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[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1040 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1040

 To support systemic improvement of education and the development of a 
technologically literate citizenry and internationally competitive work 
force by establishing a comprehensive system through which appropriate 
technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and administrative support 
 resources and services, that support the National Education Goals and 
any national education standards that may be developed, are provided to 
                 schools throughout the United States.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                May 27 (legislative day, April 19), 1993

 Mr. Bingaman (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Cochran, and Mr. Harkin) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                 Committee on Labor and Human Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To support systemic improvement of education and the development of a 
technologically literate citizenry and internationally competitive work 
force by establishing a comprehensive system through which appropriate 
technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and administrative support 
 resources and services, that support the National Education Goals and 
any national education standards that may be developed, are provided to 
                 schools throughout the United States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Technology for 
Education Act of 1993''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings. 
Sec. 3. Statement of purpose. 
Sec. 4. Definitions.
            TITLE I--LEADERSHIP FOR TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

Sec. 101. Office of Educational Technology.
Sec. 102. National Commission on Technology in Education.
                  TITLE II--SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

Sec. 201. Statement of purposes.
Sec. 202. State technology planning grants.
Sec. 203. Elementary and secondary school library and media services.
Sec. 204. School technology resource grants and loans.
Sec. 205. Information dissemination.
TITLE III--INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, TECHNOLOGY TRAINING AND TECHNICAL 
                               ASSISTANCE

Sec. 301. Statement of purpose.
Sec. 302. Electronic dissemination network.
Sec. 303. Regional implementation and assistance.
Sec. 304. Authorization of appropriations.
 TITLE IV--EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, AND 
                              DISTRIBUTION

Sec. 401. Statement of purpose.
Sec. 402. Priority in federally supported education programs.
Sec. 403. Classrooms for the future.
Sec. 404. Instructional broadcasting and video instructional 
                            programming.
Sec. 405. Star Schools Program.
  TITLE V--EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT

Sec. 501. Purposes.
Sec. 502. Application of advanced technologies to education.
Sec. 503. High performance educational computing and telecommunications 
                            networks.
Sec. 504. Assessment of technology in education.
                        TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 601. Study of systemic funding alternatives.
Sec. 602. Participation of private school children.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that with respect to the use of technology to 
improve education in America--
            (1) the use of technology as a tool in the learning process 
        is essential to the development and maintenance of a 
        technologically literate citizenry and internationally 
        competitive work force;
            (2) technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and 
        administrative support resources and services that support the 
        National Education Goals and any national education standards 
        that may be developed are needed and can be used for the 
        systemic improvement of all aspects of education;
            (3) the acquisition and use of technology in education 
        throughout the United States has been inhibited by the absence 
        of Federal leadership, the inability of many State and local 
        educational agencies to invest in and support the needed 
        technologies, and the limited availability of appropriate 
        technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, teacher training, 
        and administrative support resources and services in the 
        educational marketplace;
            (4) national educational technology standards and national 
        educational technology application standards should be 
        developed for both hardware and software;
            (5) the acquisition and use of technology-enhanced 
        curriculum, instruction, and administrative support resources 
        and services by elementary and secondary schools in the United 
        States must be supported by a comprehensive system which 
        includes--
                    (A) national leadership with respect to the need 
                for, and the provision of, appropriate technology-
                enhanced curriculum, instruction, and administrative 
                programs and services for educational institutions in 
                the United States and the schools of the defense 
                dependents' education system;
                    (B) funding mechanisms which will support 
                development interconnection, implementation, 
                improvement and maintenance of an effective educational 
                technology infrastructure for all learners in the 
                United States;
                    (C) information dissemination networks to 
                facilitate access to information on effective learning 
                programs, assessment and evaluation of such programs, 
                research findings, and supporting resources (including 
                instructionally based, technology-enhanced programs, 
                research, and resources) by educators throughout the 
                United States;
                    (D) information regarding curriculum content 
                standards, teacher performance standards, opportunity 
                to learn standards, and assessments and standards for 
                integrating technology into curriculum and instruction;
                    (E) an extensive variety of opportunities for 
                teacher education, inservice training, and 
                administrator training and technical assistance with 
                respect to effective uses of technologies in education;
                    (F) consortia for the development, production, 
                distribution, and reuse of technology-enhanced 
                curriculum, instruction and administrative support 
                resources and services with Federal assistance;
                    (G) building upon, and not duplicating, existing 
                telecommunications infrastructure dedicated to 
                educational purposes;
                    (H) development and evaluation of new and emerging 
                educational technologies and telecommunications 
                networks; and
                    (I) assessment data regarding state-of-the-art uses 
                of technologies in United States education upon which 
                businesses, noncommercial telecommunications entities, 
                and governments can rely for decisionmaking about the 
                need for, and provision of, appropriate technologies 
                for education in the United States;
            (6) educational equalization concerns and school 
        restructuring needs can be addressed through educational 
        telecommunications and technology by offering universal access 
        to high-quality teaching and programs, particularly in urban 
        and rural areas;
            (7) in an increasingly technological world where technology 
        and telecommunications have become an integral part of many 
        households, the disparity between rich and poor students will 
        become even greater, and educational policies must address such 
        disparity;
            (8) the increasing use of new technologies and 
        telecommunications systems in business has furthered the gap 
        between schooling and work force preparation; and
            (9) improved professional development for teachers requires 
        constant access to updated research in teaching and learning, 
        and telecommunications can be the conduit for ongoing teacher 
        training.

SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this Act--
            (1) to develop and maintain a technologically literate 
        citizenry and internationally competitive work force by 
        encouraging systemic integration of technology and 
        telecommunications in all aspects of education in the United 
        States;
            (2) to promote greater equality of educational opportunity 
        and instruction among school districts through the use of 
        technology to improve the academic achievements of all 
        students, in general, and disadvantaged, disabled, and limited-
        English proficient students, in particular;
            (3) to improve educational quality and opportunity by 
        expanding and improving technology in the school, classroom, 
        library, and home;
            (4) to develop educational and instructional programming in 
        critical subject areas which address the National Education 
        Goals;
            (5) to expand teacher training opportunities for the use of 
        such technology;
            (6) to avoid duplication and the development of 
        incompatible systems by strengthening and building upon 
        existing telecommunications infrastructure dedicated to 
        educational purposes;
            (7) to establish a National Commission on Technology in 
        Education to periodically assess national requirements, make 
        recommendations with respect to the use of technology and 
        telecommunications in public and private elementary and 
        secondary education throughout the United States, and advise 
        the Congress with respect to funding priorities and needed 
        policies; and
            (8) to establish within the Department of Education, a high 
        level office with primary responsibility for--
                    (A) providing national leadership for universal 
                access to effective uses of telecommunications and 
                educational technologies for teaching and learning;
                    (B) facilitating access to a broad range of 
                information resources for teachers, learners, and 
                others engaged in education;
                    (C) establishing technical standards and guidelines 
                for advanced technologies, including software as well 
                as hardware, and instructional software as well as 
                software for operating systems and communications;
                    (D) establishing funding mechanisms which will 
                support the development and maintenance of an effective 
                educational technology infrastructure for all learners 
                in the United States;
                    (E) providing for sustained teacher, administrator 
                and other school personnel education and support for 
                using technologies;
                    (F) supporting development, production, 
                distribution, and reuse of information resources and 
                strategies;
                    (G) promoting development and evaluation of new and 
                emerging educational technologies;
                    (H) stimulating private and public partnerships;
                    (I) stimulating partnerships between--
                            (i) noncommercial telecommunications 
                        entities; and
                            (ii) public schools, local educational 
                        agencies or State educational agencies;
                    (J) stimulating private sector investment in the 
                development, production, and distribution of 
                technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and 
                administrative support resources and services; and
                    (K) developing and administering a comprehensive 
                system of information dissemination, technical 
                assistance, training, research, and assessment 
                activities which will enable all schools to effectively 
                utilize appropriate technology-enhanced curriculum, 
                instruction, and administrative support resources and 
                services.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) In General.--The terms used in this Act, unless otherwise 
specified, shall have the same meaning given to such terms by section 
1471 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
    (b) Additional Definitions.--For the purpose of this Act--
            (1) the term ``Assistant Secretary'' means the Assistant 
        Secretary for Educational Technology;
            (2) the term ``Office'' means the Office of Educational 
        Technology;
            (3) the term ``noncommercial telecommunications entity'' 
        has the same meaning given to such term by section 397(7) of 
        the Communications Act of 1934; and
            (4) the term ``technology'' includes closed circuit 
        television systems, educational television and radio 
        broadcasting, cable television, satellite, copper and fiber 
        optic transmission, computer, video and audio laser and CD ROM 
        discs, video and audio tapes or other technologies.

            TITLE I--LEADERSHIP FOR TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

SEC. 101. OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) Amendment to the Department of Education Organization Act.--
            (1) Assistant secretary.--(A) Section 202 of the Department 
        Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3412(b)(1)) is amended--
                    (i) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (G) as 
                subparagraph (H); and
                    (iii) by adding after subparagraph (F) the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(G) an Assistant Secretary for Educational 
                Technology; and''.
            (B) Section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
        by adding at the end the following new item:
        ``Assistant Secretary for Educational Technology''.
            (2) Office of educational technology.--Title II of the 
        Department of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3411 et 
        seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        section:

                   ``office of educational technology

    ``Sec. 216. (a) There shall be in the Department of Education an 
Office of Educational Technology, to be administered by the Assistant 
Secretary for Educational Technology. Such Office shall be established 
in accordance with section 405A of the General Education Provisions 
Act.
    ``(b) The Assistant Secretary for Educational Technology shall have 
demonstrated expertise and experience in the application of a broad 
range of technologies for instruction and educational management, and 
in planning and formulating policy pertaining to technology use, 
development and application at several levels in the education system 
but with specific emphasis on experience in the kindergarten through 
12th grade.
    ``(c) There shall be in the Office of Educational Technology a 
Division of Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Services, to 
be administered by the Director of the Division. Such Division shall be 
established in accordance with section 405B of the General Education 
Provisions Act.''.
    (b) Amendment to the General Education Provisions Act.--Part A of 
the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221e et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after section 405 the following new section:

``SEC. 405A. OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY.

