Technology for the Classroom Act of 1993

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Technology for the Classroom Act of 
1993''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to establish a program to develop and 
expand the use of high quality curriculum-based learning resources 
using state-of-the-art technologies and techniques which are or can be 
designed to increase the achievement levels of students in subject 
areas including mathematics, science, geography, history and language 
arts.

SEC. 3. ACHIEVEMENT GRANTS.

    (a) Competitive Grants.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants, on a 
        competitive basis, to eligible consortia to enable such 
        eligible consortia to develop instructional programs or 
        technology-based systems for complete courses or units of study 
        for a specific subject and grade level, if such programs or 
        systems are commercially unavailable in the local area served 
        by such eligible consortia.
            (2) Eligible consortium.--For the purpose of this section 
        the term ``eligible consortium'' means a consortium consisting 
        of--
                    (A) State or local educational agencies in 
                partnership with businesses; and
                    (B) institutions of higher education or other 
                public or private nonprofit organizations.
    (b) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to applications describing programs or systems that 
are developed--
            (1) so that the program or system may be adapted and 
        applied nationally; and
            (2) to raise the achievement levels of students, 
        particularly disadvantaged students who are not realizing their 
        potential.
    (c) Duration and Amount.--Each grant made under this section shall 
be awarded for a period not to exceed 3 years and in an amount not to 
exceed $3,000,000.
    (d) Matching Requirement.--The Secretary may not make a grant to an 
eligible consortium under subsection (a) unless the eligible consortium 
agrees that, with respect to the costs to be incurred by the eligible 
consortium in carrying out the program or system for which the grant 
was awarded, the eligible consortium will make available (from private 
sources) non-Federal contributions in an amount not less than 25 
percent of the Federal funds provided under the grant.
    (e) Application.--
            (1) In general.--Each consortium desiring a grant under 
        this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
        such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information 
        as the Secretary may prescribe.
            (2) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) shall include--
                    (A) a description of how the program or system 
                shall improve the achievement levels of students;
                    (B) a description of how teachers associated with 
                the program or system will be trained to integrate 
                technology into the classroom; and
                    (C) an assurance that the program or system shall 
                effectively serve a large number or percentage of 
                economically disadvantaged students.
    (f) Criteria for Awarding Grants.--In awarding a grant under this 
section to develop a program or system, the Secretary shall consider 
the appropriateness and quality of the following elements of the 
program or system:
            (1) Identification of specific learning objectives and 
        strategies of the proposed course or unit of study, that take 
        into consideration the national education standards for various 
        disciplines as such standards are developed.
            (2) Incorporation in creative ways of a variety of 
        technology-based learning resources such as computer software, 
        databases, films, transparencies, video and audio discs, 
        telecommunications (including educational radio and 
        television), and print materials.
            (3) Design that allows tailoring of the program or system 
        to meet individual needs of students, particularly students at 
        greatest risk of not reaching their educational potential.
            (4) Flexibility of use by teachers or local schools.
            (5) Methods for updating or revising information and 
        material.
            (6) Programs or materials to train and guide teachers.
            (7) Coordination with teacher training programs.
            (8) Explanatory materials for students and parents.
            (9) Field testing and evaluation in terms of stated 
        learning objectives.
            (10) Plans for pricing technology-based materials that are 
        affordable for public schools and agencies.
            (11) Plans for distribution that ensure access for the 
        poorest schools and school districts.
            (12) Demonstration of cost-effectiveness in relation to 
        existing programs and to achieving stated learning objectives.

