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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 667 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 667

       To improve and reform elementary and secondary education.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 18, 1999

  Mr. McCain introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
                  referred to the Committee on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
       To improve and reform elementary and secondary education.

    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; DEFINITIONS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``EDucating 
America's Children for Tomorrow (ED-ACT)''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; definitions.
                TITLE I--EMPOWERING PARENTS AND STUDENTS

Sec. 101. Empowering parents and students.
TITLE II--PROHIBITION REGARDING FUNDING FOR DEVELOPING OR IMPLEMENTING 
                      NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS

Sec. 201. Prohibition regarding funding for developing or implementing 
                            national education standards.
                 TITLE III--TROOPS-TO-TEACHERS PROGRAM

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Improvement and transfer of jurisdiction of troops-to-
                            teachers program.
               TITLE IV--ENGLISH PLUS AND MULTILINGUALISM

Sec. 401. English plus.
Sec. 402. Multilingualism study.
     TITLE V--EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN

Sec. 501. Purposes.
Sec. 502. Authorization of appropriations; program authority.
Sec. 503. Eligibility.
Sec. 504. Scholarships.
Sec. 505. Eligible children; award rules.
Sec. 506. Applications.
Sec. 507. Approval of programs.
Sec. 508. Amounts and length of grants.
Sec. 509. Uses of funds.
Sec. 510. Effect of programs.
Sec. 511. National evaluation.
Sec. 512. Enforcement.
Sec. 513. Definitions.
                        TITLE VI--TAX PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Credit for contributions to schools.
Sec. 602. Increase in annual contribution limit for education 
                            individual retirement accounts.
              TITLE VII--DEVELOPING BETTER EDUCATION TOOLS

Sec. 701. Educational tools for underserved students.
Sec. 702. Teacher training.
Sec. 703. Putting the best teachers in the classroom.
                    TITLE VIII--EMPOWERING STUDENTS

Sec. 801. Empowering students.
    (c) Definitions.--In this Act:
            (1) Comptroller general.--The term ``Comptroller General'' 
        means the Comptroller General of the United States.
            (2) Elementary school; local educational agency; parent; 
        secondary school; state educational agency.--The terms 
        ``elementary school'', ``local educational agency'', 
        ``parent'', ``secondary school'', and ``State educational 
        agency'' have the meanings given the terms in section 14101 of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        8801 et seq.).
            (3) Poverty line.--The term ``poverty line'' means the 
        poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and 
        Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) 
        of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) 
        applicable to a family of the size involved.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
            (5) State.--The term ``State'' means each of the several 
        States of the United States and the District of Columbia.

                TITLE I--EMPOWERING PARENTS AND STUDENTS

SEC. 101. EMPOWERING PARENTS AND STUDENTS.

