Overview

Authorizes a non-competitive annual award to Reading is Fundamental (RIF) to provide, through aid to local nonprofit groups and volunteer organizations, reading motivation activities through the distribution of inexpensive books. Moves the authorization to the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE).

Changes from Current Law

• Allows subcontractors that are operating programs in low-income communities with a substantial number or percentage of children with special needs to use funds from other Federal programs to pay up to 50 percent of the non-Federal share of the cost of the program.

• Allows RIF to waive the non-Federal share requirement for a subcontractor if the subcontractor would otherwise not be able to participate in the program.

• Allows RIF to enter into multi-year subcontracts.

Accountability

• No specific provisions.

Overview

Reauthorizes grants to initiate a coordinated program of scientifically based research, demonstration projects, innovative strategies, and similar activities designed to build and enhance the ability of elementary and secondary schools nationwide to meet the special educational needs of gifted and talented students. Moves the authorization to the Fund for the Improvement of Education (FIE).

Major Changes from Current Law

• Research - Requires that research on methods and techniques for identifying and teaching gifted and talented students and for using gifted and talented programs and methods to serve all students be scientifically based.

• Use of Funds - Permits grantees to use funds to make materials and services available through State regional educational service centers, institutions of higher education, or other entities.

• Technology - Enables grantees to use program funds for challenging, high-level course work, disseminated through technologies (including distance learning), for individual students or groups of students in schools and local educational agencies that would not otherwise have the resources to provide such course work.

Accountability

• Federal - Requires the Department to report to Congress on the evaluation of the effectiveness of grantee programs no later than 2 years after the date of enactment.

Allocations

• Discretionary grants

• No more than 30 percent for the National Research Center for the Education of Gifted and Talented Children and Youth.

• 50 percent of applications must address the priority of assisting schools in the identification of, and provision of services to, gifted and talented students (including economically disadvantaged individuals, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals with disabilities) who may not be identified and served through traditional assessment methods.

• Funds equal to or less than the fiscal year 2001 appropriation are awarded through competitive awards to SEAs, LEAs, institutions of higher education, other public agencies, and other private agencies and organizations. Funds in excess of the fiscal year 2001 appropriation must be awarded to SEAs and LEAs on a competitive basis.

Set-Asides

• Federal - Up to 0.5% for evaluation.

Overview

Retains the Star Schools program, which supports distance education projects designed to improve instruction in mathematics, science, foreign languages, and other subjects, particularly for underserved populations. Moves the authorization to the Fund for Improvement of Education (FIE).

Authorizes grants to eligible telecommunications partnerships to enable them to obtain telecommunications facilities and equipment, develop and acquire educational and instructional programming, and obtain technical assistance in the use of facilities and programming. Authorizes three other types of awards for: (1) statewide networks (which provide full motion two-way video and audio communications and link public colleges and universities and secondary schools); (2) special local networks to demonstrate a high-technology program that includes two-way full motion audio, video, and text communications and links elementary and secondary schools with colleges and universities); and (3) continuing education programs that provide online access to educational services, for programming that leads to a secondary school diploma.

Changes from Current Law

• None

Accountability

• Grant Renewals - Recipients of grants under Section 5473 are eligible to receive a 3-year grant renewal after their original grant ends. To be eligible for a renewal, the grantee must demonstrate that it is continuing to provide services in the original subject and geographic areas and use the new grant funds to increase services.

• Application Assurances - Applicants must provide an assurance that they will participate in any evaluation of the program conducted by the Secretary.

Allocations

• Competitive discretionary grants.

Set-Asides

• Federal Set-Aside - The Secretary may reserve up to 5 percent of the funds for national leadership, evaluation, and peer review activities.

Overview

Retains the Ready to Teach program, which supports two types of grants to nonprofit telecommunications entities: (a) grants to carry out a national telecommunications-based program to improve teaching in core curriculum areas; and (b) grants to enable such entities to develop, produce, and distribute innovative educational and instructional video programming.

Changes from Current Law

• Expanded Programmatic Activities - The antecedent program, the Telecommunications Demonstration Project for Mathematics, authorized only a national telecommunications-based demonstration project for mathematics. Under the new program, grantees may conduct telecommunications-based demonstrations in other subject areas and may receive grants to develop, produce, and distribute innovative video programming.

• Changes to the Telecommunications-Based Program - The antecedent legislation required grantees to work only in mathematics, to use the existing telecommunications infrastructure to deliver services, and to work in at least 15 States. The new program allows grantees to work in all core content areas, to use the Internet and school digital networks as well as the public broadcasting infrastructure, and to work with school sites throughout the country.

• New Program Activity - The new legislation authorizes 3-year grants to local public telecommunications entities to enable them to develop, produce, and distribute innovative educational and instructional video programming. Matching funds of not less than 100 percent of the grant amount are required.

Accountability

• Annual Reports - Entities receiving grants for telecommunications-based programs must submit an annual report that includes a description of the activities undertaken, including the curriculum areas, the number of teachers participating in each curriculum area, and the States in which teachers using the program are located.

Allocations

• Competitive discretionary grants.

Set-Asides

• None.

Overview

Retains, with minor changes, the Foreign Language Assistance program, which authorizes both a discretionary grant program for State and local educational agencies and the "elementary school incentive" program. The purpose of the program is to improve the quality and extent of foreign language instruction, particularly in the Nation's elementary schools.

Changes from Current Law

• Placement - Moves the program from Title VII, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to Title V, Part D, Fund for the Improvement of Education, with no substantive changes.

Program Description

The Foreign Language Assistance Act authorizes both a discretionary grant program and an incentive program.

• Discretionary Grants - The discretionary provisions authorize the Secretary to make three-year grants to State and local educational agencies to pay the Federal share of the cost of innovative model programs.

• Grants to State educational agencies support systemic approaches to improving foreign language learning in the State.

• Grants to local educational agencies support the establishment, improvement, or expansion of foreign language instruction.

• Incentive Grants - The incentive provisions authorize grants to any elementary school that has a foreign language program that provides not less than 45 minutes of instruction at least four days a week. Incentive grants are calculated based on the number of participating students. Although the Secretary is required to use a portion of the Foreign Language Assistance appropriation for Incentive Grants, the Congress has overridden this requirement and not funded the program since fiscal year 1996.

Accountability

• No specific provisions.

Allocations

• Competitive grants to the highest-quality applications without regard to geography.

Set-Asides

• Federal - Not more than 5 percent for evaluation.