Bill Overview
Title: NOT in Our Schools Act of 2022
Description: This bill prohibits an elementary or secondary school from receiving federal funds if the school is in violation of any law of the state in which the school is located that is related to materials that are harmful to minors. Further, the bill requires a state educational agency to either (1) return the federal funds that were dedicated to the school in violation of such state law; or (2) create and carry out, at the request of parents or legal guardians of eligible children, a 529 education savings plan account program (also known as a qualified tuition program). The bill allows tax-exempt distributions from these 529 plans to be used for additional educational expenses (e.g., curriculum, books, and testing fees) in connection with enrollment or attendance at an elementary or secondary school. Distributions may also be used for tuition and additional expenses in connection with a homeschool (whether treated as a homeschool or a private school under state law).
Sponsors: Rep. Green, Mark E. [R-TN-7]
Target Audience
Population: School students, parents, and educators
Estimated Size: 60000000
- The bill targets elementary and secondary schools across the United States.
- There are approximately 130,930 public and private K-12 schools in the U.S., with over 56 million students enrolled.
- Parents or legal guardians of students in these schools are directly involved because they can request the creation of 529 education savings plans for their children.
- The legislation affects state educational agencies responsible for managing federal funds and compliance with state law.
- Employees and administrators of schools, especially those facing potential federal funding withdrawal, will be impacted.
- Students at schools found in violation of state laws and subsequently impacted by federal funding withdrawal might need new educational arrangements or resources.
- Currently, homeschool children number around 3.7 million, which could increase if parents choose this option due to school violations.
Reasoning
- Considering the diverse population involved, ranging from students, parents, educators, and homeschoolers, the impact varies significantly.
- There is a budget limitation for the policy, which means not all impacted parties may receive funds immediately, and prioritization will be necessary.
- Since the policy hinges on existing state laws regarding material suitable for minors, differences in state laws will lead to varied implementation impacts.
- The ability for parents to open 529 plans for more educational expenses offers financial flexibility but also creates administrative overhead and complexities.
- The shift toward homeschooling options could mean a reshaping of educational landscapes but also costs implications in administering more 529 plans.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (Austin, Texas)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I understand the need to protect children but this policy could limit important educational content.
- Depending on how the state enforces this, it might add unnecessary pressure on teachers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Parent (Orlando, Florida)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy gives us more control over what is taught to our kids, which is a positive change.
- I am worried about the bureaucratic process of setting up these 529 accounts.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Librarian (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 29 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this threaten the diversity of the materials we can provide students.
- Libraries will bear the burden of deciding compliance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
School Principal (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We're always trying to comply with both state and federal rules, which can be challenging.
- The risk of losing federal funds could cripple our school.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Homeschool Parent (San Francisco, California)
Age: 39 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The expansion of 529 use is beneficial to us as homeschoolers.
- The increased focus on school law compliance is somewhat irrelevant to our family.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 8 |
Graduate Student (Chicago, Illinois)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could contribute to educational inequality, potentially avoiding certain critical subjects.
- It appears to shift burden onto state compliance, which varies widely.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 7 |
State Educational Official (New York, New York)
Age: 31 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy adds another layer of complexity to our funding process.
- Ensuring compliance across multiple districts may require more resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired (Dallas, Texas)
Age: 65 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see both sides, but I'm concerned about the chilling effect on topics.
- My grandchildren's school district might struggle with compliance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
School Board Official (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Maintaining federal school funding is critical for our district.
- Such laws can shift focus away from educational quality to legal risk management.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 8 |
Substitute Teacher (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 23 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like this can result in a sanitized curriculum which might not serve real needs.
- Schools need flexibility in choosing what suits their students best.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 7 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $270000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $320000000)
Year 3: $300000000 (Low: $250000000, High: $350000000)
Year 5: $350000000 (Low: $300000000, High: $400000000)
Year 10: $500000000 (Low: $450000000, High: $550000000)
Year 100: $1000000000 (Low: $900000000, High: $1100000000)
Key Considerations
- The interplay between federal and state laws concerning educational materials is complex and hard to standardize.
- There may be significant variations among states in terms of what constitutes materials harmful to minors, impacting implementation.
- The policy could spur legal challenges leading to additional costs or changes in implementation.
- Creation of 529 accounts affects financial markets and family financial behaviors.