Education for the 21st Century (E-21) Act

Summary: Education for the 21st Century (E-21) Act - Establishes assistance programs for middle school computer literacy and for high-quality educational software for all schools. 
(Sec. 4) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to States that integrate into the State curriculum the goal of making all middle school graduates in the State technology literate.  Requires preference to be given to States which place a priority on training middle school teachers. 
Requires such grants to be used for teacher training in technology, with an emphasis on programs that prepare one or more teachers in each middle school in the State to become technology leaders who then serve as experts and train other teachers. 
Directs States to encourage schools that receive such assistance to provide matching funds. 
Authorizes appropriations. 
(Sec. 5) Authorizes the Secretary to award competitive grants to secondary school and college students working with university faculty, software developers, and experts in educational technology for the development of high-quality educational software and Internet web sites by such students, faculty, developers, and experts. 
Directs the Secretary to: (1) recognize outstanding educational software and Internet web sites developed with such assistance that focus on core curriculum areas; and (2) issue certificates to each student and faculty member who develops such recognized software or sites.  Requires grant award priority to be given for developing such software or sites in the following core curriculum areas: (1) for the first year of awards, in mathematics, science, and reading; and (2) for the second and third years of awards, again in mathematics, science, and reading, but also in social studies, the humanities, and the arts.  Requires: (1) such recognized educational software to be made available to local educational agencies for free downloading from the Department of Education's Internet web site; and (2) such recognized Internet web sites to be accessible to any World Wide Web user. 
Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Education for the 21st Century (E-
21) Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to enable America's schools to use 
their computer hardware to increase student achievement and prepare 
students for the 21st century workplace.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Establishing computer literacy programs for students 
        will help ensure that our children are receiving the skills 
        needed for advanced education and for securing employment in 
        the 21st century.
            (2) Computer literacy skills, such as information 
        gathering, critical analysis and communication with the latest 
        technology, build upon the necessary basics of reading, 
        writing, mathematics, and other core subject areas.
            (3) According to a study conducted by the Educational 
        Testing Service (ETS), eighth grade mathematics students whose 
        teachers used computers for simulations and applications 
        outperformed students whose teachers did not use such 
        educational technology.
            (4) Although an ever increasing amount of schools are 
        obtaining the latest computer hardware, schools will not be 
        able to take advantage of the benefits of computer-based 
        learning unless teachers are effectively trained in the latest 
        educational software applications.
            (5) The Educational Testing Service (ETS) study showed that 
        students whose teachers received training in computers 
        performed better than other students. The study also found that 
        schools that provide teachers with professional development in 
        computers enjoyed higher staff morale and lower absenteeism 
        rates.
            (6) Some of the most exciting applications in educational 
        technology are being developed not only by commercial software 
        companies, but also by secondary school and college students. 
        The fruit of this academic talent should be channeled more 
        effectively to benefit our Nation's elementary and secondary 
        schools.

SEC. 4. COMPUTER LITERACY CHALLENGE.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Education is authorized 
        to award grants to States that integrate into the State 
        curriculum the goal of making all middle school graduates in 
        the State technology literate.
            (2) Priority.--The Secretary shall give preference in 
        awarding grants under this section to States which place a 
        priority on training middle school teachers.
    (b) Uses.--Grants awarded under this section shall be used for 
teacher training in technology, with an emphasis on programs that 
prepare 1 or more teachers in each elementary, middle, and secondary 
school in the State to become technology leaders who then serve as 
experts and train other teachers.
    (c) Matching Funds.--Each State shall encourage schools that 
receive assistance under this section to provide matching funds, with 
respect to the cost of teacher training in technology to be assisted 
under this section, in order to enhance the impact of the teacher 
training and to help ensure that all middle school graduates in the 
State are computer literate.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2000 through 2004.

SEC. 5. HIGH-QUALITY EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE FOR ALL SCHOOLS.

    (a) Competition Authorized.--The Secretary of Education is 
authorized to award grants, on a competitive basis, to secondary school 
and college students working with university faculty, software 
developers, and experts in educational technology for the development 
of high-quality educational software and Internet web sites by such 
students, faculty, developers, and experts.
    (b) Recognition.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Education shall recognize 
        outstanding educational software and Internet web sites 
        developed with assistance provided under this section.
            (2) Certificates.--The President is requested to, and the 
        Secretary shall, issue an official certificate signed by the 
        President and Secretary, to each student and faculty member who 
        develops outstanding educational software or an Internet web 
        site recognized under this section.
    (c) Focus.--The educational software or Internet web sites that are 
recognized under this section shall focus on core curriculum areas.
    (d) Priority.--
            (1) First year.--For the first year that the Secretary 
        awards grants under this section, the Secretary shall give 
        priority to awarding grants for the development of educational 
        software or Internet web sites in the areas of mathematics, 
        science, and reading.
            (2) Second and third years.--For the second and third years 
        that the Secretary awards grants under this section, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to awarding grants for the 
        development of educational software or Internet web sites in 
        the areas described in paragraph (1) and in social studies, the 
        humanities, and the arts.
    (e) Judges.--The Secretary shall designate official judges to 
recognize outstanding educational software or Internet web sites 
assisted under this section.
    (f) Downloading.--Educational software recognized under this 
section shall be made available to local educational agencies for free 
downloading from the Department of Education's Internet web site. 
Internet web sites recognized under this section shall be accessible to 
any user of the World Wide Web.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2000 through 2004.