Education Impact Transparency Act
The Education Impact Transparency Act ensures transparency and accountability in the event of significant reductions to the scope, workforce, or budget of the U.S. Department of Education. It mandates an independent study to assess and report the impact of such reductions on public schools at the district and school levels. The study must be completed within 90 days and made publicly available to all taxpayers and families. Additionally, the report will include statements made by elected officials regarding their positions on the reductions.
Key Provisions
Transparency in Education Policy: Ensures that any major federal cuts to education funding are thoroughly studied and publicly reported.
Accountability for Decision-Makers: Requires that elected officials’ public statements on education cuts be included in the final report.
Informed Communities: Provides detailed district- and school-level analyses to help taxpayers and families understand potential impacts.
Nonpartisan Analysis: Mandates an independent, objective study to assess financial and academic consequences of federal education budget reductions.
Rapid Response: Guarantees that findings are reported within 90 days to allow for timely public awareness and legislative action.
Model Language
Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as the "Education Impact Transparency Act."
Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of this Act is to ensure transparency and accountability in any significant reductions to the scope, workforce, or budget of the United States Department of Education by mandating an impact study that evaluates the consequences of such reductions on public schools and disseminates relevant findings to taxpayers and families.
Section 3. Triggering Event for Impact Study. Any action by the federal government that results in a reduction of the scope, workforce, or budget of the United States Department of Education by more than twenty percent (20%) shall automatically trigger an independent study to assess the aggregate impact of these reductions on public schools at the district and school levels.
Section 4. Impact Study Requirements
a) The study shall be conducted by an independent, nonpartisan entity with expertise in educational policy and finance.
b) The study shall be completed and publicly reported within ninety (90) days of the announcement of the reductions.
c) The study shall include, but not be limited to:
- A district-by-district analysis of anticipated changes in funding, staffing, and resources due to the reductions.
- An assessment of how the reductions may affect student outcomes, including academic performance, access to programs, and school operations.
- A breakdown of potential financial and operational consequences on individual schools within each district.
Section 5. Public Disclosure and Distribution
a) Upon completion, the study shall be made publicly available through state and local government websites and shall be distributed to all taxpayers and families within each affected school district.
b) The study shall be provided in a format that is accessible and easily understandable to the general public, including summary findings and key data visualizations.
Section 6. Inclusion of Public Statements by Elected Officials
a) The final report shall include any official public statements made by elected officials representing the affected districts, including but not limited to press releases and social media posts, that indicate support for or opposition to the reductions.
b) The inclusion of these statements shall ensure public awareness of how their representatives have responded to the reductions and their potential impact.
Section 7. Implementation and Enforcement
a) The responsibility for commissioning the study shall be vested in the state education department or an appropriate oversight body designated by the state legislature.
b) The state education department shall ensure that all necessary data is provided to the independent entity conducting the study and shall oversee the timely dissemination of the final report.
Section 8. Effective Date. This Act shall take effect immediately upon enactment.