Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act
This bill, titled the Combating the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act (CLASS Act), authorizes a disclosure requirement for public elementary and secondary schools that receive federal financial aid or enter into contracts with foreign sources. Under the bill, once a school accumulates more than $10,000 in foreign funds or signs contracts totaling more than $10,000 with a foreign source, it must report to the Secretary of Education within 30 days. The report must identify the foreign source’s name and country of origin and summarize the funds or contract terms and conditions. The bill defines several key terms by referencing existing federal education laws to determine what counts as an elementary/secondary school, what constitutes federal financial assistance, and what qualifies as a foreign source. In short, the bill aims to increase transparency around foreign influence in K-12 schools by mandating timely disclosures of foreign funding and contracts. The text provided focuses on disclosure requirements; although the title suggests broader prohibitions, the excerpt does not include explicit prohibitions beyond the disclosure framework.
Key Points
- 1Scope and trigger: Applies to public elementary and secondary schools that receive federal financial assistance or enter into foreign-funded contracts; disclosures are triggered when foreign funds or foreign contracts exceed $10,000 in aggregate, with a 30-day submission deadline after meeting the threshold.
- 2Disclosure content: The school must report the foreign source’s name and country of origin; for funds, the amount and any terms/conditions; for contracts, the terms and conditions of the contract.
- 3Submission to whom: Disclosures must be submitted to the Secretary of Education.
- 4Definitions tied to existing law: The bill defines applicable program, elementary/secondary school, Federal financial assistance, and foreign source by referencing specific provisions in GEPA, ESEA, U.S. Code, and the Higher Education Act to ensure consistent interpretation.
- 5Title vs. text gap: The short title and purpose reference prohibiting funds or contracts with the PRC and CCP, but the provided text only specifies a disclosure regime; enforceable prohibitions or penalties are not included in the excerpt.
- 6Amendment language: The bill would amend the title to emphasize disclosure of funds received from or contracts with a foreign source, aligning the title with the enacted provisions.