needs of disadvantaged students.
- Possible reduction in federal oversight and accountability, potentially leading to misuse of funds.
- Exclusion of IDEA funds may limit the ability of states to fully address the needs of students with disabilities.
- The 1% administrative expense cap (or 3% if Title I-A is excluded) may be insufficient for some states to effectively manage the consolidated funds.
Constitutional Alignment
The A PLUS Act's focus on education aligns with the general welfare clause of the Constitution's preamble, which aims to "promote the general Welfare." However, the Constitution does not explicitly delegate authority over education to the federal government; this power is generally reserved to the states under the Tenth Amendment.
By granting states greater control over federal education funds, the Act could be seen as respecting the principles of federalism and state sovereignty. The Act's emphasis on accountability and transparency could also be viewed as consistent with the principles of representative government and the right of citizens to be informed about the use of public funds.
However, some may argue that the Act's potential for inconsistencies in educational standards across states could undermine the goal of providing equal educational opportunities for all citizens, potentially raising concerns under the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).