    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) Office established.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        Office of Educational Technology (hereafter in this section 
        referred to as the `Office') within 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of the Technology for Education Act of 1993. The 
        Office shall be the principal technology unit in the Department 
        of Education and shall be responsible for assisting schools in 
        obtaining and utilizing technology.
            ``(2) Personnel.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Assistant Secretary for 
                Educational Technology (hereafter in this section 
                referred to as the ``Assistant Secretary'') may appoint 
                personnel in accordance with title 5 of the United 
                States Code, and may compensate such personnel in 
                accordance with the General Schedule described in 
                section 5332 of title 5, United States Code.
                    ``(B) Experts and consultants.--The Assistant 
                Secretary may procure temporary and intermittent 
                services under section 3019(b) of title 5, United 
                States Code, if the individual performing such 
                services, by virtue of such individual's education or 
                training and experience, is eminently qualified to 
                assist the Office in performing the functions of the 
                Office.
            ``(3) Administrative support.--To the greatest extent 
        possible, the Assistant Secretary shall utilize existing 
        administrative support services of the Department of Education 
        in accomplishing the functions of the Office. However, the 
        Assistant Secretary is authorized to obtain any or all 
        requisite administrative support services required by the 
        Office through competitive contracting with a private sector 
        enterprise or through noncompetitive, reimbursable service 
        agreements with any other Federal department, agency or 
        governmental entity. The Assistant Secretary shall have sole 
        responsibility for determining whether any or all of the 
        administrative support requirements of the Office may be more 
        efficiently provided by existing administrative support 
        services within the Department of Education, by a private 
        sector enterprise, or by a governmental entity outside the 
        Department of Education.
            ``(4) Reporting reorganizations.--Any change in the 
        functions or reorganization of the Office as established by 
        this Act shall be reported to the Congress prior to 
        implementation of the change or reorganization.
    ``(b) Functions of the Office.--The Assistant Secretary, through 
the Office, shall--
            ``(1) provide national leadership for policy development 
        and coordinate technology-related education activities within 
        the Department of Education;
            ``(2) be an advisor within the Department of Education for 
        the design, coordination, and evaluation of any technology-
        enhanced network or system used for the transfer and 
        dissemination of information through activities and programs 
        such as the education resources information clearinghouses, the 
        National Diffusion Network, the regional mathematics and 
        science education consortia assisted under subpart 2 of part A 
        of title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
        1965, and the National Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics 
        and Technology Education;
            ``(3) administer a comprehensive school technology support 
        system of grants, loans, and alternative systemic funding 
        sources to encourage--
                    ``(A) State and local educational agency planning 
                for the use of technology in education;
                    ``(B) the acquisition and use of technology 
                advanced information management resources by public or 
                private elementary and secondary school library media 
                centers, which resources shall build upon existing 
                infrastructure; and
                    ``(C) the acquisition, development and maintenance 
                of technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and 
                administrative support resources and services for 
                school classrooms and administrative offices, which 
                resources and services shall build upon existing 
                infrastructure in order to avoid duplication;
            ``(4) consult, cooperate and coordinate educational 
        technology programs with analogous programs of other Federal 
        departments, agencies and other entities, including the 
        National Science Foundation, the Federal Coordinating Council 
        for Science Engineering and Technology, the Corporation for 
        Public Broadcasting, and Public Telecommunications Facilities 
        Program and, whenever possible, initiate agreements for joint 
        funding of such educational technology and analogous programs;
            ``(5) support the research, design, development, 
        production, distribution, reuse and evaluation by public or 
        private agencies, nonprofit organizations, colleges and 
        universities, or individuals, or by combinations thereof, of 
        new technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and 
        administrative support resources and services which hold 
        promise for improving the effectiveness of education in the 
        United States;
            ``(6) make recommendations to all Federal departments and 
        agencies for wider application of the use of technology in 
        federally supported education programs within such departments 
        and agencies;
            ``(7) support and encourage cooperative efforts to resolve 
        issues which have served as impediments to the use of 
        educational technologies, such as State requirements for 
        teacher certification, incompatibility of various technological 
        systems, and lack of access to telecommunications linkages in 
        the classroom;
            ``(8) establish and administer alternative mechanisms for 
        financing the planning, implementation, and maintenance of a 
        telecommunications and educational technology infrastructure to 
        serve education at all levels;
            ``(9) regularly convene meetings of educators, policy 
        makers, business leaders and telecommunications and educational 
        technology vendors, and representatives of noncommercial 
        telecommunications entities and service providers in order to--
                    ``(A) support appropriate public and private 
                partnerships for more effective cooperation leading to 
                improvements in the design and development of new 
                technologies for application in education; and
                    ``(B) benefit the effective integration of 
                technologies to enhance and support teaching and 
                learning;
            ``(10) support research on advanced learning technologies 
        in cooperation with other Federal departments, agencies, and 
        programs, including the Advanced Research Projects Agency 
        (ARPA) of the Department of Defense, the Advanced Technology 
        Program of the Department of Commerce, the Corporation for 
        Public Broadcasting, the Department of Labor, the National 
        Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of 
        Defense;
            ``(11) identify and analyze Federal and State policies' 
        impact on present and future uses of technologies in education;
            ``(12) support and encourage cooperative efforts to develop 
        standards and guidelines for the use of technology in Federal, 
        State and local education programs;
            ``(13) promote collaboration among government, business, 
        educational organizations, and other nonprofit organizations 
        and noncommercial telecommunications entities, to expand and 
        improve the use of technology in education;
            ``(14) support a variety of opportunities for teacher, 
        librarian, administrator and other school personnel education 
        and inservice training regarding the effective uses of 
        educational technologies through institutions of higher 
        education, regional educational laboratories and centers, State 
        and local educational agencies, museums, science centers, 
        noncommercial telecommunications entities or other institutions 
        conducting training;
            ``(15) annually evaluate the level of implementation of, 
        and the impact on teaching and learning resulting from, 
        programs, projects and activities for which the Office is 
        responsible;
            ``(16) support inclusion of technology applications, as 
        appropriate, in the development of National Education Goals, 
        reform initiatives, and assessment systems;
            ``(17) develop criteria that identify programs, projects, 
        and practices that effectively use technologies for national 
        dissemination;
            ``(18) develop, and update periodically, in cooperation 
        with other Federal, State and regional agencies, and 
        noncommercial telecommunications entities, as appropriate, a 
        long-range strategic plan for implementing telecommunications 
        and educational technologies in all schools;
            ``(19) assess and determine school technology needs such as 
        development, training and equipment linkages;
            ``(20) review factors such as cost, dissemination, 
        audience, accessibility, and usage in determining the maximum 
        value of various technologies;
            ``(21) develop and administer special programs for students 
        who are academically disadvantaged, impaired or limited in 
        their use of the English language, in order to make available 
        affordable infrastructure or appropriate methods of instruction 
        that will improve such students' ability to attain a high level 
        of academic achievement;
            ``(22) coordinate Federal, State, and local 
        telecommunications franchising authorities for purposes of 
        favorable rate regulations governing educational uses of 
        telecommunications;
            ``(23) provide leadership for the development of universal 
        connections for educational and information providers to 
        national high performance educational computing and 
        communications networks, including the National Research 
        Education Network and Telstar 401, that will allow educational 
        professionals, students, parents, and the general public to 
        access resources available through such networks;
            ``(24) support and coordinate the activities of the 
        regional educational technology assistance consortia described 
        in section 304 of the Technology for Education Act of 1993 to 
        enable schools to utilize technology-enhanced curriculum, 
        instruction, and administrative support resources and services; 
        and
            ``(25) provide an annual report to the Secretary and the 
        Congress, documenting progress toward implementing the 
        provisions of the Technology for Education Act of 1993.
    ``(c) Additional Office Activities.--The Assistant Secretary shall 
provide technical support related to the application of educational 
technologies and the use of telecommunication resources to assist in 
the dissemination of resources identified for dissemination by the 
Office of Training Technology Transfer, the education resources 
information clearinghouses, the National Diffusion Network, and the 
Assistant Secretary on behalf of the Star Schools Program Assistance 
Act.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be 
necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998.''.

SEC. 102. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known 
as the National Commission on Technology in Education (hereafter in 
this section referred to as the ``Commission'') which shall advise the 
President and the Congress with respect to the need for, and the 
provision of, appropriate national educational technology standards, 
technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and administrative 
resources and services for educational institutions in the United 
States.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Appointment of members.--The President shall appoint 15 
        members to the Commission, of which--
                    (A) three shall be appointed because of their 
                expertise in State and local government;
                    (B) three shall be appointed because of their 
                expertise in the governance or supervision of school 
                district operations, in administering State- or 
                district-wide educational technology programs, in 
                administering elementary or secondary schools, or in 
                the development of technology-enhanced curriculum, 
                instruction, or administrative support programs or 
                services;
                    (C) four shall be appointed because of their 
                expertise in providing instructional services in 
                university, community college, secondary school, 
                elementary school, preschool, and adult and continuing 
                education environments;
                    (D) two shall be--
                            (i) a parent of a school age child; or
                            (ii) a State or local school board member; 
                        and
                    (E) three shall be appointed because of their 
                expertise in the telecommunications industry (including 
                noncommercial communications), the computer hardware or 
                software industry, or the educational technology 
                resources and services industry.
            (2) Terms.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), members of the Commission shall be appointed for 
                terms of 4 years. Members of the Commission may be 
                reappointed.
                    (B) Staggered terms.--As designated by the 
                President at the time of initial appointments under 
                paragraph (1), the terms of 5 members shall expire at 
                the end of 3 years, the terms of 5 members shall expire 
                at the end of 4 years, and the terms of 5 members shall 
                expire at the end of 5 years.
            (3) Date.--The appointments of members of the Commission 
        shall be made not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act.
            (4) Diversity.--The President shall make appointments to 
        the Commission by providing due consideration to gender and 
        ethnicity in order to obtain members who are broadly 
        representative of the ethnic diversity of the United States.
            (5) Limitation on dual appointments.--A member of the 
        Commission may not serve on any other governing or advisory 
        board within--
                    (A) the Department of Education; or
                    (B) any other department or agency of the Federal 
                Government.
            (6) Confirmation.--Appointments to the Commission shall be 
        effective upon confirmation by the United States Senate.
            (7) Selection of chairperson.--The members of the 
        Commission shall elect a Chairperson from among their 
        membership by majority vote of the members of the Commission. 
        The Chairperson shall serve a term of not more than 4 years.
            (8) Compensation of members.--Each member of the Commission 
        shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of 
        the annual rate of pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule 
        under section 5316 of title 5, United States Code, for each day 
        (including traveltime) during which such member is engaged in 
        the performance of duties of the Commission, as authorized by 
        the Chairperson of the Commission.
    (c) Personnel.--
            (1) Administrative and clerical support.--The Commission 
        shall receive administrative support services from the Office.
            (2) Executive secretary.--The Assistant Secretary shall 
        serve as the Executive Secretary of the Commission in order to 
        facilitate accomplishment of the Commission's functions.
    (d) Meetings of the Commission.--
            (1) Applicability of the government in the sunshine act.--
        The provisions of the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 
        552b) shall apply to meetings of the Commission.
            (2) Minimum number of meetings; first meeting.--The 
        Commission shall meet at least twice a year, with the first 
        meeting being held within 120 days of the date of enactment of 
        this Act.
            (3) Frequency of meetings.--With the approval of the 
        Chairperson of the Commission and subject to the availability 
        of funds appropriated pursuant to the authority of subsection 
        (f), members of the Commission may meet as often as the 
        Commission determines necessary in order to accomplish the 
        functions of the Commission in a timely manner.
            (4) Quorum.--A majority of the Commission shall constitute 
        a quorum for the purpose of conducting the business of the 
        Commission.
    (e) Functions.--The functions of the Commission are as follows:
            (1) Identify national educational technology 
        requirements.--
                    (A) Technology initiatives.--The Commission shall 
                review Federal, State, and local educational technology 
                initiatives, assess their effectiveness and potential 
                for the improvement of education, and make 
                recommendations to the Secretary and the Congress with 
                respect to what technologies are needed and should be 
                made available to learners in the United States.
                    (B) Needs.--The Commission shall review the needs 
                of schools and educational institutions for technology, 
                and make Federal policy recommendations for meeting 
                such needs. Such review shall include factors such as 
                equity, accessibility, how many children are reached, 
                cost, quality and demonstrated effectiveness.
            (2) Provide recommendations with respect to departmental 
        technology in education programs.--The Commission shall review 
        and make recommendations to the Secretary and the Assistant 
        Secretary with respect to the need for, operation of, 
        effectiveness of, and support and resources available for, 
        educational technology programs and policies throughout the 
        Department of Education and within the Office.
            (3) Industry, technology and educational consortia.--The 
        Commission shall encourage the development of consortia 
        consisting of a representative of the telecommunications and 
        technology industries, and the education community, in order to 
        promote the collaborative development and implementation of 
        educational technologies, projects, and practices that allow 
        for the sharing of public and private resources to enhance 
        school achievement.
            (4) Make recommendations with respect to the coordination 
        of federal programs.--The Commission shall review support and 
        resources available for educational technologies used in 
        Federal programs operating on the date of enactment of this Act 
        and make recommendations to the Secretary and the Congress with 
        respect to the coordination and resource level required to 
        achieve the most effective Federal support for educational 
        technology needs.
            (5) Develop policy recommendations.--The Commission shall 
        consult with persons having an interest in the uses of 
        technology to support teaching and learning in order to ensure 
        that the interests and concerns of all citizens are represented 
        in national policies for the development, implementation and 
        evaluation of the educational technology infrastructure of the 
        United States.
            (6) Committee of experts.--The Commission shall appoint a 
        committee of experts representing the telecommunication, 
        computer hardware and software industries, educational software 
        developers, noncommercial telecommunications entities, and the 
        elementary and secondary education community to explore the 
        feasibility and desirability of national education guidelines 
        or standards for educational hardware and software. Such 
        committee shall produce a report which, at a minimum, 
        examines--
                    (A) standards to ensure that software can be used 
                on the variety of hardware likely to be available in 
                schools;
                    (B) multimedia standards to allow for the 
                integration of video and audio recordings with text and 
                computer graphics;
                    (C) user interface standards so that teachers and 
                students will not have to learn totally new techniques 
                for using new software packages;
                    (D) database interface standards so that students 
                can integrate information from national databases into 
                their work;
                    (E) communication standards such as those for 
                information exchange and video compression;
                    (F) interface standards so that educational 
                software and other technology may be integrated 
                together in a way that is easy to use and maintain; and
                    (G) standards for collecting data about student 
                performance and achievement to guide individual 
                instructional paths and the refinement of curriculum.
            (6) Report.--
                    (A) In general.--The Commission shall prepare and 
                submit to the President, the Secretary and the Congress 
                a report every 2 years on the need for the development 
                and implementation of instructionally based 
                technologies in educational curriculum throughout the 
                United States. At a minimum, the Commission's report 
                shall include recommendations with respect to the 
                status of the implementation of the provisions of this 
                Act.
                    (B) Submission.--The report described in 
                subparagraph (A) shall be submitted in accordance with 
                such subparagraph within 2 years of the date of 
                enactment of this Act and every 2 years thereafter.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) Salaries and expenses.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated $1,500,000 for each of the fiscal years 1994 
        through 1998 for the salaries and expenses of the Commission.
            (2) Functions.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be 
        necessary for each of the fiscal years 1995 through 1998, to 
        carry out this section.