    (a) Direct Awards to Local Educational Agencies.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
        law, for each fiscal year the Secretary shall award the total 
        amount of funds described in paragraph (2) directly to local 
        educational agencies in accordance with paragraph (4) to enable 
        the local educational agencies to carry out the authorized 
        activities described in paragraph (5).
            (2) Applicable funding.--The total amount of funds referred 
        to in paragraph (1) are all funds that are appropriated for the 
        Department of Education for a fiscal year to carry out programs 
        or activities under the following provisions of law:
                    (A) Title III of the Goals 2000: Educate America 
                Act (20 U.S.C. 5881 et seq.).
                    (B) Title IV of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act 
                (20 U.S.C. 5911 et seq.).
                    (C) Title VI of the Goals 2000: Educate America Act 
                (20 U.S.C. 5951).
                    (D) The School-to-Work Opportunities Act of 1994 
                (20 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.).
                    (E) Section 1502 of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6492).
                    (F) Title II of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.).
                    (G) Title III of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.).
                    (H) Title IV of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.).
                    (I) Part A of title V of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7201 et 
                seq.).
                    (J) Part B of title V of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7231 et 
                seq.).
                    (K) Title VI of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7301 et seq.).
                    (L) Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.).
                    (M) Part B of title IX of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7901 et 
                seq.).
                    (N) Part C of title IX of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7931 et 
                seq.).
                    (O) Part A of title X of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8001 et 
                seq.).
                    (P) Part B of title X of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8031 et 
                seq.).
                    (Q) Part D of title X of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8091 et 
                seq.).
                    (R) Part F of title X of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8141 et 
                seq.).
                    (S) Part G of title X of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8161 et 
                seq.).
                    (T) Part I of title X of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8241 et 
                seq.).
                    (U) Part J of title X of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8271 et 
                seq.).
                    (V) Part K of title X of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8331 et 
                seq.).
                    (W) Part L of title X of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8351 et 
                seq.).
                    (X) Part A of title XIII of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8621 et 
                seq.).
                    (Y) Part C of title XIII of the Elementary and 
                Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8671 et 
                seq.).
                    (Z) Part B of title VII of the Stewart B. McKinney 
                Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11421 et seq.).
            (3) Census determination.--
                    (A) In general.--Each local educational agency 
                shall conduct a census to determine the number of 
                kindergarten through grade 12 students that are in the 
                school district served by the local educational agency 
                for an academic year.
                    (B) Private school students.--In carrying out 
                subparagraph (A), each local educational agency shall 
                determine the number of private school students 
                described in such paragraph for an academic year on the 
                basis of data the local educational agency determines 
                reliable.
                    (C) Submission.--Each local educational agency 
                shall submit the total number of public and private 
                school children described in this paragraph for an 
                academic year to the Secretary not later than March 1 
                of the academic year.
                    (D) Penalty.--If the Secretary determines that a 
                local educational agency has knowingly submitted false 
                information under this subsection for the purpose of 
                gaining additional funds under this section, then the 
                local educational agency shall be fined an amount equal 
                to twice the difference between the amount the local 
                educational agency received under this section, and the 
                correct amount the local educational agency would have 
                received if the agency had submitted accurate 
                information under this subsection.
            (4) Determination of allotments.--From the total applicable 
        funding available for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall make 
        allotments to each local educational agency in a State in an 
        amount that bears the same relation--
                    (A) to 50 percent of such total applicable funding 
                as the number of individuals in the school district 
                served by the local educational agency who are aged 5 
                through 17 bears to the total number of such 
                individuals in all school districts served by all local 
                educational agencies in all States; and
                    (B) to 50 percent of such total amount as the total 
                amount all local educational agencies in the State are 
                eligible to receive under part A of title I of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) for the fiscal year bears to the 
                total amount all local educational agencies in all 
                States are eligible to receive under such part for the 
                fiscal year.
            (5) Authorized activities.--
                    (A) In general.--A local educational agency 
                receiving an allotment under paragraph (4) shall use 
                the allotted funds for innovative assistance programs 
                described in subparagraph (B).
                    (B) Innovative assistance.--The innovative 
                assistance programs referred to in subparagraph (A) 
                include--
                            (i) technology programs related to the 
                        implementation of school-based reform programs, 
                        including professional development to assist 
                        teachers and other school officials regarding 
                        how to use effectively such equipment and 
                        software;
                            (ii) programs for the acquisition and use 
                        of instructional and educational materials, 
                        including library services and materials 
                        (including media materials), assessments, 
                        reference materials, computer software and 
                        hardware for instructional use, and other 
                        curricular materials that--
                                    (I) are tied to high academic 
                                standards;
                                    (II) will be used to improve 
                                student achievement; and
                                    (III) are part of an overall 
                                education reform program;
                            (iii) promising education reform programs, 
                        including effective schools and magnet schools;
                            (iv) programs to improve the higher order 
                        thinking skills of disadvantaged elementary 
                        school and secondary school students and to 
                        prevent students from dropping out of school;
                            (v) programs to combat illiteracy in the 
                        student and adult populations, including parent 
                        illiteracy;
                            (vi) programs to provide for the 
                        educational needs of gifted and talented 
                        children;
                            (vii) hiring of teachers or teaching 
                        assistants to decrease a school, school 
                        district, or statewide student-to-teacher 
                        ratio; and
                            (viii) school improvement programs or 
                        activities described in sections 1116 and 1117 
                        of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
                        of 1965.
            (6) Accountability.--
                    (A) Local educational agency.--A local educational 
                agency that receives funds under this section in any 
                fiscal year shall make available for review by parents, 
                community members, the State educational agency and the 
                Department of Education--
                            (i) a proposed budget regarding how such 
                        funds shall be used; and
                            (ii) an accounting of the actual use of 
                        such funds at the end of the fiscal year of the 
                        local educational agency.
                    (B) School.--Each school receiving assistance under 
                this section in any fiscal year shall prepare and 
                submit to the Secretary and make available to the 
                public a detailed plan that outlines--
                            (i) clear academic performance objectives 
                        for students at the school;
                            (ii) a timetable for improving the academic 
                        performance of the students; and
                            (iii) methods for officially evaluating and 
                        measuring the academic growth or progress of 
                        the students.
    (b) Direct Awards of Part A of Title I Funding.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law 
        and subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall award the 
        total amount of funds appropriated to carry out part A of title 
        I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 6311 et seq.) for a fiscal year directly to local 
        educational agencies in accordance with paragraph (2) to enable 
        the local educational agencies to support programs or 
        activities, for kindergarten through grade 12 students, that 
        the local educational agencies deem appropriate.
            (2) Eligible local educational agencies.--The Secretary 
        shall make awards under this section for a fiscal year only to 
        local educational agencies that are eligible for assistance 
        under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 for the fiscal year.
            (3) Amount.--Each local educational agency shall receive an 
        amount awarded under this subsection for a fiscal year equal to 
        the amount the local educational agency is eligible to receive 
        under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 for the fiscal year.

