Opportunity-to-Learn Standards Implementation Act

Summary: Opportunity-to-Learn Standards Implementation Act - Amends the Goals 2000:  Educate America Act and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to restore provisions relating to opportunity-to-learn standards, including authority for the Secretary of Labor to make opportunity-to-learn development grants.  Authorizes appropriations.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Opportunity-to-Learn Standards 
Implementation Act''.

SEC. 2. GOALS 2000: EDUCATE AMERICA ACT.

    (a) References.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever 
in this section an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
amendment to, or repeal of, a title, chapter, part, subpart, section, 
subsection, or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be 
made to a title, chapter, part, subpart, section, subsection, or other 
provision of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act (20 U.S.C. 5801 et 
seq.).
    (b) Opportunity-To-Learn Development Grant.--The Act is amended--
            (1) by redesignating parts B and C as parts C and D, 
        respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after part A the following:

            ``PART B--OPPORTUNITY-TO-LEARN DEVELOPMENT GRANT

``SEC. 211. OPPORTUNITY-TO-LEARN DEVELOPMENT GRANT.

    ``(a) Opportunity-To-Learn Development Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award 
        more than one grant, on a competitive basis, to consortia of 
        individuals and organizations to develop voluntary national 
        opportunity-to-learn standards, and to develop a listing of 
        model programs for use, on a voluntary basis, by States, which 
        standards and listing may be used to--
                    ``(A) provide all students with an opportunity to 
                learn;
                    ``(B) assess the capacity and performance of 
                individual schools; and
                    ``(C) develop appropriate actions to be taken in 
                the event that the schools fail to achieve such 
                standards.
            ``(2) Composition of consortia.--To the extent possible, 
        each consortium shall include the participation of--
                    ``(A) State-level policymakers, such as Governors, 
                State legislators, chief State school officers, and 
                State school board members;
                    ``(B) local policymakers and administrators, such 
                as local school board members, superintendents, and 
                principals;
                    ``(C) teachers (especially teachers involved in the 
                development of content standards) and related services 
                personnel;
                    ``(D) parents and individuals with experience in 
                promoting parental involvement in education;
                    ``(E) representatives of business;
                    ``(F) experts in vocational-technical education;
                    ``(G) representatives of regional accrediting 
                associations;
                    ``(H) individuals with expertise in school finance 
                and equity, the education of at-risk students, and the 
                preparation and training of teachers and school 
                administrators;
                    ``(I) curriculum and school reform experts;
                    ``(J) representatives of advocacy groups, including 
                student and civil rights advocacy groups;
                    ``(K) representatives of higher education; and
                    ``(L) secondary school students.
            ``(3) Duties of consortia.--In developing voluntary 
        national opportunity-to-learn standards, each consortium 
        shall--
                    ``(A) draw upon current research about student 
                achievement and the necessary conditions for effective 
                teaching and learning; and
                    ``(B) provide for the development of more than one 
                draft of standards which incorporate the comments and 
                recommendations of educators and other knowledgeable 
                individuals across the Nation.
            ``(4) Expertise or background.--One-third of the members of 
        each consortium shall consist of individuals with expertise or 
        background in the educational needs and assessment of children 
        who are from low-income families, are from minority 
        backgrounds, have limited-English proficiency, or have 
        disabilities.
            ``(5) Geographic representation.--The membership of each 
        consortium shall be geographically representative and reflect 
        the racial, ethnic, and gender diversity of the United States.
    ``(b) Applications.--Each consortium that desires to receive a 
grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the 
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
and assurances as the Secretary may require.
    ``(c) Report.--After the development of the voluntary national 
opportunity-to-learn standards, each consortium receiving assistance 
under this section shall submit a report to the Secretary which 
discusses the background, important issues, and rationale regarding 
such standards.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1998 and such sums as may be 
necessary for each of the fiscal years 1999 through 2002, to carry out 
this section.''.
    (c) Definitions.--Section 3(a) of the Act is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (13) as 
        paragraphs (8) through (14), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following:
            ``(7) the term `opportunity-to-learn standards' means the 
        criteria for, and the basis of, assessing the sufficiency or 
        quality of the resources, practices, and conditions necessary 
        at each level of the education system (schools, local 
        educational agencies, and States) to provide all students with 
        an opportunity to learn the material in voluntary national 
        content standards or State content standards.''.
    (d) National Education Goals Panel.--Section 202(j) of the Act is 
amended by striking ``or student performances'' and inserting ``, 
student performance, or opportunity-to-learn''.
    (e) Duties of the Goals Panel.--Section 203 of the Act is amended 
by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the following:
            ``(2) report on State opportunity-to-learn standards and 
        strategies and the progress of States that are implementing 
        such standards and strategies to help all students meet State 
        content standards and State student performance standards.''.
    (f) Powers of the Goals Panel.--Section 204(a)(2) of the Act is 
amended by inserting ``voluntary national opportunity-to-learn 
standards,'' before ``and State assessments.''.
    (g) State Improvement Plans.--Section 306 of the Act is amended--
            (1) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Opportunity-To-Learn Standards and Strategies.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each State improvement plan shall 
        establish standards or strategies for providing all students 
        with an opportunity to learn. Such standards or strategies 
        shall include such factors as the State deems appropriate to 
        ensure that all students receive a fair opportunity to achieve 
        the knowledge and skills as described in State content 
        standards and State student performance standards adopted by 
        the State.
            ``(2) Implementation.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
        of this Act, the implementation of opportunity-to-learn 
        standards or strategies shall be voluntary on the part of the 
States, local educational agencies, and schools.
            ``(3) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
        construed to--
                    ``(A) mandate equalized spending per pupil for a 
                State, local educational agency, or school; or
                    ``(B) mandate national school building standards 
                for a State, local educational agency, or school.''; 
                and
            (2) in subsection (e), by inserting ``State opportunity-to-
        learn standards or strategies,'' before ``and State 
        assessments.''.
    (h) State Uses of Funds.--Section 308(b)(2)(A) of the Act is 
amended by inserting ``State opportunity-to-learn standards,'' before 
``and State assessments''.
    (i) Assistance to Outlying Areas and Secretary of Interior.--
Section 315(b) of the Act is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(C) by inserting ``, including the 
        requirements for timetables for opportunity-to-learn 
        standards,'' after ``improvement plans'';
            (2) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) Plan specifics.--The reform and improvement plan 
        shall include, in addition to the requirements described above, 
        specific provisions for--
                    ``(A) opportunity-to-learn standards pertaining to 
                residential programs and transportation costs 
                associated with programs located on or near 
                reservations or serving students in off-reservation 
                residential boarding schools;
                    ``(B) review and incorporation of the National 
                Education Goals and the voluntary national content 
                standards, voluntary national student performance 
                standards, and voluntary national opportunity-to-learn 
                standards, provided that such review shall include the 
                issues of cultural and language differences; and''.
            (3) in subsection (c)(1)(A) by inserting ``and to provide a 
        framework for the implementation of opportunity-to-learn 
        standards or strategies'' before the period.
    (j) Regulations.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall promulgate 
regulations or guidelines regarding the implementation of opportunity-
to-learn standards.

SEC. 3. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.

    The amendments made to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
of 1965 paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 702(b) of Public Law 104-
134, shall be restored or revised as if such provision in Public Law 
104-134 had not been enacted.