                  TITLE II--SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

SEC. 201. STATEMENT OF PURPOSES.

    It is the purpose of this title to provide Federal assistance in 
the form of loans, grants, and systemic funding alternatives to support 
the acquisition, training, use and maintenance in elementary and 
secondary schools of technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and 
school administration.

SEC. 202. STATE TECHNOLOGY PLANNING GRANTS.

    (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to ensure that all 
States have effective plans for the provision of technology in all 
schools throughout the State.
    (b) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall award grants 
        to State educational agencies, who in consultation with the 
        Governor and other appropriate State agencies, shall develop a 
        systemic statewide plan to infuse modern technologies into an 
        educational program to enhance student learning and staff 
        development in support of the National Education Goals and 
        State academic standards.
            (2) Requirements.--Such plan shall--
                    (A) develop and implement a high speed, statewide, 
                interoperable, wide area communication educational 
                technology infrastructure for all elementary and 
                secondary education institutions within the State; and
                    (B) emphasize the participation of schools with a 
                high percentage of disadvantaged students.
    (c) Content of Plans.--At a minimum, each systemic statewide plan 
described in subsection (b) that is developed in whole or in part, with 
grant funds under this section, shall--
            (1) be developed in collaboration with the Governor, 
        representative of the State legislature, State school boards, 
        other appropriate State agencies, and noncommercial 
        telecommunication entities through a representational process 
        involving input from communities throughout the State;
            (2) identify requirements for infusing modern technologies 
        into the classroom to enhance educational curricula;
            (3) describe how the application of telecommunications, 
        computer networks, and related advanced technologies in the 
        schools will enhance the curriculum, provide greater access and 
        equity for more students, and help achieve the National 
        Education Goals;
            (4) provide for the ongoing training of educational 
        personnel to integrate educational technologies in the 
        classroom and other applications of technology in education;
            (5) establish a mechanism for statewide dissemination of 
        exemplary programs and practices;
            (6) include an estimate of the funding and resources needed 
        to develop and maintain the requisite educational technology 
        infrastructure identified in the plan, including the 
        appropriate use of other Federal education funds available to 
        the State or local educational agency;
            (7) establish a schedule for the development and 
        implementation of the planned educational technology 
        infrastructure;
            (8) develop a plan for the coordination and distribution of 
        grants under this section, section 204, and section 
        405B(b)(1)(B) of the General Education Provisions Act;
            (9) describe how the State educational agency will utilize 
        the services and resources of the regional educational 
        technology assistance consortia;
            (10) distribute guidelines to all elementary and secondary 
        schools and educational agencies in the State related to the 
        various programs and initiatives assisted under this Act;
            (11) describe how the State will assess the level of--
                    (A) the statewide implementation of such plan;
                    (B) the increased access by the elementary and 
                secondary schools to technology-enhanced resources 
                assisted under this section; and
                    (C) the impact of such plan on school achievement;
            (12) describe how State and local educational agencies will 
        coordinate and cooperate with business and industry, as well as 
        noncommercial telecommunications entities to implement 
        standards to meet work force training needs;
            (13) describe how the State educational agency will promote 
        the purchase of equipment by local school districts and schools 
        that, when placed in operation, will meet the highest level of 
        interoperability and open system design among--
                    (A) technology hardware and software, either when 
                used on a stand-alone basis or when connected together 
                within a local area network or a wide area network; and
                    (B) schools within the State;
            (14) will utilize existing telecommunications 
        infrastructure and technology resources; and
            (15) create a planning process through which such plan is 
        reviewed and updated periodically.
    (d) Amount of Grants.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
        Assistant Secretary shall award grants under this section to 
        each State, in each fiscal year, in an amount which bears the 
        same relationship to the amount appropriated pursuant to the 
        authority of subsection (e) as the amount such State received 
        under chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 in such year bears to the amount received 
        under such chapter by all States in such year.
            (2) Minimum.--No State shall receive a grant under 
        subsection (b) in an amount which is less than $100,000.
            (3) State matching.--
                    (A) State.--Each State receiving a grant under this 
                section shall provide matching funds in an amount equal 
                to 20 percent of such grant funds.
                    (B) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the State 
                matching requirement described in subparagraph (A) for 
                good cause, as determined by the Secretary.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $10,000,000 for the fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may 
be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding fiscal years, to carry out 
this section.

SEC. 203. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL LIBRARY AND MEDIA SERVICES.

    Title IV of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1221 et 
seq.) is further amended by adding after section 405A (as added by 
section 101(b)) the following new section:

``SEC. 405B. ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL LIBRARY AND MEDIA 
              SERVICES.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Assistant Secretary shall establish a 
Division of Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Services 
(hereafter in this section referred to as the `Division') within the 
Office of Educational Technology within 90 days of enactment of the 
Technology for Education Act of 1993. Such division shall consist of a 
Director, who shall have primary responsibility for the daily operation 
of the Division, and of such staff as may be needed to carry out the 
functions described in subsection (b).
    ``(b) Functions.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Division shall--
                    ``(A) provide information and leadership to 
                elementary and secondary school library media 
                specialists, teachers, and school administrators with 
                respect to--
                            ``(i) the effective operation of library 
                        media resources;
                            ``(ii) methods of improving educational 
                        programs;
                            ``(iii) training of library media 
                        personnel; and
                            ``(iv) the development of library media 
                        resources, including resources that will 
                        encourage students to acquire skills in other 
                        languages; and
                    ``(B) develop, implement and administer grant 
                programs, on a competitive basis, for--
                            ``(i) elementary and secondary school 
                        library media center resource development, 
                        including projects that--
                                    ``(I) enable school library media 
                                centers to acquire technologically 
                                advanced information management 
                                resources;
                                    ``(II) provide increased student 
                                access to library media center 
                                resources through the use of modern 
                                information resource technologies; and
                                    ``(III) assist in the 
                                implementation of distance learning via 
                                satellite, microwave, fiber, picture 
                                telephones and other visual media;
                            ``(ii) elementary and secondary school 
                        library media specialist and teacher 
                        partnership for innovative education projects 
                        that--
                                    ``(I) encourage collaboration 
                                between elementary and secondary school 
                                library media specialists and teachers 
                                in order to develop units of 
                                instruction that enable students to use 
                                a variety of technologically advanced 
                                information resources; and
                                    ``(II) expand students' 
                                information-gathering abilities and 
                                cognitive skills of selection, 
                                analysis, evaluation, and application; 
                                and
                            ``(iii) technology in the classroom 
                        projects that are linked to a library media 
                        center in order to--
                                    ``(I) expand the use of computers 
                                and computer networks in the 
                                curriculum;
                                    ``(II) enable elementary and 
                                secondary school library media centers 
                                to access information from computerized 
                                databases and other technologically 
                                advanced methods of access to 
                                information; and
                                    ``(III) assist in the 
                                implementation of distance learning via 
                                satellite, microwave, fiber, picture 
                                telephones and other visual media.
            ``(2) Special rule.--In awarding grants under paragraph 
        (1)(B) the Assistant Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) award grants to schools with the greatest 
                need for library materials and services; and
                    ``(B) ensure that such grants are awarded on an 
                equitable geographic basis.
    ``(c) Cooperative Agreements.--The Director of the Division is 
authorized to enter into such cooperative agreements with the 
Department of Education, the National Science Foundation, other Federal 
departments or agencies, noncommercial telecommunications entities, or 
nonprofit organizations, as the Director determines is necessary to 
carry out the provisions of this section.
    ``(d) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
interfere with State and local initiative and responsibility in the 
conduct and support of school library media services, the 
administration of school library media centers, or the selection of 
personnel or library books and resources.
    ``(e) Supplementation.--Funds provided under this section shall be 
used so as to supplement and not to supplant other Federal, State, or 
local funds available to carry out the activities and services assisted 
under this section, including funds made available to elementary and 
secondary school library media centers under the Technology for 
Education Act of 1993.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $45,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be 
necessary in each succeeding fiscal year, to carry out this section, of 
which--
            ``(1) $15,000,000 shall be available in each such fiscal 
        year to carry out subsection (b)(2)(A);
            ``(2) $15,000,000 shall be available in each such fiscal 
        year to carry out subsection (b)(2)(B); and
            ``(3) $15,000,000 shall be available in each such fiscal 
        year to carry out subsection (b)(2)(C).''.

SEC. 204. SCHOOL TECHNOLOGY RESOURCE GRANTS AND LOANS.