TITLE II--PROHIBITION REGARDING FUNDING FOR DEVELOPING OR IMPLEMENTING 
                      NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS

SEC. 201. PROHIBITION REGARDING FUNDING FOR DEVELOPING OR IMPLEMENTING 
              NATIONAL EDUCATION STANDARDS.

    No Federal funds may be obligated or expended to develop or 
implement national education standards.

                 TITLE III--TROOPS-TO-TEACHERS PROGRAM

SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Troops-to-Teachers Program 
Improvement Act of 1999''.

SEC. 302. IMPROVEMENT AND TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION OF TROOPS-TO-
              TEACHERS PROGRAM.

    (a) Recodification, Improvement, and Transfer of Program.--(1) 
Section 1151 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as 
follows:
``Sec. 1151. Assistance to certain separated or retired members to 
              obtain certification and employment as teachers
    ``(a) Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Education, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
Transportation with respect to the Coast Guard, may carry out a 
program--
            ``(1) to assist eligible members of the armed forces after 
        their discharge or release, or retirement, from active duty to 
        obtain certification or licensure as elementary or secondary 
        school teachers or as vocational or technical teachers; and
            ``(2) to facilitate the employment of such members by local 
        educational agencies identified under subsection (b)(1).
    ``(b) Identification of Local Educational Agencies and States.--
(1)(A) In carrying out the program authorized by subsection (a), the 
Secretary of Education shall periodically identify local educational 
agencies that--
            ``(i) are receiving grants under title I of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) as 
        a result of having within their jurisdictions concentrations of 
        children from low-income families; or
            ``(ii) are experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers, 
        in particular a shortage of science, mathematics, reading, 
        special education, or vocational or technical teachers.
    ``(B) The Secretary may identify local educational agencies under 
subparagraph (A) through surveys conducted for that purpose or by 
utilizing information on local educational agencies that is available 
to the Secretary from other sources.
    ``(2) In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall also conduct 
a survey of States to identify those States that have alternative 
certification or licensure requirements for teachers, including those 
States that grant credit for service in the armed forces toward 
satisfying certification or licensure requirements for teachers.
    ``(c) Eligible Members.--(1) The following members shall be 
eligible for selection to participate in the program:
            ``(A) Any member who--
                    ``(i) during the period beginning on October 1, 
                1990, and ending on September 30, 1999, was 
                involuntarily discharged or released from active duty 
                for purposes of a reduction of force after six or more 
                years of continuous active duty immediately before the 
                discharge or release; and
                    ``(ii) satisfies such other criteria for selection 
                as the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the 
                Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
                Transportation, may prescribe.
            ``(B) Any member--
                    ``(i) who, on or after October 1, 1999--
                            ``(I) is retired for length of service with 
                        at least 20 years of active service computed 
                        under section 3925, 3926, 8925, or 8926 of this 
                        title or for purposes of chapter 571 of this 
                        title; or
                            ``(II) is retired under section 1201 or 
                        1204 of this title;
                    ``(ii) who--
                            ``(I) in the case of a member applying for 
                        assistance for placement as an elementary or 
                        secondary school teacher, has received a 
                        baccalaureate or advanced degree from an 
                        accredited institution of higher education; or
                            ``(II) in the case of a member applying for 
                        assistance for placement as a vocational or 
                        technical teacher--
                                    ``(aa) has received the equivalent 
                                of one year of college from an 
                                accredited institution of higher 
                                education and has 10 or more years of 
                                military experience in a vocational or 
                                technical field; or
                                    ``(bb) otherwise meets the 
                                certification or licensure requirements 
                                for a vocational or technical teacher 
                                in the State in which such member seeks 
                                assistance for placement under the 
                                program; and
                    ``(iii) who satisfies the criteria prescribed under 
                subparagraph (A)(ii).
    ``(2) A member who is discharged or released from active duty, or 
retires from service, under other than honorable conditions shall not 
be eligible to participate in the program.
    ``(d) Information Regarding Program.--(1) The Secretary of 
Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense and the 
Secretary of Transportation, shall provide information regarding the 
program, and make applications for the program available, to members as 
