Kids in Classes Act

The Kids in Classes Act aims to provide families with alternative educational options when their local public schools are unavailable for in-person instruction. Under this proposal, if a public school receiving federal Title I funds closes for more than three days due to a public health emergency or a labor union strike, the state would be required to redirect a portion of those federal funds directly to the parents or guardians of the affected students.

If enacted, these funds could be used for a variety of educational expenses outside the traditional public school system. This includes paying for private school tuition, hiring private tutors, purchasing textbooks and curriculum materials, or buying educational technology like computers and software. The bill also proposes that the funds could cover testing fees and diagnostic tools for students with disabilities.

The legislation would require local school districts to establish a "direct payment plan" to ensure parents receive these funds promptly during a closure. The goal of the bill is to prevent learning loss by ensuring that federal education dollars follow the student rather than staying with a closed school system, particularly for students in low-income communities who may be most affected by disruptions to in-person learning.