To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 in order to provide for greater flexibility in the Federal programs supporting the planning and implementation of charter schools.
Provide greater flexibility in federal programs supporting the planning and implementation of charter schools.
Occurrences
Evidence
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
Official title: “To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 in order to provide for greater flexibility in the Federal programs supporting the planning and implementation of charter schools.” Congress.gov also lists the bill’s latest action as Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 19 - 15 on 2026-01-21, while the tracker still shows the bill status as Introduced.
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The House Education and Workforce Committee held markup of H.R. 7082 on 2026-01-21. The repository records amendments offered on H.R. 7082 and a committee vote: “Motion to Report as Amended | Passed (19y-15n).”
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
The committee Democrats’ statement confirms that H.R. 7082 was advanced in markup and describes it as expanding allowable uses of federal charter-school funds and giving the Secretary broad discretion over program dollars.
legacy_unverified · Source version not recorded · locator unknown
GovInfo lists H.R. 7082 as Reported in House, with Last Action Date Listed May 13, 2026. The bill title says it would provide greater flexibility in federal programs supporting the planning and implementation of charter schools, and lists Ritchie Torres as a cosponsor.
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Reginfo lists a Department of Education Charter School Programs rule at the Proposed Rule Stage. The abstract says ED proposes deregulatory measures to simplify eligibility and application criteria, minimize redundancies, and provide greater flexibility in compliance reporting, with an NPRM timetable of August 2026.
Assessments
Torres cosponsored H.R. 7082, the FLEX Act, whose title and substance directly match the promise to provide greater flexibility in federal charter-school planning and implementation programs. The bill received serious House committee action, was ordered reported, and was placed on the Union Calendar in 2026, but there is no evidence it passed both chambers, was signed into law, or otherwise implemented the promised federal program flexibility. A pending Department of Education rulemaking appears related but was only at proposed-rule status and is not enough to credit Torres with delivery. This is a serious same-term legislative attempt without final delivery.
The evidence matches the exact promise language: H.R. 7082 was introduced to provide greater flexibility in federal programs supporting charter-school planning and implementation, and it advanced through House committee markup and was ordered reported. That shows a serious, concrete legislative effort in the same term. However, the record provided does not show enactment into law or implementation of the promised federal flexibility, so the outcome was not fully delivered. Because there was meaningful progress but not final policy adoption, partial is the best fit rather than delivered. The serious attempt also supports an effort badge.