Buddy System Computer Education Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Buddy System Computer Education 
Act''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act to award demonstration grants to 
develop and expand public-private partnership programs which extend the 
learning experience, via computers, beyond the classroom environment in 
order to--
            (1) enhance learning by providing students with the 
        technological tools and guidance necessary to develop skills 
        critical to educational growth and success in the workplace, 
        including--
                    (A) mastery of fundamental computer technology and 
                applications;
                    (B) improved written and visual communication 
                skills;
                    (C) improved critical thinking and problem solving 
                abilities; and
                    (D) improved ability to work in a collaborative, 
                teamwork-driven environment;
            (2) encourage parental involvement in education and total 
        family use and understanding of computers and 
        telecommunications through at-home applications; and
            (3) established foundations for life-long learning through 
        improvement in education skills and student motivation and 
        attitudes.

SEC. 3. GRANT AUTHORIZATION.

    (a) Grant Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a program of 
        awarding a grant to each of 3 States to enable such States to 
        create a computer-based education project in accordance with 
        the requirements of section 4 for children--(A) grades 4-6; and 
        or (B) middle or junior high school.
            (2) Award basis.--The Secretary shall award grants under 
        this Act on a competitive basis.
            (3) Preference.--In awarding grants under this Act, the 
        Secretary shall give preference to applications--
                    (A) from States that have a demonstrated ability or 
                commitment to computer-based technology education; and
                    (B) describing projects that serve school districts 
                which serve a large number or percentage of 
                economically disadvantaged students.
    (b) Site Selection and Project Implementation.--Site selection and 
implementation of the computer-based education projects assisted under 
this Act shall take place not later than 9 months after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.

SEC. 4. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

    Each State receiving a grant to conduct a computer-based education 
project under this Act shall--
            (1) provide a continuous 4-year computer-based education 
        project to--(A) consecutive groups of 4th, 5th, and 6th (if 
        applicable) grade school students during the period commencing 
        with each such group's entry into 4th grade and ending the 
        summer following each such group's completion of elementary 
        school; and or (B) consecutive groups of middle or junior high 
        school students during the period commencing with each such 
        group's entry into the 1st grade taught at such middle or 
        junior high school and ending the summer following each such 
        groups completion of the last grade taugtht at such middle or 
        junior high school.
            (2) ensure that each student in each of the classes 
        participating in the project shall participate in the project;
            (3) conduct such project in not more than 7 public schools 
        within the State; and
            (4) ensure that each student participating in the project 
        shall have access to a computer--
                    (A) at school during the school year; and
                    (B) at home during the school year and summer.

SEC. 5. APPLICATIONS.

    (a) Application Required.--In order to receive a grant under this 
Act, the chief State school officer of a State shall submit an 
application to the Secretary in such form and containing such 
information as the Secretary may reasonably require. Such application 
shall include an assurance from the State educational agency that the 
State educational agency has made every effort to match on a dollar-
for-dollar basis from private or public sources the funds received 
under this Act, except that no such application shall be penalized or 
denied assistance under this Act on the basis of the failure to provide 
such matching funds.
    (b) Application Period.--States shall be eligible to submit 
applications for assistance under this Act during a 3-month period 
determined by the Secretary.

SEC. 6. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS.

    Grant funds under this Act shall be used to provide hardware and 
software components to all sites, and training for classroom teachers 
as well as parents, administrators and technical personnel.

SEC. 7. EVALUATION.

    The Secretary shall evaluate the demonstration program assisted 
under this Act and shall report to the Congress regarding the overall 
effectiveness of such program.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    For the purpose of this Act, the term ``State'' means each of the 
50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $4,000,000 for fiscal year 
1994, $7,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, $5,500,000 for fiscal year 1996, 
and $3,500,000 for fiscal year 1997 to carry out this Act.

Summary: Buddy System Computer Education Act - Directs the Secretary of Education to award a competitive grant to each of three States to create a computer-based education project for children in grades six through eight. Gives preference to applications: (1) from States with demonstrated ability or commitment to computer-based technology education. And (2) describing projects serving school districts serving a large number or percentage of economically disadvantaged students. Requires such projects to: (1) be provided in a continuous four-year form to consecutive groups of students at the applicable grade levels. (2) be conducted in not more than seven public schools within the State. And (3) ensure each student in such classes participates and has access to a computer at school during the school year and at home during the school year and summer. Requires the use of grant funds to provide: (1) hardware and software components to all sites. And (2) training for classroom teachers as well as parents, administrators, and technical personnel. Authorizes appropriations.