Literacy Involves Families Together Act

Summary: (Sec. 2) Extends through FY 2004 the authorization of appropriations for such Even Start programs, and increases the amounts authorized.
(Sec. 3) Requires State plans to assure that State educational agencies (SEAs) will encourage local educational agencies (LEAs) and individual schools participating in a program assisted under ESEA title I part A (Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies), to use part A funds to offer family literacy services, if the LEA or school determines that a substantial number of students they serve under part A have parents who do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent or who have low levels of literacy.
(Sec. 4) Directs the Secretary of Education to: (1) reserve an increased portion of part B Even Start funds for migrant programs, outlying areas, and Indian tribes, under specified conditions; (2) award a competitive demonstration grant of sufficient amount and duration for a potentially high-quality family literacy program in a prison that houses women and their preschool age children; (3) ensure coordination of family literacy programs under Even Start with similar programs operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA); and (4) reserve specified portions of Even Start excess funds for scientifically-based research on family literacy by the National Institute for Literacy.
Limits the Federal share of program costs to 35 percent after the eighth year of Even Start program assistance.
Authorizes States to use a portion of Even Start funds to provide technical assistance and training to subgrantees (partnerships of LEAs and eligible organizations) to improve the quality of their family literacy services, giving priority to low-quality programs, provided that such State use of funds for a fiscal year does not result in a decrease from the level of activities and services provided to program participants in the preceding year.
Requires Even Start programs to use research-based techniques for helping children learn to read, as well as for helping adults where appropriate research is available.
Allows an Even Start program, despite specified age limitations, to permit children eight years of age or older to participate if such program collaborates with a part A program and part A funds are used to pay the cost of providing part B Even Start services to such children.
Requires an SEA, in awarding subgrants to continue an Even Start program after the first year, to review the progress of each eligible entity in meeting program goals described in the State plan (as well as, under current law, evaluating the program based on State-developed program quality indicators).
Eliminates the eight-year limitation on a subgrantee's receiving Even Start funds.
Sets the same limits on the Federal share of renewed subgrants as on Even Start grants.
Directs the National Institute for Literacy to use certain reserved Even Start funds for scientifically-based research to determine: (1) the most effective ways of improving literacy skills of adults with reading difficulties; and (2) how family literacy services can best provide parents with knowledge and skills to support their children's literacy development. Requires such research to be carried out through an entity, including a Federal agency, with expertise in doing longitudinal studies of children's literacy skills development, and that has developed effective interventions to help children with reading difficulties.
(Sec. 5) Requires State applications for Even Start grants to describe how the State will encourage programs and projects assisted under Even Start to offer family literacy services if the program or project serves a substantial number of migratory children who have parents who do not have a high school diploma or its recognized equivalent or who have low levels of literacy.
(Sec. 6) Defines family literacy services under ESEA as services provided to participants on a voluntary basis that are of sufficient intensity in terms of hours, and of sufficient duration, to make sustainable changes in a family, and that integrate all of the following activities: (1) interactive literacy activities between parents and their children; (2) training for parents regarding how to be the primary teacher for their children and full partners in the education of their children; (3) parent literacy training that leads to economic self-sufficiency; and (4) an age-appropriate education to prepare children for success in school and life experiences.
(Sec. 7) Amends the Education Amendments Act of 1978 to require BIA-operated family literacy programs, under the early childhood education program for Indian children or other programs, to be coordinated with Even Start family literacy programs under ESEA.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Literacy Involves Families Together 
Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 1002(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6302(b)) is amended by striking ``$118,000,000 for 
fiscal year 1995'' and inserting ``$500,000,000 for fiscal year 2000''.

SEC. 3. IMPROVING BASIC PROGRAMS OPERATED BY LOCAL EDUCATIONAL 
              AGENCIES.

    Section 1111(c) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(c)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) the State educational agency will encourage local 
        educational agencies and individual schools participating in a 
        program assisted under this part to offer family literacy 
        services (using funds under this part), if the agency or school 
        determines that a substantial number of students served under 
        this part by the agency or school have parents who do not have 
        a secondary school diploma or its recognized equivalent or who 
        have low levels of literacy.''.

