EMPOWER Act

HR 6458, the EMPOWER Act, eliminates the federal Office for Elementary and Secondary Education and replaces specific federal education programs with block grants to states. Beginning in fiscal year 2024, states receive flexible funding based on the number of children aged 5-17 in each local school district, instead of administering targeted federal programs. This directly affects all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories (like Puerto Rico and Guam) that receive federal education funding. The bill repeals existing program-specific statutes and shifts oversight from the Department of Education to state-level allocation of funds. It takes effect October 1, 2023.