    (a) In General.--
            (1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall award grants 
        to State educational agencies having a plan approved under 
        section 202 in order to enable such agencies to provide 
        assistance to local educational agencies and schools having 
        highest percentages of children in poverty and showing the 
        greatest need for technology to enable such local educational 
        agencies and schools to purchase quality technology related 
        equipment, technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and 
        administrative support resources and services that improve the 
        instructional programs in schools.
            (2) Amount.--(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B), 
        the Secretary shall award grants under this section to each 
        State educational agency in an amount which bears the same 
        relationship to the amount appropriated pursuant to the 
        authority of subsection (b) 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 educational agency shall receive a grant 
        pursuant to subparagraph (A) in an amount which is less than 
        $100,000.
            (3) Limitation on state costs.--Not more than 5 percent of 
        grant funds awarded to a State educational agency under this 
        section may be used by the State or State educational agency 
        for administrative costs or technical assistance.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $100,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be 
necessary in each succeeding fiscal year, to carry out this section.
    (c) Local Uses of Grant Funds.--Each local educational agency or 
school receiving assistance under this section may use such 
assistance--
            (1) to acquire technology-enhanced education resources and 
        services, such as computer hardware, software, and 
        telecommunications services, for use by teachers and students 
        in the classroom in order to support the instructional program 
        offered by schools to assure that students in such schools will 
        have meaningful access on a regular basis to such resources and 
        services;
            (2) for staff development in the integration of quality 
        instructional educational technologies into school curriculum 
        and long-term planning for implementing educational 
        technologies;
            (3) to acquire connectivity with wide area networks, such 
        as the INTERNET, for purposes of accessing information and 
        educational programming sources outside the local educational 
        agency or school;
            (4) for necessary site preparation for the installation of 
        technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and administrative 
        support resources and services, except that such acquisitions 
        may not exceed 25 percent of the amount of the assistance 
        provided under this section;
            (5) for ongoing technology training and staff development 
        services, resources, or programs that instruct teachers and 
        administrators in the effective integration of technology in 
        the classroom through ongoing, onsite consultation; and
            (6) to establish partnerships consisting of a 
        representative of a local educational agency, a college or 
        university, and any other agency the Assistant Secretary deems 
        appropriate, for development and implementation of preservice 
        education programs to train teachers in the application of 
        instructional-based technologies in the curriculum.
    (d) School Plans.--Each local educational agency or school desiring 
assistance under this section shall submit a plan to the State 
educational agency at such time and in such manner as such agency may 
prescribe. Such plan shall--
            (1) include a strategic, long-range (3- to 5-year), 
        outcome-based plan that includes--
                    (A) a process for the ongoing evaluation of how 
                technologies acquired under this section--
                            (i) are being implemented into the school 
                        curriculum; and
                            (ii) are impacting student achievement; and
                    (B) a description of how the local educational 
                agency or school has involved parents, business leaders 
                and community leaders in the development of such plan;
            (2) describe how the assistance will be used to further 
        access for both teachers and students to best teaching 
        practices and best curriculum resources that are aligned with 
        any national educational standards that may be developed;
            (3) describe the type of technologies to be acquired, 
        including specific provisions for interoperability among 
        components of such technologies;
            (4) include the projected cost of technologies to be 
        acquired and related expenses needed to implement the plan;
            (5) include the projected timetable for implementing the 
        technologies in schools;
            (6) include an explanation of how the acquired technologies 
        will be integrated into the curriculum to help the local 
        educational agency or school enhance teaching, training, and 
        student achievement;
            (7) describe how the acquired instructionally based 
        technologies will help the local educational agency or school 
        achieve equity in curricular offerings;
            (8) describe the supporting resources such as services, 
        software and print resources, which will be acquired to ensure 
        successful and effective use of technologies acquired under 
        this section;
            (9) describe how the instructionally based technologies and 
        resources will support any State and national content and 
        teaching educational standards that may be developed;
            (10) describe how the local educational agency or school 
        will ensure ongoing, sustained staff development for teachers 
        and administrators in the local educational agency or school 
        regarding the use of technology in the classroom, and contain a 
        list of the source or sources of ongoing training available to 
        such teachers and administrators, such as State technology 
        offices, intermediate educational support units, regional 
        educational laboratories, or institutions of higher education;
            (11) describe identifiable, measurable outcome-based levels 
        of achievement in the implementation of the plan that can be 
        used to determine progress and to support decisions to provide 
        additional funds; and
            (12) describe how the local educational agency or school 
        will promote the sharing, distribution, and reuse of 
        applications of educational technology that are determined by 
        such agency to be effective in individual schools.
    (e) Technology Loans.--Subsection (a) of section 751 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1132f(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4);
            (3) by adding after paragraph (2) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(3) guarantee, insure or reinsure low-interest, long-term 
        loans to State educational agencies and local educational 
        agencies in order to enable such agencies to obtain resources 
        for distance learning, computer networks and other technology-
        enhanced curriculum, instruction, and administrative support 
        resources and services that are used in the education process; 
        and''; and
            (4) in paragraph (4) (as redesignated by paragraph (2)), by 
        striking ``and (2)'' and inserting ``, (2) and (3)''.

SEC. 205. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION.

    The Assistant Secretary and National Commission on Technology in 
Education shall compile and disseminate information on various 
successful models of integrating technology into education to assist 
State or local educational agencies, and schools in the development of 
systemic reform initiatives.

TITLE III--INFORMATION DISSEMINATION, TECHNOLOGY TRAINING AND TECHNICAL 
                               ASSISTANCE

SEC. 301. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this title to ensure that schools have access 
to all the resources necessary for effectively utilizing technology in 
the classroom by--
            (1) supporting identification and dissemination of 
        information on effective educational programs, resources and 
        services throughout the United States, and, more specifically, 
        to promote information dissemination through electronic means; 
        and
            (2) developing a coordinated network of educational 
        technology assistance and training providers, such as 
        universities, regional technology centers, museums, science 
        centers, laboratories supported by the Department of Energy, 
        noncommercial telecommunications entities, other nonprofit 
        organizations, and State and local educational agencies to 
        ensure effective utilization of technology-enhanced curriculum, 
        instruction and educational administrative support resources 
        and services to improve the instructional programs in schools 
        consistent with efforts to achieve the National Education Goals 
        and State academic standards.

SEC. 302. ELECTRONIC DISSEMINATION NETWORK.

    The Assistant Secretary, in cooperation with the Federal 
Communications Commission, the National Science Foundation, the 
Department of Defense, or any other department or agency of Federal, 
State and local governments that the Assistant Secretary deems 
appropriate, shall establish an electronic network for the 
dissemination of educational information throughout the United States, 
including information about effective technology-enhanced programs, 
resources, and services to the extent reasonably possible, the 
electronic dissemination network should make use of existing networks 
and networks to be built for other purposes. The electronic 
dissemination network shall--
            (1) provide sufficient staffing and other resources as may 
        be necessary to ensure the effective operation of the 
        Electronic Dissemination Network; and
            (2) consult with educators, State and local educational 
        agencies, telecommunications providers, and other stakeholders 
        in the education process throughout the United States to 
        determine information requirements and policies for the 
        effective operation of the Electronic Dissemination Network.

SEC. 303. REGIONAL IMPLEMENTATION AND ASSISTANCE.

    (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to establish 
regional educational technology assistance consortia to facilitate 
information dissemination, planning, resource development, 
implementation, and evaluation of educational technology applications 
by States, regional educational organizations, local educational 
agencies and schools.
    (b) Grants Authorized.--
            (1) Authority.--The Assistant Secretary shall make grants, 
        on a competitive basis, to regional educational technology 
        assistance consortia in accordance with the provisions of this 
        section.
            (2) Requirements.--Each consortium receiving a grant under 
        this section shall--
                    (A) serve 1 of the 10 regions of the United States 
                served by a regional educational laboratory supported 
                pursuant to section 405(d)(4)(A)(i) of the General 
                Education Provisions Act;
                    (B) consist of a consortium of State educational 
                agencies, nonprofit organizations, or a combination 
                thereof; and
                    (C) in cooperation with State and local education 
                programs, develop a regional plan that addresses staff 
                development, technical assistance, information resource 
                dissemination, and program evaluation and reporting 
                needs of the region regarding educational technology.
            (3) Special rule.--Each consortium receiving a grant under 
        this section shall use not less than 80 percent of the grant 
        funds to carry out paragraph (3) of subsection (c).
    (c) Functions.--
            (1) Technical assistance.--Each consortium receiving a 
        grant under this section shall--
                    (A) collaborate with State and local education 
                programs in the development of State technology plans 
                and in particular in the development of strategies for 
                reaching those schools with highest percentages of 
                disadvantaged students with little or no access to 
                technology in the classroom;
                    (B) provide information to States, local 
                educational agencies, and schools on the types and 
                features of various educational technology equipment 
                and software available, evaluate and make 
                recommendations on equipment and software that is 
                suited for a program's particular needs, and compile 
                and share information on creative applications of 
                technology in the classroom;
                    (C) collaborate with State educational agencies, 
                local educational agencies, or schools in the tailoring 
                of software programs and other supporting materials to 
                meet State curriculum standards and individual needs of 
                schools and students; and
                    (D) provide technical assistance to facilitate use 
                of the electronic dissemination network by State and 
                local educational agencies and schools throughout the 
                region;
            (2) Information resource management.--Each consortium 
        receiving a grant under this section shall--
                    (A) assist the Office in the collection and access 
                of information resources produced by the National 
                Clearinghouse for Mathematics and Science Education, 
                the regional mathematics and science consortia, the 
                National Diffusion Network, and other educational 
                organizations that the Assistant Secretary deems 
                appropriate;
                    (B) assist in the review and documentation of 
                effective educational programs, resources, and services 
                created or utilized within the region;
                    (C) facilitate coordination and implementation of 
                an electronic dissemination network and the distance 
                learning described in section 907(a)(4)(B)(ii) of the 
                Star Schools Program Assistance Act;
                    (D) assist the Office in designing and implementing 
                an interactive telecommunications network to link 
                educational agencies within and among consortia for the 
                purpose of transferring educational information 
                resources, including resources that utilize voice, 
                video, data, and resources that are transmitted over 
                satellite, microwave, cable, fiber, and other means; 
                and
                    (E) establish a coordinated system of distance 
                education involving microwave technology combined with 
                other technology, as appropriate, that can serve to 
                disseminate information and provide interactive staff 
                development related to new research findings, national 
                educational initiatives, funding and program resources, 
                and educational technology developments and resources 
                appropriate to teaching and learning.
            (3) Staff development.--Each consortium receiving a grant 
        under this section shall--
                    (A) develop and implement, in collaboration with 
                State educational agencies, training and technology 
                assistance training that can be offered through site-
                based intensive summer and school year workshops that 
                utilize the teachers-training-teachers model or 
                accessed through existing and emerging distance 
                educational resources, including--
                            (i) interactive satellite training 
                        telecourses using researchers, educators, and 
                        telecommunications personnel who have 
                        experience in developing, implementing, or 
                        operating educational and instructional 
                        technology as a learning tool;
                            (ii) onsite courses teaching teachers to 
                        use educational and instructional technology 
                        and to develop their own instructional 
                        materials for effectively incorporating 
                        technology and programming in their own 
                        classrooms;
                            (iii) methods for successful integration of 
                        instructional technology into the curriculum; 
                        and
                            (iv) video conferences and seminars which 
                        offer professional development through peer 
                        interaction with experts as well as other 
                        teachers using technologies in their 
                        classrooms;
                    (B) develop training resources that are--
                            (i) relevant to the needs of the region and 
                        schools within the region; and
                            (ii) aligned with the needs of educators 
                        and administrators in the region, including 
                        educators and administrators from public and 
                        private schools;
                    (C) establish a repository of staff development and 
                technical assistance resources;
                    (D) work with existing agencies in the region to 
                identify and link technical assistance providers to 
                educational agencies, as needed;
                    (E) provide followup to ensure that training, staff 
                development, and technical assistance meets the needs 
                of educators served by the region; and
                    (F) assist colleges and universities within the 
                region to develop and apply for funding to implement 
                preservice training programs for students enrolled in 
                teacher education programs.
            (3) Resource development.--Each consortium receiving a 
        grant under this section shall--
                    (A) assist educational agencies in the 
                identification and procurement of financial, 
                technological and human resources needed to implement 
                technology plans;
                    (B) work with the local educational agencies to 
                assist in the development and validation of 
                instructionally based technology education resources;
                    (C) identify and provide or broker, as appropriate, 
                human and technical resources to assist schools in the 
                application of the resources assisted under this 
                section; and
                    (D) coordinate activities and establish 
                partnerships with national and State nonprofit 
                professional educational organizations that represent 
                the interests of the region as such interests pertain 
                to the application of technology in teaching, learning, 
                instructional management, dissemination, collection and 
                distribution of educational statistics, and the 
                transfer of student information.

SEC. 304. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated $41,000,000 for the fiscal 
year 1994, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 
succeeding fiscal years, to carry out this title, of which--
            (1) $5,000,000 shall be available for the electronic 
        dissemination network described in section 302; and
            (2) $50,000,000 shall be available to support the regional 
        educational technology assistance consortia described in 
        section 303.

 TITLE IV--EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, PRODUCTION, AND 
                              DISTRIBUTION

SEC. 401. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this title to support development, production, 
and distribution of technology-enhanced curriculum, and instruction and 
administrative support resources and services, by--
            (1) establishing as a priority for federally supported 
        education technology programs the development (as opposed to 
        research) of such programs;
            (2) authorizing the Assistant Secretary to support the 
        development, production and distribution of technology-enhanced 
        instructional resources and services under this title;
            (3) providing Federal funding for the joint development, 
        production, and distribution of resources and services by 
        consortia of businesses and educational institutions; and
            (4) providing direction for the development of the Ready To 
        Learn Act and the Star Schools Program Assistance Act.

SEC. 402. PRIORITY IN FEDERALLY SUPPORTED EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in awarding funds 
pursuant to any competitively awarded Federal education program 
administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall ensure that a high 
priority is placed on funding projects that utilize technology-enhanced 
curriculum, instruction and administrative support resources and 
services.

SEC. 403. CLASSROOMS FOR THE FUTURE.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Technology for 
the Classroom Act of 1993''.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to establish a 
program to develop and expand the use of high quality computer 
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.
    (c) Achievement Grants.--
            (1) Competitive grants.--
                    (A) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall 
                award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible 
                consortia to enable such eligible consortia to develop 
                computer-based instructional programs or technology-
                enhanced 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.
                    (B) Eligible consortium.--For the purpose of this 
                subsection the term ``eligible consortium'' means a 
                consortium--
                            (i) that shall include--
                                    (I) a State or local educational 
                                agency; and
                                    (II) a business or industry; and
                            (ii) that may include--
                                    (I) a public or private nonprofit 
                                organization; or
                                    (II) a postsecondary institution.
            (2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this subsection, 
        the Assistant Secretary shall give priority to applications 
        describing programs or systems that are developed--
                    (A) so that the program or system may be adapted 
                and applied nationally at a reasonable cost;
                    (B) to raise the achievement levels of students, 
                particularly disadvantaged students who are not 
                realizing their potential; and
                    (C) in consultation with classroom teachers.
            (3) Duration and amount.--Each grant made under this 
        subsection shall be awarded for a period not to exceed 3 years 
        and in an amount not to exceed $3,000,000.
            (4) Matching requirement.--The Assistant Secretary shall 
        not make a grant to an eligible consortium under paragraph (1) 
        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 non-Federal 
        contributions in an amount equal to not less than 25 percent of 
        the Federal funds provided under the grant.
            (5) Application.--
                    (A) In general.--Each eligible consortium desiring 
                a grant under this subsection shall submit an 
                application to the Assistant Secretary at such time, in 
                such manner, and accompanied by such information as the 
                Assistant Secretary may prescribe.
                    (B) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant 
                to paragraph (1) shall include--
                            (i) a description of how the program or 
                        system shall improve the achievement levels of 
                        students;
                            (ii) a description of how teachers 
                        associated with the program or system will be 
                        trained to integrate technology into the 
                        classroom;
                            (iii) an assurance that the program or 
                        system shall effectively serve a large number 
                        or percentage of economically disadvantaged 
                        students; and
                            (iv) plans for dissemination to a wide 
                        audience of learners.
            (6) Criteria for awarding grants.--In awarding a grant 
        under this subsection to develop a program or system, the 
        Assistant Secretary shall consider the appropriateness and 
        quality of the following elements of the program or system:
                    (A) Identification of specific learning objectives 
                and strategies of the proposed course or unit of study, 
                that take into consideration any national education 
                standards that may be developed for various 
                disciplines.
                    (B) Incorporation in creative ways of a variety of 
                technology-enhanced learning resources, such as 
                computer software, databases, films, transparencies, 
                video and audio discs, telecommunications (including 
                educational radio and television), with print 
                resources.
                    (C) 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.
                    (D) Flexibility of use by teachers or local 
                schools.
                    (E) Methods for updating or revising information 
                and resources.
                    (F) Programs or resources to train and guide 
                teachers.
                    (G) Coordination with teacher training programs.
                    (H) Explanatory resources for students and parents.
                    (I) Field testing and evaluation in terms of stated 
                learning objectives.
                    (J) Plans for pricing technology-enhanced resources 
                that are affordable for schools and agencies.
                    (K) Plans for distribution that ensure access for 
                the poorest schools and school districts.
                    (L) Demonstration of cost-effectiveness in relation 
                to existing programs and to achieving stated learning 
                objectives.
    (d) Federal Interagency Coordination.--The Assistant Secretary 
shall coordinate and share information regarding curriculum-based 
educational technology programs assisted under this section 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 
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Department of Energy, and the 
Department of Agriculture.
    (e) Consumer Report.--The Assistant Secretary shall collect 
information about products developed pursuant to provisions of this 
section 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 that the Assistant Secretary 
determines to be appropriate.
    (f) 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 section shall be used by such agency for 
further development of curriculum-based learning resources authorized 
by this section.
    (g) Closed Captioning.--Each eligible consortium receiving a grant 
under this section shall provide closed captioning, where appropriate.
    (h) Authorization of Funds.--For the purpose of carrying out this 
section, there are authorized to be appropriated $45,000,000 for the 
fiscal year 1994 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 
succeeding fiscal years.

SEC. 404. INSTRUCTIONAL BROADCASTING AND VIDEO INSTRUCTIONAL 
              PROGRAMMING.

    (a) Statement of Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
support the development of long-term comprehensive instructional 
programming and associated support resources for elementary and 
secondary grade core curricula outlined in the National Education Goals 
so that such resources are distributed electronically to the broadest 
possible segments of education in the United States and are stored in 
archival formats that assure maximum access by all educational 
institutions.
    (b) Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--(A) The Assistant Secretary is authorized 
        to award grants to or enter into contracts or cooperative 
        agreements with eligible educational telecommunications 
        partnerships to pay the Federal share of the cost of the 
        research, production, and distribution of instructional 
        programming for students, and staff development programming for 
        teachers.
            (B) For the purpose of this section the term 
        ``programming'' means the full range of audio and video text 
        and graphics used for education and instruction which can be 
        distributed through interactive, command and control or passive 
        methods.
            (2) Duration.--The Assistant Secretary shall award grants 
        and enter into contracts or cooperative agreements pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) for a period of not more than 5 years.
            (3) Limitation.--An eligible educational telecommunications 
        partnership may not receive assistance under this section 
        unless such entity has certified that all educational 
        programming prepared and distributed by such partnership, where 
        appropriate, contains closed captioning of the verbal content 
        of such program to be broadcast by way of line 21 of the 
        vertical blanking interval, or by way of comparable successor 
        technologies, unless the provision of closed captioned 
        broadcasting would cause undue administrative or financial 
        burden.
            (4) Renewals.--Grants awarded and contracts or cooperative 
        agreements entered into pursuant to paragraph (1) may be 
        renewed to update and expand such resources.
            (5) Collaboration.--Each eligible educational 
        telecommunications partnership receiving assistance under this 
        section shall collaborate and consult with appropriate 
        education entities in designing the instructional components of 
        programming to ensure that such components are relevant to 
        national and State curriculum frameworks.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be 
        necessary for each succeeding fiscal year, to carry out this 
        section.
            (2) Availability.--Funds appropriated pursuant to the 
        authority of paragraph (1) shall remain available until 
        expended.
    (d) Federal Share.--The Federal share of a grant, contract or 
cooperative agreement under this section in any fiscal year shall not 
exceed 75 percent.
    (e) Coordination.--The Department of Education, the National 
Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of 
Agriculture, the Department of Commerce, the Corporation for Public 
Broadcasting, the public broadcasting services, and any other Federal 
agency funding educational programming for children may coordinate with 
and jointly fund activities assisted under this section.
    (f) Eligible Education Telecommunications Partnerships.--For the 
purpose of this section, the term ``eligible educational 
telecommunications partnership'' means a partnership consisting of the 
following entities:
            (1) A noncommercial telecommunications entity with a 
        demonstrated record of the production of high quality 
        educational video programming.
            (2) A recognized organization knowledgeable about the 
        requirements of implementing within or across a content area a 
        curriculum compatible with proposed or established voluntary 
        national content standards, such as an institution of higher 
        education, national professional organizations, or a scientific 
        laboratory.
            (3) An instructional design institution that can integrate 
        student and teacher print resources, related computer 
        resources, interactive multimedia and programming series into a 
        coordinated whole.
            (4) A marketing entity capable of distributing all aspects 
        of the products developed under this section.
    (g) Applications.--
            (1) Application required.--Each eligible educational 
        telecommunications partnership which desires to receive a grant 
        or enter into a contract or cooperative agreement under this 
        section shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary, 
        at such time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by 
        such information as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably 
        require.
            (2) Contents of the application.--Each application 
        submitted under paragraph (1) shall--
                    (A) describe the programming and such programming's 
                relevance to the core curricula outlined in the 
                National Education Goals;
                    (B) describe the professional capabilities for 
                which assistance is sought, including--
                            (i) the research, design, piloting, 
                        production, field testing, and distribution of 
                        the products developed under this section; and
                            (ii) the technical facilities available for 
                        developing the programming; and
                    (C) describe the piloting, teacher training and 
                testing of the programming, print, computer, 
                television, radio and interactive media products.
    (h) Programs Related Operating Funds for Instructional Teacher 
Training (Profit).--The Assistant Secretary shall allow the eligible 
educational telecommunications partnership to receive a financial 
benefit from the distribution of programming assisted under this 
section. Such benefit shall be used by the eligible educational 
telecommunications partnership to support more development of 
curriculum specific programming and to provide greater access to a 
wider audience of educational programming.

SEC. 405. STAR SCHOOLS PROGRAM.

    The Star Schools Program Assistance Act (20 U.S.C. 4081 et seq.) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 901. PURPOSE.