SEC. 4. EVEN START FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAMS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--
            (1) Reservation for migrant programs, outlying areas, and 
        indian tribes.--Section 1202(a) of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6362(a)) is amended--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``(or, if such 
                appropriated amount exceeds $250,000,000, 6 percent of 
                such amount)'' after ``1002(b)'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``If the amount 
                of funds made available under this subsection exceeds 
                $4,600,000,'' and inserting ``After the date of the 
                enactment of the Literacy Involves Families Together 
                Act,''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Coordination of programs for american indians.--The 
        Secretary shall ensure that programs under paragraph (1)(C) are 
        coordinated with family literacy programs operated by the 
        Bureau of Indian Affairs in order to avoid duplication and to 
        encourage the dissemination of information on high-quality 
        family literacy programs serving American Indians.''.
            (2) Reservation for federal activities.--Section 1202(b) of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6362(b)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Reservation for Federal Activities.--
            ``(1) Evaluation, technical assistance, program 
        improvement, and replication activities.--From amounts 
        appropriated under section 1002(b), the Secretary may reserve 
        not more than 3 percent of such amounts or the amount reserved 
        to carry out the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2) 
        of subsection (a) for the fiscal year 1994, whichever is 
        greater, for purposes of--
                    ``(A) carrying out the evaluation required by 
                section 1209; and
                    ``(B) providing, through grants or contracts with 
                eligible organizations, technical assistance, program 
                improvement, and replication activities.
            ``(2) Research.--In the case of fiscal years 2000 through 
        2004, if the amounts appropriated under section 1002(b) for any 
        of such years exceed such amounts appropriated for the 
        preceding fiscal year, the Secretary shall reserve from such 
        excess amount $2,000,000 or 50 percent, whichever is less, to 
        carry out section 1211(b).
    (b) Uses of Funds.--Section 1204 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6364) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(A)--
                    (A) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon; and
                    (B) by striking clause (v) and adding the 
                following:
                            ``(v) 50 percent in the fifth, sixth, 
                        seventh, and eighth such years; and
                            ``(vi) 35 percent in any subsequent such 
                        year.''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Use of Funds for Family Literacy Services.--
            ``(1) In general.--States may use a portion of funds 
        received under this part to assist eligible entities receiving 
        a subgrant under section 1203(b) in improving the quality of 
        family literacy services provided under Even Start programs 
        under this part, except that in no case may a State's use of 
        funds for this purpose for a fiscal year result in a decrease 
        from the level of activities and services provided to program 
        participants in the preceding year.
            ``(2) Priority.--In carrying out paragraph (1), a State 
        shall give priority to programs that were of low quality, as 
        evaluated based on the indicators of program quality developed 
        by the State under section 1210.
            ``(3) Technical assistance and training.--Assistance under 
        paragraph (1) shall be in the form of technical assistance and 
training, provided by a State through a grant, contract, or cooperative 
agreement with an entity that has experience in offering high quality 
training and technical assistance to family literacy providers.''.
    (c) Program Elements.--Section 1205 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6365) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (9) and (10) as paragraphs 
        (10) and (11), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (8) the following:
            ``(9) use instructional programs based on scientifically 
        based reading research (as defined in section 2252) for 
        children and, to the extent such research is available, for 
        adults;''.
    (d) Eligible Participants.--Section 1206(b) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6366(b)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Children 8 years of age or older.--If an Even Start 
        program assisted under this part collaborates with a program 
        under part A, and funds received under such part A program 
        contribute to paying the cost of providing programs under this 
        part to children 8 years of age or older, the Even Start 
        program, notwithstanding subsection (a)(2), may permit the 
        participation of children 8 years of age or older.''.
    (e) Plan.--Section 1207(c)(1)(F) of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6367(c)(1)(F)) is amended by striking 
``Act, the Goals 2000: Educate America Act,'' and inserting ``Act''.
    (f) Award of Subgrants.--Section 1208(b) of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6368(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
            ``(3) Continuing eligibility.--In awarding subgrant funds 
        to continue a program under this part after the first year, the 
        State educational agency shall review the progress of each 
        eligible entity in meeting the goals of the program referred to 
        in section 1207(c)(1)(A) and shall evaluate the program based 
        on the indicators of program quality developed by the State 
        under section 1210.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (5)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking the last 
                sentence; and
                    (B) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as 
                follows:
            ``(B) The Federal share of any subgrant renewed under 
        subparagraph (A) shall be limited in accordance with section 
        1204(b).''.
    (g) Research.--Section 1211 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6369b) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b), by striking ``subsection (a)'' and 
        inserting ``subsections (a) and (b)'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) Scientifically-Based Research on Family Literacy.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts reserved under section 
        1202(b)(2), the National Institute for Literacy shall carry out 
        research that--
                    ``(A) is scientifically-based reading research (as 
                defined in section 2252); and
                    ``(B) determines--
                            ``(i) the most effective ways of improving 
                        the literacy skills of adults with reading 
                        difficulties; and
                            ``(ii) how family literacy services can 
                        best provide parents with the knowledge and 
                        skills they need to support their children's 
                        literacy development.
            ``(2) Use of expert entity.--The National Institute for 
        Literacy shall carry out the research under paragraph (1) 
        through an entity, including a Federal agency, that has 
        expertise in carrying out longitudinal studies of the 
        development of literacy skills in children and has developed 
        effective interventions to help children with reading 
        difficulties.''.