part of preseparation counseling provided under section 1142 of this 
title.
    ``(2) The information provided to members shall--
            ``(A) indicate the local educational agencies identified 
        under subsection (b)(1); and
            ``(B) identify those States surveyed under subsection 
        (b)(2) that have alternative certification or licensure 
        requirements for teachers, including those States that grant 
        credit for service in the armed forces toward satisfying such 
        requirements.
    ``(e) Selection of Participants.--(1)(A) Selection of members to 
participate in the program shall be made on the basis of applications 
submitted to the Secretary of Education on a timely basis. An 
application shall be in such form and contain such information as the 
Secretary may require.
    ``(B) An application shall be considered to be submitted on a 
timely basis if the application is submitted as follows:
            ``(i) In the case of an applicant who is eligible under 
        subsection (c)(1)(A), not later than September 30, 2003.
            ``(ii) In the case of an applicant who is eligible under 
        subsection (c)(1)(B), not later than four years after the date 
        of the retirement of the applicant from active duty.
    ``(2) In selecting participants to receive assistance for placement 
as elementary or secondary school teachers or vocational or technical 
teachers, the Secretary shall give priority to members who--
            ``(A) have educational or military experience in science, 
        mathematics, reading, special education, or vocational or 
        technical subjects and agree to seek employment as science, 
        mathematics, reading, or special education teachers in 
        elementary or secondary schools or in other schools under the 
        jurisdiction of a local educational agency; or
            ``(B) have educational or military experience in another 
        subject area identified by the Secretary, in consultation with 
        the National Governors Association, as important for national 
        educational objectives and agree to seek employment in that 
        subject area in elementary or secondary schools.
    ``(3) The Secretary may not select a member to participate in the 
program unless the Secretary has sufficient appropriations for the 
program available at the time of the selection to satisfy the 
obligations to be incurred by the United States under subsection (g) 
with respect to that member.
    ``(f) Agreement.--A member selected to participate in the program 
shall be required to enter into an agreement with the Secretary of 
Education in which the member agrees--
            ``(1) to obtain, within such time as the Secretary may 
        require, certification or licensure as an elementary or 
        secondary school teacher or vocational or technical teacher; 
        and
            ``(2) to accept an offer of full-time employment as an 
        elementary or secondary school teacher or vocational or 
        technical teacher for not less than four school years with a 
        local educational agency identified under subparagraph (A) or 
        (B) of subsection (b)(1), to begin the school year after 
        obtaining that certification or licensure.
    ``(g) Stipend and Bonus for Participants.--(1)(A) Subject to 
subparagraph (B), the Secretary of Education shall pay to each 
participant in the program a stipend in an amount equal to $5,000.
    ``(B) The total number of stipends that may be paid under this 
paragraph in any fiscal year may not exceed 3,000.
    ``(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary may, in lieu of 
paying a stipend under paragraph (1), pay a bonus of $10,000 to each 
participant in the program who agrees under subsection (f) to accept 
full-time employment as an elementary or secondary school teacher or 
vocational or technical teacher for not less than four years in a high 
need school.
    ``(B) The total number of bonuses that may be paid under this 
paragraph in any fiscal year may not exceed 1,000.
    ``(C) In this paragraph, the term `high need school' means an 
elementary school or secondary school that meets one or more of the 
following criteria:
            ``(i) A school with a drop out rate that exceeds the 
        national average school drop out rate.
            ``(ii) A school having a large percentage of students (as 
        determined by the Secretary in consultation with the National 
        Assessment Governing Board) who speak English as a second 
        language.
            ``(iii) A school having a large percentage of students (as 
        so determined) who are at risk of educational failure by reason 
        of limited proficiency in English, poverty, race, geographic 
        location, or economic circumstances.
            ``(iv) A school at least one-half of whose students are 
        from families with an income below the poverty line (as that 
        term is defined by the Office of Management and Budget and 
        revised annually in accordance with section 673(2) of the 
        Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) 
        applicable to a family of the size involved.
            ``(v) A school with a large percentage of students (as so 
        determined) who qualify for assistance under part B of the 
        Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et 
        seq.).
            ``(vi) A school located on an Indian reservation (as that 
        term is defined in section 403(9) of the Indian Child 
        Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act (25 U.S.C. 
        3202(9)).
            ``(vii) A school located in a rural area.
            ``(viii) A school meeting any other criteria established by 
        the Secretary in consultation with the National Governors 
        Association.
    ``(3) Stipends and bonuses paid under this subsection shall be 
taken into account in determining the eligibility of the participant 
