This bill aims to establish an alternative use for federal education funds, specifically Title I, when in-person instruction is not available. Congressional findings highlight that school closures disproportionately harm low-income students and students of color, exacerbating educational inequality and learning gaps. To address this, the bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, requiring local educational agencies (LEAs) to comply with new in-person instruction requirements to remain eligible for Title I funds. Under these requirements, LEAs must create a failure to open direct payment plan . If a school fails to provide in-person instruction for more than three days due to a public health emergency or collective bargaining, parents would receive direct payments. The payment amount is calculated based on the per-student Title I funding for each day of closure. These funds must be used for qualified educational expenses such as curriculum, tutoring, or private school tuition, with parents required to provide receipts or return unspent amounts.