SEC. 5. EDUCATION OF MIGRATORY CHILDREN.

    Section 1304(b) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 6394(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) a description of how the State will encourage 
        programs and projects assisted under this part to offer family 
        literacy services if the program or project serves a 
        substantial number of migratory children who have parents who 
        do not have a secondary school diploma or its recognized 
equivalent or who have low levels of literacy.''.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--Section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (15) through (29) as 
        paragraphs (16) through (30), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (14) the following:
            ``(15) Family literacy services.--The term `family literacy 
        services' means services provided to participants on a 
        voluntary basis that are of sufficient intensity in terms of 
        hours, and of sufficient duration, to make sustainable changes 
        in a family, and that integrate all of the following 
        activities:
                    ``(A) Interactive literacy activities between 
                parents and their children.
                    ``(B) Training for parents regarding how to be the 
                primary teacher for their children and full partners in 
                the education of their children.
                    ``(C) Parent literacy training that leads to 
                economic self-sufficiency.
                    ``(D) An age-appropriate education to prepare 
                children for success in school and life experiences.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Even start family literacy programs.--Section 1202(e) 
        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (6362(e)) 
        is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (3); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
                paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively.
            (2) Reading and literacy grants.--Section 2252 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6661a) is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (2); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as 
                paragraphs (2) through (4), respectively.

SEC. 7. INDIAN EDUCATION.

    (a) Early Childhood Development Program.--Section 1143 of the 
Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 2023) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)--
                    (A) by striking ``(f)'' and inserting ``(g)''; and
                    (B) by striking ``(e))'' and inserting ``(f))'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(1)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) and (E) as 
                subparagraphs (E) and (F), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                following:
                    ``(D) family literacy services,'';
            (3) in subsection (e), by striking ``(f),'' and inserting 
        ``(g),'';
            (4) by redesignating subsections (e) and (f) as subsections 
        (f) and (g), respectively; and
            (5) by inserting after subsection (d) the following:
    ``(e) Family literacy programs operated under this section, and 
other family literacy programs operated by the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, shall be coordinated with family literacy programs for 
American Indian children under part B of title I of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 in order to avoid duplication and to 
encourage the dissemination of information on quality family literacy 
programs serving American Indians.''.
    (b) Definitions.--Section 1146 of the Education Amendments of 1978 
(25 U.S.C. 2026) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (14) as 
        paragraphs (8) through (15), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) the term `family literacy services' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 14101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801);''.