SEC. 4. GRANTS TO STATES TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award 
        grants to States to enable States to carry out the activities 
        described in the plan submitted pursuant to subsection (c).
            (2) Amount of grant.--(A) Except as provided in 
        subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall award grants under this 
        section to each State having a plan approved under subsection 
        (c) in an amount which bears the same relationship to the 
        amount reserved to carry out this section under section 9 as 
        the amount such State received under chapter 1 of title I of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 bears to the 
        amount received under such chapter by all States.
            (B) No State shall receive a grant pursuant to subparagraph 
        (A) in an amount which is less than $100,000.
    (b) Use of Grant.--Grants awarded under this section shall be used 
to--
            (1) identify schools or school districts which have a large 
        number of educationally disadvantaged students and limited 
        access to technology-based learning resources; and
            (2) develop jointly, with local education agencies or 
        individual schools, strategies to improve the accessibility and 
        use of technology-based learning resources, including specific 
        plans for--
                    (A) training of teachers and school personnel;
                    (B) acquisition of hardware or software, if such 
                acquisition presents a major barrier for accessibility 
                to participation in the activities assisted under this 
                section; and
                    (C) partnership arrangements with businesses, 
                institutions of higher education, or other public or 
                private nonprofit organizations.
    (c) Plan.--
            (1) In general.--Each State desiring a grant under this 
        section shall submit to the Secretary a plan at such time, in 
        such manner and accompanied by such information as the 
        Secretary may reasonably require.
            (2) Contents.--Each plan submitted pursuant to paragraph 
        (1) shall--
                    (A) describe the activities and services for which 
                assistance is sought;
                    (B) indicate how such State shall identify schools 
                in need of the assistance provided under this section;
                    (C) include a strategy for providing such 
                assistance; and
                    (D) contain assurances that such grant funds shall 
                be focused on schools with a large percentage of 
                educationally disadvantaged students.

SEC. 5. FEDERAL INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.

    The Secretary shall coordinate and share information regarding 
curriculum-based educational technology programs assisted under this 
Act with other Federal agencies which administer programs that support 
the development of such programs, including the National Science 
Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Office of Technology 
Assessment, the Department of Energy, and the Department of 
Agriculture.

SEC. 6. CONSUMER REPORT.

    The Secretary shall collect information about products developed 
pursuant to provisions of this Act and the evaluation of such products, 
and shall disseminate such information in regular reports to State and 
local educational agencies, and other organizations or individuals as 
the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

SEC. 7. ROYALTIES.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any royalties paid to 
any State or local educational agency as a result of assistance 
provided under this Act shall be used by such agency for further 
development of curriculum-based learning resources authorized by this 
Act.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act--
            (1) the terms ``institution of higher education'' and 
        ``local educational agency'' have the same meanings given such 
        terms by subsections (a) and (g), respectively, of section 1201 
        of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141); and
            (2) the term ``Secretary'', unless otherwise specified, 
        means the Secretary of Education.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS.

    For the purpose of carrying out this Act, there are authorized to 
be appropriated $90,000,000 for the fiscal year 1994 and such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years, of which--
            (1) 50 percent of such funds shall be available in each 
        such fiscal year to award grants pursuant to section 3; and
            (2) 50 percent of such funds shall be available in each 
        such fiscal year to award grants pursuant to section 4.

Summary: Technology for the Classroom Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Education to award competitive grants to eligible consortia to develop instructional programs and technology-based systems for complete courses or units of study for a specific subject and grade level, if these are commercially unavailable locally. Requires that an eligible consortium consist of: (1) State or local educational agencies in partnership with businesses. And (2) institutions of higher education or other public or private nonprofit organizations. Requires priority to be given to applications describing programs that are developed: (1) so that the program may be adapted and applied nationally. And (2) to raise the achievement levels of students, particularly disadvantaged students who are not realizing their potential. Authorizes the Secretary to award grants to: (1) identify schools or school districts which have a large number of educationally disadvantaged students and limited access to technology-based learning resources. And (2) develop jointly, with local educational agencies or individual schools, strategies to improve accessibility and use of technology-based learning resources, including specific plans for teacher and school personnel training, hardware or software acquisition , and partnership arrangements with businesses, institutions of higher education, and other public or private nonprofit organizations. Sets forth State plan requirements. Directs the Secretary to: (1) coordinate and share information regarding these curriculum-based educational technology programs with other Federal agencies. And (2) collect and disseminate information about such developed products and their evaluation. Requires that any royalties paid to any State or local educational agency as a result of assistance provided under this Act be used for further development of curriculum-based learning resources authorized by this Act. Authorizes appropriations.