    ``It is the purpose of this title to encourage improved instruction 
in mathematics, science, and foreign languages as well as other 
subjects, such as literacy skills and vocational education, and to 
serve underserved populations, including the disadvantaged, illiterate, 
limited-English proficient, and disabled, through a star schools 
program under which grants are made to eligible telecommunication 
partnerships to enable such partnerships to--
            ``(1) develop, construct, acquire, maintain and operate 
        telecommunications audio and visual facilities and equipment;
            ``(2) develop and acquire educational and instructional 
        programming; and
            ``(3) obtain technical assistance for the use of such 
        facilities and instructional programming.

``SEC. 902. GRANTS AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary is authorized, in 
accordance with the provisions of this title, to make grants to 
eligible telecommunications partnerships to pay the Federal share of 
the cost of--
            ``(1) the development, construction, acquisition, 
        maintenance and operation of telecommunications facilities and 
        equipment;
            ``(2) the development and acquisition of live, interactive 
        instructional programming;
            ``(3) the development and acquisition of preservice and 
        inservice teacher training programs based on established 
        research regarding teacher-to-teacher mentoring, effective 
        skill transfer, and ongoing, in-class instruction;
            ``(4) the establishment of teleconferencing facilities and 
        resources for broadcasting interactive training to teachers;
            ``(5) obtaining technical assistance; and
            ``(6) the coordination of the design and connectivity of 
        telecommunications networks to reach greater numbers of 
        schools.
    ``(b) Duration.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall award 
        grants pursuant to subsection (a) for a period of 5 years.
            ``(2) Renewal.--Grants awarded pursuant to subsection (a) 
        may be renewed for 1 additional 5-year period.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
        $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1994 and such sums as may be 
        necessary for each succeeding fiscal year, to carry out this 
        title.
            ``(2) Availability.--Funds appropriated pursuant to the 
        authority of subsection (a) shall remain available until 
        expended.
    ``(d) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Amount.--A grant made to an eligible 
        telecommunications partnership under this title shall not 
        exceed $4,000,000 in any 1 fiscal year.
            ``(2) Reservations.--
                    ``(A) Facilities and equipment.--Not less than 25 
                percent of the funds available to the Assistant 
                Secretary in any fiscal year under this title shall be 
                used for telecommunications facilities and equipment.
                    ``(B) Certain local educational agencies.--Not less 
                that 25 percent of the funds available to the Assistant 
                Secretary in any fiscal year under this title shall be 
                used for the cost of facilities, equipment, teacher 
                training or retaining, technical assistance, or 
                programming, for local educational agencies which are 
                eligible to receive assistance under chapter 1 of title 
                I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
                1965.
    ``(e) Federal Share.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Federal share for any fiscal year 
        shall be not more than 75 percent.
            ``(2) Waiver.--The Assistant Secretary may reduce or waive 
        the requirements of the non-Federal share required under 
        subparagraph (A) for good cause, as determined by the Assistant 
        Secretary.
    ``(f) Coordination.--The Department of Education, the National 
Science Foundation, the Department of Agriculture, and any other 
Federal department or agency operating a telecommunications network for 
educational purposes, shall coordinate the activities assisted under 
this title with the activities of such department or agency relating to 
a telecommunications network for educational purposes.
    ``(g) Closed Captioning.--Each entity receiving funds under this 
title are encouraged to provide closed captioning of the verbal content 
of such program, where appropriate, to be broadcast by way of line 21 
of the vertical blanking interval, or by way of comparable successor 
technologies.

``SEC. 903. ELIGIBLE TELECOMMUNICATIONS PARTNERSHIPS.

    ``(a) In General.--In order to be eligible for a grant under this 
title, an eligible telecommunications partnership shall consist of--
            ``(1) a public agency or corporation established for the 
        purposes of developing and operating telecommunications 
        networks to enhance educational opportunities provided by 
        educational institutions, teacher training centers, and other 
        entities, except that any such agency or corporation shall 
        represent the interest of elementary and secondary schools 
        which are eligible for assistance under chapter 1 of title I of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; or
            ``(2) a partnership that will provide a telecommunications 
        network and which includes 3 or more of the following entities, 
        at least 1 of which shall be an agency described in 
        subparagraph (A) or (B):
                    ``(A) a local educational agency serving a 
                significant number of elementary and secondary schools 
                that are eligible for assistance under chapter 1 of 
                title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
                of 1965 or elementary and secondary schools operated 
                for Indian children by the Department of Interior under 
                section 1005(d) of such Act;
                    ``(B) a State educational agency;
                    ``(C) an institution of higher education or a State 
                higher education agency;
                    ``(D) a teacher training center or academy which--
                            ``(i) provides teacher preservice and 
                        inservice training; and
                            ``(ii) receives Federal financial 
                        assistance or has been approved by a State 
                        agency; or
                    ``(E)(i) a public or private entity with experience 
                and expertise in the planning and operation of a 
                telecommunications network, including entities involved 
                in telecommunications through satellite, cable, 
                telephone or computers; or
                    ``(ii) a public broadcasting entity with such 
                experience.
    ``(b) Special Rule.--An eligible telecommunications partnership 
shall be organized on a statewide or multistate basis.

``SEC. 904. APPLICATIONS.

    ``(a) Applications Required.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each eligible telecommunications 
        partnership which desires to receive a grant under section 902 
        shall submit an application to the Assistant Secretary, at such 
        time, in such manner, and containing or accompanied by such 
        information as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably require.
            ``(2) Special rule.--The Assistant Secretary shall permit 
        applicants for assistance under this Act and applicants for 
        assistance under any other Federal program providing 
        educational technology in the classroom to submit a single 
        application for assistance.
    ``(b) Contents of the Application.--Each application submitted 
pursuant to subsection (a) shall--
            ``(1) describe the telecommunications facilities and 
        equipment and technical assistance for which assistance is 
        sought, which may include--
                    ``(A) the design, development, construction, 
                acquisition, maintenance and operation of State or 
                multistate educational telecommunications networks and 
                technology resource centers;
                    ``(B) microwave, fiber optics, cable, and satellite 
                transmission equipment or any combination thereof;
                    ``(C) reception facilities;
                    ``(D) satellite time;
                    ``(E) production facilities;
                    ``(F) other telecommunications equipment capable of 
                serving a wide geographic area;
                    ``(G) the provision of training services to 
                instructors who will be using the facilities and 
                equipment for which assistance is sought, including 
                training in using such facilities and equipment and 
                training in integrating programs into the classroom 
                curriculum; and
                    ``(H) the development of educational programming 
                for use on a telecommunications network;
            ``(2) in the case of an application for assistance for 
        instructional programming, describe the types of programming 
        which will be developed to enhance instruction and training and 
        provide assurances that such programming will be designed in 
        consultation with professionals who are experts in the 
        applicable subject matter and grade level;
            ``(3) demonstrate that the eligible telecommunications 
        partnership has engaged in sufficient survey and analysis of 
        the area to be served to ensure that the services offered by 
        the eligible telecommunications partnership will increase the 
        availability of courses of instruction in mathematics, science, 
        and foreign languages, as well as other subjects to be offered;
            ``(4) describe the training policies for teachers and other 
        school personnel to be implemented to ensure the effective use 
        of telecommunications facilities and equipment for which 
        assistance is sought;
            ``(5) provide assurances that the financial interest of the 
        United States in the telecommunications facilities and 
        equipment will be protected for the useful life of such 
        facilities and equipment;
            ``(6) provide assurances that a significant portion of any 
        facilities and equipment, technical assistance, and programming 
        for which assistance is sought for elementary and secondary 
        schools will be made available to schools of local educational 
        agencies which have a high percentage of children eligible to 
        be counted under chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965;
            ``(7) describe the manner in which traditionally 
        underserved students, such as students who are disadvantaged, 
        limited-English proficient, disabled, or illiterate will 
        participate in the benefits of the telecommunications 
        facilities, equipment, technical assistance, and programming 
        assisted under this title;
            ``(8) provide assurances that the applicant will use the 
        funds provided under this title to supplement and not supplant 
        funds otherwise available for the purposes of this title;
            ``(9) if the applicant is submitting an application for 
        assistance under title II of the Technology for Education Act 
        of 1993, describe how funds received under this title will be 
        coordinated with funds received for educational technology in 
        the classroom under title II of such Act;
            ``(10) describe the activities or services for which 
        assistance is sought, including activities and services such 
        as--
                    ``(A) providing facilities, equipment, training, 
                services, and technical assistance described in 
                paragraphs (1), (2), (4) and (7);
                    ``(B) making programs accessible to individuals 
                with disabilities through mechanisms such as closed 
                captioning and descriptive video services;
                    ``(C) linking networks together, for example, 
                around an issue of national importance, such as 
                national elections;
                    ``(D) sharing curriculum resources between networks 
                and development of program guides which demonstrate 
                cooperative, cross-network listing of programs for 
                specific curriculum areas;
                    ``(E) providing teacher and student support 
                services including classroom and training support 
                materials which permit student and teacher involvement 
                in the live interactive distance learning telecasts;
                    ``(F) incorporating community resources, such as 
                libraries and museums, into instructional programs;
                    ``(G) providing teacher training to early childhood 
                development and Head Start teachers and staff;
                    ``(H) providing teacher training to vocational 
                education teachers and staff;
                    ``(I) providing teacher training on proposed or 
                established voluntary national content standards in 
                mathematics and science and other disciplines as such 
                standards are developed;
                    ``(J) providing programs for adults at times other 
                than the regular school day in order to maximize the 
                use of telecommunications facilities and equipment; and
                    ``(K) providing parent education programs during 
                and after the regular school day which reinforce the 
                student's course of study and actively involve parents 
                in the learning process; and
            ``(11) include such additional assurances as the Secretary 
        may reasonably require.
    ``(c) Approval of Application; Priority.--The Assistant Secretary, 
in approving applications under this title, shall give priority to 
applications which demonstrate that--
            ``(1) a concentration and quality of mathematics, science, 
        and foreign languages resources which, by their distribution 
        through the eligible telecommunications partnership, will offer 
        significant new educational opportunities to network 
        participants, particularly to traditionally underserved 
        populations and areas with scarce resources and limited access 
        to courses in mathematics, science, and foreign languages;
            ``(2) the eligible telecommunications partnership has 
        secured the direct cooperation and involvement of public and 
        private educational institutions, State and local government, 
        and industry in planning the network;
            ``(3) the eligible telecommunications partnership will 
        serve the broadest range of institutions, including in the case 
        of elementary and secondary schools, those elementary and 
        secondary schools having a significant number of students 
        eligible to be counted under chapter 1 of title I of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, programs 
        providing instruction outside of the school setting, 
        institutions of higher education, teacher training centers, 
        research institutes, and private industry;
            ``(4) a significant number of educational institutions have 
        agreed to participate or will participate in the use of the 
        telecommunications system for which assistance is sought;
            ``(5) the eligible telecommunications partnership will have 
        substantial academic and teaching capabilities, including the 
        capability of training, retraining, and service upgrading of 
        teaching skills and the capability to provide professional 
        development leading to comprehensive effective instructional 
        strategies, outcomes-based curriculum and parenting practices;
            ``(6) the eligible telecommunications partnership will--
                    ``(A) provide a comprehensive range of courses for 
                educators with different skill levels to teach 
                instructional strategies for students with different 
                skill levels;
                    ``(B) provide training to participating educators 
                in ways to integrate telecommunications courses into 
                existing school curriculum; and
                    ``(C) include instruction for students, teachers, 
                and parents;
            ``(7) the eligible telecommunications partnership will 
        serve a multistate area;
            ``(8) a telecommunications entity (such as a satellite, 
        cable, telephone, computer, or public or private television 
        stations) will participate in the partnership and will donate 
        equipment or in kind services for telecommunications linkages; 
        and
            ``(9) the eligible telecommunications partnership will, in 
        providing services with assistance under this title, meet the 
        needs of groups of individuals traditionally excluded from 
        careers in mathematics and science because of discrimination, 
        inaccessibility, or economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
    ``(d) Geographic Distribution.--In approving applications under 
this title, the Assistant Secretary shall assure an equitable 
geographic distribution of grants under this title.

