Legis Daily

ACE Act

USA119th CongressHR-7989| House 
| Updated: 3/18/2026
Glenn Thompson

Glenn Thompson

Republican Representative

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (1)
Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)

Education and Workforce Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
The "All Children are Equal Act" seeks to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, specifically concerning the allocation formulas for Title I targeted grants and education finance incentive grants. Congress found that the current dual weighting system, allowing local educational agencies (LEAs) to choose between "percentage weighting" and "number weighting," has inadvertently shifted funds from smaller, high-poverty LEAs to larger ones, contrary to the intent of directing more funding to areas with higher concentrations of economically disadvantaged children. Currently, LEAs select the weighting system (percentage or absolute number of eligible students) that yields the highest grant amount. However, studies confirmed that the number weighting option often favors very large LEAs, even with lower poverty percentages, thereby disadvantaging smaller LEAs and undermining equitable distribution. This unintended consequence has been documented by the Congressional Research Service and the National Center for Education Statistics. To rectify this imbalance, the bill mandates a transition for both targeted grants and education finance incentive grants. While LEAs will continue to use the larger of the two weighting amounts through fiscal year 2025, beginning in fiscal year 2026, grant calculations will exclusively use the percentage weighting method. This change aims to ensure federal funds are more effectively directed to local educational agencies with the highest concentrations of economically disadvantaged students, aligning with congressional intent.
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Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8714
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8528
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8595
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6595
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-6795
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4565
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4563
ACE Act
Jan 29, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-311
Introduced in Senate
Mar 18, 2026
Introduced in House
Mar 18, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8714
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8528
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8595
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6595
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-6795
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4565
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4563
    ACE Act


  • January 29, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-311
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 18, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • March 18, 2026
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.

Education

ACE Act

USA119th CongressHR-7989| House 
| Updated: 3/18/2026
The "All Children are Equal Act" seeks to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, specifically concerning the allocation formulas for Title I targeted grants and education finance incentive grants. Congress found that the current dual weighting system, allowing local educational agencies (LEAs) to choose between "percentage weighting" and "number weighting," has inadvertently shifted funds from smaller, high-poverty LEAs to larger ones, contrary to the intent of directing more funding to areas with higher concentrations of economically disadvantaged children. Currently, LEAs select the weighting system (percentage or absolute number of eligible students) that yields the highest grant amount. However, studies confirmed that the number weighting option often favors very large LEAs, even with lower poverty percentages, thereby disadvantaging smaller LEAs and undermining equitable distribution. This unintended consequence has been documented by the Congressional Research Service and the National Center for Education Statistics. To rectify this imbalance, the bill mandates a transition for both targeted grants and education finance incentive grants. While LEAs will continue to use the larger of the two weighting amounts through fiscal year 2025, beginning in fiscal year 2026, grant calculations will exclusively use the percentage weighting method. This change aims to ensure federal funds are more effectively directed to local educational agencies with the highest concentrations of economically disadvantaged students, aligning with congressional intent.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8714
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8528
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-8595
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 117-6595
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-6795
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4565
ACE Act

Bill from Previous Congress

HR 118-4563
ACE Act
Jan 29, 2025

Latest Companion Bill Action

S 119-311
Introduced in Senate
Mar 18, 2026
Introduced in House
Mar 18, 2026
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8714
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8528
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-8595
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 117-6595
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-6795
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4565
    ACE Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    HR 118-4563
    ACE Act


  • January 29, 2025

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    S 119-311
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 18, 2026
    Introduced in House


  • March 18, 2026
    Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Glenn Thompson

Glenn Thompson

Republican Representative

Pennsylvania

Cosponsors (1)
Jimmy Panetta (Democratic)

Education and Workforce Committee

Education

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted