To support programs that offer instruction in Chinese language and culture, and for other purposes.

Summary: U.S.-China Language Engagement Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive three-year grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) for innovative model programs establishing, improving, or expanding Chinese language and cultural studies instruction for their elementary school and secondary school students.

Directs the Secretary to award grants to LEAs for use in acquiring communications technologies or equipment to improve Chinese language instruction in elementary schools and secondary schools through computer-assisted instruction, distance learning, and virtual exchanges with schools in China.

Expresses the sense of Congress that increasing the number of students who receive substantial exposure to Chinese language and cultural studies before graduating from secondary school will enhance our global economic competitiveness in the 21st century.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``U.S.-China Language Engagement 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Elementary school, local educational agency, secondary 
        school, state educational agency.--The terms ``elementary 
        school'', ``local educational agency'', ``secondary school'', 
        and ``State educational agency'' have the meanings given such 
        terms in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) Physical exchange.--The term ``physical exchange'' 
        means an academic, professional, or cultural exchange between 
        the United States and the People's Republic of China that 
        requires international travel by one or more individuals 
        involved in the exchange.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (4) Virtual exchange.--The term ``virtual exchange'' means 
        an academic, professional, or cultural exchange between the 
        United States and the People's Republic of China that does not 
        require international travel by one or more individuals 
        involved in the exchange.

SEC. 3. PROGRAMS FOR CHINESE LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL STUDIES INSTRUCTION.

    (a) Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under subsection 
        (e), the Secretary of Education shall award grants, on a 
        competitive basis, to local educational agencies to carry out 
        innovative model programs providing for the establishment, 
        improvement, or expansion of Chinese language and cultural 
        studies instruction for elementary school and secondary school 
        students in the schools served by such local educational 
        agencies.
            (2) Duration.--A grant under paragraph (1) shall be for a 
        period of three years.
    (b) Requirements.--In awarding a grant under subsection (a) to a 
local educational agency, the Secretary shall support programs that--
            (1) demonstrate approaches that can be disseminated and 
        duplicated in other local educational agencies; and
            (2) may include a professional development component.
    (c) Reservation.--The Secretary may reserve not more than .05 
percent of funds appropriated under subsection (e) to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the programs funded under this section.
    (d) Applications.--
            (1) In general.--A local educational agency desiring a 
        grant under this section shall submit an application to the 
        Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require.
            (2) Special consideration.--In awarding grants under this 
        section, the Secretary shall give special consideration to 
        applications describing programs that--
                    (A) include intensive summer Chinese language 
                instruction programs for professional development, with 
                particular regard to such programs that include 
                physical exchanges;
                    (B) link speakers in the community who are 
                bilingual in English and Chinese with elementary and 
                secondary schools in order to promote two-way language 
                learning;
                    (C) promote the sequential study of Chinese 
                language for students, beginning in elementary school;
                    (D) make effective use of technology, such as 
                computer-assisted instruction, language laboratories, 
                or distance learning, to promote Chinese language 
                study;
                    (E) promote innovative activities, such as Chinese 
                language immersion, partial Chinese language immersion, 
                or content-based instruction; and
                    (F) promote a comprehensive approach to learning 
                Chinese, which includes programs on the history and 
                culture of China.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2010, $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 
        through 2014, and such sums as are necessary for each 
        succeeding fiscal year.
            (2) Availability of funds.--Amounts appropriated under this 
        subsection are authorized to remain available until expended.

SEC. 4. SCHOOL LANGUAGE TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT.

    (a) Program Authorized.--From amounts appropriated under subsection 
(e) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall award grants to local 
educational agencies in order for such agencies to acquire 
communications technologies or equipment to improve Chinese language 
instruction in elementary schools and secondary schools through 
computer-assisted instruction, distance learning, and virtual 
exchanges.
    (b) Application.--Each local educational agency desiring a grant 
under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.
    (c) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to local educational agencies that commit to use 
the grant funds to acquire communications technologies or equipment for 
the purpose of conducting virtual exchanges involving elementary school 
students and secondary school students served by the local educational 
agencies.
    (d) Use of Funds.--A local educational agency receiving a grant 
under this section shall use the grant to acquire communications 
technologies or equipment that--
            (1) may be used for collaborative ventures with--
                    (A) foreign language and area or international 
                studies centers supported under section 602(a) of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1122(a)); or
                    (B) national language resource and training centers 
                supported under section 603 of the Higher Education Act 
                of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1123); and
            (2) shall be used to conduct virtual exchanges with schools 
        or other educational institutions in the People's Republic of 
        China.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2010 through 2013, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 
        2014, and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding 
        fiscal year.
            (2) Availability of funds.--Amounts appropriated under this 
        subsection are authorized to remain available until expended.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING BENEFIT OF EXPOSURE TO CHINESE 
              LANGUAGE AND CULTURE.

    It is the sense of Congress that an increase in the number of 
students who receive substantial exposure to Chinese language and 
cultural studies before graduating from secondary school will enhance 
the global economic competitiveness of the United States in the 21st 
century.