``SEC. 905. DISSEMINATION OF COURSES AND RESOURCES UNDER THE STAR 
              SCHOOLS PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Report.--Each eligible telecommunications partnership awarded 
a grant under this title shall report to the Assistant Secretary a 
listing and description of available courses of instruction and 
resources to be offered by educational institutions and teacher 
training centers which will be transmitted over satellite, specifying 
the satellite on which such transmission will occur and the time of 
such transmission.
    ``(b) Dissemination of Courses of Instruction.--The Assistant 
Secretary shall compile and prepare for dissemination a listing and 
description of available courses of instruction and resources to be 
offered by educational institutions and teacher training centers 
equipped with satellite transmission capabilities as reported to the 
Assistant Secretary under subsection (a).
    ``(c) Dissemination to State Educational Agencies.--The Assistant 
Secretary shall distribute the list required by subsection (b) to all 
State educational agencies.

``SEC. 906. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    ``(a) Continuing Eligibility.--
            ``(1) In general.--In order to be eligible to receive a 
        grant under this title in any fiscal year after the first 
        fiscal year in which an eligible telecommunications partnership 
        receives a grant under this title, such partnership shall 
        demonstrate in the application submitted pursuant to section 
        904 that such partnership will--
                    ``(A) continue to provide services in the subject 
                areas and geographic areas assisted with funds received 
                under this title in the previous fiscal year; and
                    ``(B) use all such grant funds to provide expanded 
                services by--
                            ``(i) increasing the number of students, 
                        schools or school districts served by the 
                        courses of instruction assisted under this 
                        title in the previous fiscal year;
                            ``(ii) providing new courses of 
                        instruction; and
                            ``(iii) serving new populations of 
                        underserved individuals, such as children or 
                        adults who are disadvantaged, have limited-
                        English proficiency, are disabled, are 
                        illiterate, or lack high school diplomas or 
                        their equivalent.
            ``(2) Special rules.--Grant funds received pursuant to the 
        application of paragraph (1) shall be used to supplement and 
        not supplant services provided by the recipient under this 
        title in the previous fiscal year.
    ``(b) Evaluation.--
            ``(1) In general.--From amounts appropriated pursuant to 
        the authority of subsection (b), the Secretary shall reserve 
        not more than $500,000 or 5 percent of such appropriations, 
        whichever is less, to conduct an independent evaluation by 
        grant, contract, or cooperative agreement, of the program 
        assisted under this title.
            ``(2) Submission.--The evaluation required under paragraph 
        (1) shall be submitted to the Congress and the Assistant 
        Secretary not later than June 1, 1995.
            ``(3) Contents.--The evaluation described in paragraph (1) 
        shall include--
                    ``(A) a review of the effectiveness of eligible 
                telecommunications partnerships and programs assisted 
                under this title after Federal funding under this title 
                ceases;
                    ``(B) an analysis of the effectiveness of non-
                Federal funds provided under this title, including 
                funds leveraged under this title and the permanency of 
                such funding;
                    ``(C) an analysis of how grant recipients under 
                this title spend funds appropriated to carry out this 
                title;
                    ``(D) a review of the subject matter and success of 
                distance learning through programs assisted under this 
                title;
                    ``(E) a comprehensive review of inservice teacher 
                training programs assisted under this title, including 
                the number of teachers trained, time spent in training 
                programs, and a comparison of the effectiveness of such 
                training and conventional teacher training programs;
                    ``(F) an analysis of programs assisted under this 
                title that focus on teacher certification and other 
                requirements and the resulting effect on the delivery 
                of instructional programming;
                    ``(G) the effects of distance learning on 
                curriculum and staffing patterns at participating 
                schools;
                    ``(H) an analysis of the socioeconomic 
                characteristics of students participating in programs 
                assisted under this title, including a review of the 
                differences and effectiveness of programming and 
                services provided to economically disadvantaged and 
                minority students;
                    ``(I) an analysis of the socioeconomic and 
                geographic characteristics of schools participating in 
                programs assisted under this title, including a review 
                of the variety of programming provided to different 
                schools; and
                    ``(J) the impact of dissemination grants under 
                section 907(a) on the use of technology-enhanced 
                programs in local educational agencies.
    ``(c) Federal Activities.--The Assistant Secretary may assist grant 
recipients under this title in acquiring satellite time, where 
appropriate, as economically as possible.

``SEC. 907. OTHER ASSISTANCE.

    ``(a) Dissemination Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary shall make 
        grants under this subsection to eligible telecommunications 
        partnerships assisted under this title and to eligible entities 
        that enter into an agreement with the Assistant Secretary to 
        provide dissemination and technical assistance to State and 
        local educational agencies not served under this title.
            ``(2) Definition.--For the purposes of this subsection, the 
        term `eligible entity' means an organization or institution of 
        higher education that has demonstrated expertise in educational 
        applications of technology and provides comprehensive technical 
        assistance to educators and policymakers at the local level.
            ``(3) Reservation.--The Assistant Secretary shall reserve 
        not less than 5 percent and not more than 10 percent of the 
        amount appropriated pursuant to the authority of subsection (c) 
        in each fiscal year to award grants under this subsection.
            ``(4) Applications.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each eligible telecommunications 
                partnership and eligible entity that desires to receive 
                a grant under this subsection shall submit an 
                application to the Secretary, at such time, in such 
                manner, and containing or accompanied by such 
                information, as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably 
                require.
                    ``(B) Contents.--Each applicant described in 
                paragraph (2) shall contain assurances that the 
                eligible telecommunications partnership or eligible 
                entity shall provide technical assistance to State and 
                local educational agencies in order to enable such 
                agencies to plan and implement technology-enhanced 
                systems, including--
                            ``(i) information regarding successful 
                        distance learning resources for States, local 
                        educational agencies, and schools;
                            ``(ii) assistance in connecting users of 
                        distance learning, regional educational 
                        services centers, colleges and universities, 
                        the private sector, and other relevant 
                        entities;
                            ``(iii) assistance and advice in the design 
                        and implementation of systems, including needs 
                        assessment and technology design; and
                            ``(iv) support for the identification of 
                        possible connections, and cost-sharing 
                        arrangements for users of such systems.
    ``(b) Special Statewide Network.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary may provide 
        assistance to a statewide telecommunications network under this 
        subsection if such network--
                    ``(A) provides 2-way interactive video and audio 
                communications;
                    ``(B) links together public colleges and 
                universities and secondary schools throughout the 
                State; and
                    ``(C) meets any other requirements determined 
                appropriate by the Secretary.
            ``(2) State contribution.--A statewide telecommunications 
        network assisted under paragraph (1) shall contribute, either 
        directly or through private contributions, non-Federal funds 
        equal to not less than 50 percent of the cost of such network.
    ``(c) Special Local Network.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary may provide 
        assistance to a local educational agency or consortium thereof 
        to enable such agency or consortium to establish a high 
        technology demonstration program.
            ``(2) Program requirements.--A high technology 
        demonstration program assisted under paragraph (1) shall--
                    ``(A) include 2-way full motion interactive video, 
                audio and text communications;
                    ``(B) link together elementary and secondary 
                schools, colleges, and universities;
                    ``(C) provide parent participation and family 
                programs;
                    ``(D) include a staff development program; and
                    ``(E) have a significant contribution and 
                participation from business and industry.
            ``(3) Special rule.--Each high technology demonstration 
        program assisted under paragraph (1) shall be of sufficient 
        size and scope to have an effect on meeting the National 
        Education Goals.
            ``(4) Matching requirement.--A local educational agency or 
        consortium receiving a grant under paragraph (1) shall provide, 
        either directly or through private contributions, non-Federal 
        matching funds equal to not less than 50 percent of the amount 
        of the grant.

``SEC. 908. DEFINITIONS.

    ``As used in this title--
            ``(1) the term `educational institution' means an 
        institution of higher education, a local educational agency, or 
        a State educational agency;
            ``(2) the term `institution of higher education' has the 
        same meaning given that term by section 1201(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965;
            ``(3) the term `local educational agency' has the same 
        meaning given that term by section 1471(12) of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965;
            ``(4) the term `instructional programming' means courses of 
        instruction, training courses, and resources used in such 
        instruction and training, which have been prepared in audio and 
        visual form on tape, disc, film, live, and presented by means 
        of telecommunications devices;
            ``(5) the term `public broadcasting entity' has the same 
        meaning given that term by section 397 of the Communications 
        Act of 1934;
            ``(6) the term `Assistant Secretary' means the Assistant 
        Secretary for Educational Technology;
            ``(7) the term `State educational agency' has the same 
        meaning given that term under section 1471(23) of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965; and
            ``(8) the term `State' means each of the several States, 
        the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
        Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Republic of the 
        Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the 
        Republic of Palau, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
        Islands.''.

  TITLE V--EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ASSESSMENT

SEC. 501. PURPOSES.

    It is the purpose of this title--
            (1) to provide direction and support for the conduct of 
        developmental research on advanced educational technologies;
            (2) to support the design and development of educational 
        access to high performance communications and computing 
        services;
            (3) to assess the effectiveness of technology in education 
        programs; and
            (4) to make an annual status report available to the public 
        regarding the state-of-the-art uses of technology in United 
        States education which private businesses and governments can 
        rely upon for decisionmaking about the need for, and provision 
        of, appropriate technologies for education in the United 
        States.

SEC. 502. APPLICATION OF ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES TO EDUCATION.

    (a) Statement of Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
provide support for the design and development of long-term 
comprehensive educational applications of advanced high performance 
computer and communication technologies and video technologies in 
support of the core subjects of the National Education Goals. Such 
advanced technologies include systems identified as interactive 
multimedia, super computing, virtual reality, advanced digital 
television, telecomputing, and the networks associated with such 
systems, including video dial tone access.
    (b) General Authority.--The Assistant Secretary, in cooperation 
with other Federal departments and agencies (including the Advanced 
Research Projects Agency (ARPA) of the Department of Defense, the 
Advanced Technology Program of the Department of Commerce, the National 
Science Foundation, all laboratories supported by the Department of 
Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the 
Department of Defense) is authorized to support research on advanced 
learning technologies.
    (c) Priorities.--In awarding assistance under this section, the 
Assistant Secretary shall give the highest priority to research 
projects which are intended to develop educational applications using 
advanced technologies which have been used effectively by the Federal 
Government, or business and industry.
    (d) Eligible Applicants.--Any single developer or partnership that 
can demonstrate both the technological expertise and educational 
content and instructional design expertise is eligible to apply for 
assistance under subsection (b).
    (e) Application Requirements.--Each eligible applicant desiring 
assistance under this section shall submit an application to the 
Assistant Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 
such information, as the Assistant Secretary may reasonably require. 
Each such application shall--
            (1) define clearly the scope and content of the subject 
        matter of the research and the relevance of the advanced 
        technology to such content;
            (2) describe the potential market for both the hardware and 
        software developed under this section;
            (3) assess and test the applications of the advanced 
        technology in a way that will validate the technology and 
        content usage by the proposed students;
            (4) develop products that are usable by all students, 
        including disabled, limited-English speaking, gifted and 
        talented, and disadvantaged students; and
            (5) develop a marketing plan for the transfer of prototype 
        development into mass distribution or marketing that may be 
        used in homes, schools, or workplaces.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be 
necessary for each succeeding fiscal year, to carry out this section.

SEC. 503. HIGH PERFORMANCE EDUCATIONAL COMPUTING AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
              NETWORKS.

    (a) Findings; Statement of Purpose.--
            (1) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
                    (A) throughout the United States various public and 
                private sector groups are developing high performance 
                computing and telecommunications networks;
                    (B) by the year 2000, such efforts should result in 
                public access to a variety of information resources;
                    (C) there needs to be more direct coordination 
                among such efforts and a more explicit consideration of 
                the needs of education in the designs of such efforts; 
                and
                    (D) support and resources are required to permit 
                schools and libraries to take advantage of the 
                explosive growth in communication capabilities and 
                information access that technology provides.
            (2) Statement of purpose.--It is the purpose of this 
        section to ensure that such high performance computing and 
        telecommunications networks (often identified as ``information 
        highways'') are developed with due consideration to the needs 
        of elementary and secondary education and that such networks 
        have explicit provisions which facilitate educational uses in 
        order to ensure that the classrooms and libraries in the 
        Nation's elementary and secondary schools have adequate access 
        to the emerging ``information highways''.
    (b) Authority.--The Assistant Secretary is authorized to--
            (1) identify educational high performance computing and 
        telecommunications network requirements;
            (2) develop specifications for the implementation of such 
        requirements within any national telecommunications network;
            (3) establish prototype operations on existing networks to 
        validate and further develop the educational specifications 
        which will facilitate the use of such networks by kindergarten 
        through twelfth grade students, teachers, administrators, and 
        parents;
            (4) represent the needs and interests of elementary and 
        secondary schools in the Federal planning and development of a 
        national information infrastructure; and
            (5) identify policy issues, such as communication rate 
        structures and intellectual property rights, that impact upon 
        the ability of the public schools to make effective use of the 
        emerging information highways and make recommendations to the 
        Secretary and the Congress.
    (c) Types of Grants.--The Assistant Secretary shall award the 
following types of grants:
            (1) Requirements grants.--The Assistant Secretary shall 
        solicit proposals for and award grants to 1 or more entities 
        for the identification of educational high performance 
        computing and telecommunications network requirements. The 
        solicitation shall request proposals which--
                    (A) identify and describe existing and planned 
                educational high performance computing and 
                telecommunications network efforts;
                    (B) identify and describe current uses of such 
                networks in kindergarten through twelfth grade 
                education throughout the United States;
                    (C) identify potential uses of such networks in 
                kindergarten through twelfth grade education by schools 
                throughout the United States;
                    (D) assess impediments to the development of such 
                networks in kindergarten through twelfth grade 
                education (such as technological impediments, 
                availability of technology-enhanced curriculum, 
                instruction, and administrative support resources and 
                services in local schools; and parent, student, teacher 
                and administrator attitudes toward technology-enhanced 
                education);
                    (E) assess the anticipated costs and benefits to be 
                derived from such network access in kindergarten 
                through twelfth grade education; and
                    (F) recommend priorities for development of 
                educational access to such networks based on the 
                anticipated cost benefit analysis.
            (2) Specifications grants.--The Assistant Secretary shall 
        solicit proposals for and award grants to 1 or more entities 
        for the design and development of educational specifications 
        which may be used to ensure educational access to any national 
        educational high performance computing and telecommunications 
        network. The solicitation shall request proposals which--
                    (A) incorporate--
                            (i) the findings of the grant recipients 
                        under paragraph (1); and
                            (ii) the priorities recommended for such 
                        networks by the Assistant Secretary with the 
                        advice of the National Commission on Technology 
                        in Education;
                    (B) provide for the development of several distinct 
                design alternatives, each with internal design options 
                based on uses of alternative technologies and costs;
                    (C) provide for the development of specifications 
                for selected design alternatives or of specifications 
                for a composite design;
                    (D) address technological issues, including--
                            (i) linkage of schools and communities with 
                        each other, with central resource centers, and 
                        with Federal and State agencies over existing 
                        or planned telecommunications networks, such as 
                        INTERNET, the National Research Education 
                        Network, and Telstar 401;
                            (ii) uses of alternative connectivity 
                        modes, such as fiber optics, satellites, and 
                        land-based broadcasting;
                            (iii) integrated uses of two-way 
                        interactive voice, video, and data 
                        communications;
                            (iv) uses of interactive multimedia;
                            (v) system capacity, such as maximum 
                        telecommunications traffic in a variety of use 
                        modes;
                            (vi) availability of needed technologies;
                            (vii) availability of support services; and
                            (viii) assessment of the impact of proposed 
                        educational access specifications on existing 
                        or planned telecommunications network; and
                    (E) provide comprehensive specifications which will 
                ensure educational access to any national educational 
                high performance computing and telecommunications 
                network as the primary deliverable product of the 
                specifications grants described in paragraph (1).
            (3) Prototype development grants.--The Assistant Secretary 
        shall solicit proposals for and award grants to 1 or more 
        entities for prototype operations on existing networks in order 
        to validate and further develop the educational specifications 
        which will facilitate use of existing or planned educational 
        high performance communicating and telecommunications networks 
        by kindergarten through twelfth grade students, teachers, 
        administrators, and parents. The solicitation shall request 
        proposals which--
                    (A) incorporate the design limits of the 
                comprehensive educational high performance computing 
                and telecommunications network specifications developed 
                by grant recipients under paragraph (2);
                    (B) support prototype operations for at least 1 
                year in a minimum of 5 test sites which are selected to 
                represent a variety of economic, social, urban and 
                rural settings;
                    (C) provide for inservice training and technical 
                assistance during the period of prototype operations;
                    (D) provide provisions for the identification and 
                correction of operational problems during the period of 
                prototype operations (including design flaws);
                    (E) include a comprehensive evaluation of all 
                aspects of the prototype, including--
                            (i) design flaws;
                            (ii) training requirements, including 
                        resources and strategies for initial and on-
                        going training;
                            (iii) technical support requirements;
                            (iv) financing constraints;
                            (v) availability and utility of information 
                        resources and services accessed during the 
                        prototype operations period;
                            (vi) factors which enhanced or impeded 
                        prototype operations; and
                            (vii) an overall assessment of the impact 
                        of such technology on the educational process; 
                        and
                    (F) provide recommended revisions of the Assistant 
                Secretary's educational high performance computing and 
                telecommunications network specifications based on 
                findings of the comprehensive evaluation of prototype 
                operations.
    (d) Timeline.--The Assistant Secretary shall award grants under 
this section in accordance with the following:
            (1) Requirement grants.--The Assistant Secretary shall 
        award requirement grants under subsection (c)(1) by January 1, 
        1995.
            (2) Development of design specifications.--The Assistant 
        Secretary shall award grants under subsection (c)(2) by January 
        1, 1996.
            (3) Prototype operations.--The Assistant Secretary shall 
        award grants under subsection (c)(3) by July 1, 1997.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $2,500,000 for fiscal year 1994, $2,500,000 for fiscal 
year 1995, and $10,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, to carry out this 
section.

SEC. 504. ASSESSMENT OF TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION.

    (a) Purposes.--It is the purpose of this section--
            (1) to make an annual status report available to the 
        Congress and the public regarding the state-of-the-art uses of 
        technology in State and local educational programs throughout 
        the United States; and
            (2) to support research regarding--
                    (A) the effectiveness of technology-enhanced 
                curriculum instruction;
                    (B) administrative support resources and services 
                in improving education in the United States; and
                    (C) school library media center technological 
                support.
    (b) Authority.--The Assistant Secretary, through the Office, 
shall--
            (1) conduct an annual assessment of the uses of technology 
        in State and local educational programs; and
            (2) award grants to support research on the effectiveness 
        of technology-enhanced education programs.
    (c) Annual Assessment.--The Assistant Secretary shall conduct the 
annual assessment described in subsection (b)(1) by obtaining input 
from a variety of sources, including State and local educational 
agencies, regional technology centers, university preservice and 
inservice technology training providers, national survey bureaus, and 
other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.
            (1) Timing of the assessments.--Each assessment shall be 
        conducted during the normal school year at such a time that the 
        data collection will coincide with other data collections and 
        facilitate data interpretation in reference to other routinely 
        collected educational performance data, such as student 
        enrollment and teacher preparation statistics.
            (2) Interagency cooperation.--The head of each Federal 
        department or agency that supports an education program shall 
        cooperate with the Assistant Secretary's efforts to assess and 
        report on the utilization of technology-enhanced curriculum, 
        instruction, and administrative support resources and services 
        in federally supported education programs.
            (3) Use of government resources; contracted services.--The 
        Assistant Secretary shall conduct the assessments using the 
        resources of the Office or the resources of any other Federal 
        department or agency made available to the Assistant Secretary, 
        and by contracting for services from the public, private, or 
        nonprofit sectors.
            (4) Submission.--The Assistant Secretary's annual 
        assessment shall be submitted to the Congress in the fall of 
        each year.
    (d) Effectiveness Research.--The Assistant Secretary is authorized 
to provide grants to public or private, nonprofit organizations or 
institutions for the conduct and dissemination of research on the 
effectiveness of new technologies for the improvement of education in 
the United States. In awarding such grants, the Assistant Secretary 
shall give priority to research projects which focus on--
            (1) teaching and learning in the kindergarten through 
        twelfth grade environment;
            (2) technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and 
        administrative support resources and services developed in 
        whole or in part with Federal funding; or
            (3) operational needs of elementary or secondary schools 
        involved in implementing technology-enhanced curriculum, 
        instruction, and administrative support resources and services 
        to achieve the National Education Goals.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be 
necessary in each succeeding fiscal year, to carry out this section.

                        TITLE VI--MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 601. STUDY OF SYSTEMIC FUNDING ALTERNATIVES.

    (a) In General.--The Assistant Secretary shall conduct a study to 
evaluate, and report to the Congress on, the feasibility of several 
alternative models for providing systematic funding for schools 
throughout the United States so that such schools are able to acquire 
and maintain technology-enhanced curriculum, instruction, and 
administrative support resources and services.
    (b) Report.--The report described in subsection (a) shall be 
presented to the Congress not later than August 1, 1995.

SEC. 602. PARTICIPATION OF PRIVATE SCHOOL CHILDREN.

    (a) Participation of Private School Children.--To the extent 
consistent with the number of children who are enrolled in private 
nonprofit elementary or secondary schools served by an entity receiving 
assistance under this Act, such entity shall, after consultation with 
appropriate private school representatives, make provision for 
including services and arrangements for the benefit of such children as 
will assure the equitable participation of such children in the 
purposes and benefits of this Act.
    (b) Waiver.--If by reason of any provision of State law an entity 
receiving assistance under this Act is prohibited from providing for 
the participation of children from private nonprofit schools as 
required by subsection (a), or if the Secretary determines that such 
entity has substantially failed or is unwilling to provide for such 
participation on an equitable basis, the Secretary shall waive such 
requirements and shall arrange for the provision of services to such 
children.

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