concerned for Federal student financial assistance provided under title 
IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
    ``(h) Reimbursement Under Certain Circumstances.--(1) If a 
participant in the program fails to obtain teacher certification or 
licensure or employment as an elementary or secondary school teacher or 
vocational or technical teacher as required under the agreement or 
voluntarily leaves, or is terminated for cause, from the employment 
during the four years of required service, the participant shall be 
required to reimburse the Secretary of Education for any stipend paid 
to the participant under subsection (g)(1) in an amount that bears the 
same ratio to the amount of the stipend as the unserved portion of 
required service bears to the four years of required service.
    ``(2) If a participant in the program who is paid a bonus under 
subsection (g)(2) fails to obtain employment for which such bonus was 
paid, or voluntarily leaves or is terminated for cause from the 
employment during the four years of required service, the participant 
shall be required to reimburse the Secretary for any bonus paid to the 
participant under that subsection in an amount that bears the same 
ratio to the amount of the bonus as the unserved portion of required 
service bears to the four years of required service.
    ``(3)(A) The obligation to reimburse the Secretary under this 
subsection is, for all purposes, a debt owing the United States.
    ``(B) A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 shall not release a 
participant from the obligation to reimburse the Secretary.
    ``(C) Any amount owed by a participant under paragraph (1) or (2) 
shall bear interest at the rate equal to the highest rate being paid by 
the United States on the day on which the reimbursement is determined 
to be due for securities having maturities of ninety days or less and 
shall accrue from the day on which the participant is first notified of 
the amount due.
    ``(i) Exceptions to Reimbursement Provisions.--(1) A participant in 
the program shall not be considered to be in violation of an agreement 
entered into under subsection (f) during any period in which the 
participant--
            ``(A) is pursuing a full-time course of study related to 
        the field of teaching at an eligible institution;
            ``(B) is serving on active duty as a member of the armed 
        forces;
            ``(C) is temporarily totally disabled for a period of time 
        not to exceed three years as established by sworn affidavit of 
        a qualified physician;
            ``(D) is unable to secure employment for a period not to 
        exceed 12 months by reason of the care required by a spouse who 
        is disabled;
            ``(E) is seeking and unable to find full-time employment as 
        a teacher in an elementary or secondary school or as a 
        vocational or technical teacher for a single period not to 
        exceed 27 months; or
            ``(F) satisfies the provisions of additional reimbursement 
        exceptions that may be prescribed by the Secretary of 
        Education.
    ``(2) A participant shall be excused from reimbursement under 
subsection (h) if the participant becomes permanently totally disabled 
as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician. The 
Secretary may also waive reimbursement in cases of extreme hardship to 
the participant, as determined by the Secretary in consultation with 
the Secretary of Defense or the Secretary of Transportation, as the 
case may be.
    ``(j) Relationship to Educational Assistance Under Montgomery GI 
Bill.--The receipt by a participant in the program of any assistance 
under the program shall not reduce or otherwise affect the entitlement 
of the participant to any benefits under chapter 30 of title 38 or 
chapter 1606 of this title.
    ``(k) Discharge of State Activities Through Consortia of States.--
The Secretary of Education may permit States participating in the 
program authorized by this section to carry out activities authorized 
for such States under this section through one or more consortia of 
such States.
    ``(l) Assistance to States in Activities Under Program.--(1) 
Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary of Education may make grants to 
States participating in the program authorized by this section, or to 
consortia of such States, in order to permit such States or 
consortia of States to operate offices for purposes of recruiting 
eligible members for participation in the program and facilitating the 
employment of participants in the program in schools in such States or 
consortia of States.
    ``(2) The total amount of grants under paragraph (1) in any fiscal 
year may not exceed $4,000,000.
    ``(m) Limitation on Use of Funds for Management Infrastructure.--
The Secretary of Education may utilize not more than five percent of 
the funds available to carry out the program authorized by this section 
for a fiscal year for purposes of establishing and maintaining the 
management infrastructure necessary to support the program.
    ``(n) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) The term `State' includes the District of Columbia, 
        American Samoa, the Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, the 
        Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Commonwealth of the 
        Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
        Republic of Palau, and the United States Virgin Islands.
            ``(2) The term `alternative certification or licensure 
        requirements' means State or local teacher certification or 
        licensure requirements that permit a demonstrated competence in 
        appropriate subject areas gained in careers outside of 
        education to be substituted for traditional teacher training 
        course work.''.
    (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 58 of such 
title is amended by striking the item relating to section 1151 and 
inserting the following new item:

``1151. Assistance to certain separated or retired members to obtain 
                            certification and employment as 
                            teachers.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on October 1, 1999.
    (c) Transfer of Jurisdiction over Current Program.--(1) The 
Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Transportation, and Secretary of 
Education shall provide for the transfer to the Secretary of Education 
of any on-going functions and responsibilities of the Secretary of 
Defense and the Secretary of Transportation with respect the program 
authorized by section 1151 of title 10, United States Code, for the 
period beginning on October 23, 1992, and ending on September 30, 1999.
    (2) The Secretaries shall complete the transfer under paragraph (1) 
not later than October 1, 1999.
    (d) Reports.--(1) Not later than March 31, 2002, the Secretary of 
Education and the Comptroller General shall each submit to Congress a 
report on the effectiveness of the program authorized by section 1151 
of title 10, United States Code (as amended by subsection (a)), in the 
recruitment and retention of qualified personnel by local educational 
agencies identified under subsection (b)(1) of such section 1151 (as so 
amended).
    (2) The report under paragraph (1) shall include information on the 
following:
            (A) The number of participants in the program.
            (B) The schools in which such participants are employed.
            (C) The grade levels at which such participants teach.
            (D) The subject matters taught by such participants.
            (E) The effectiveness of the teaching of such participants, 
        as indicated by any relevant test scores of the students of 
        such participants.
            (F) The extent of any academic improvement in the schools 
        in which such participants teach by reason of their teaching.
            (G) The rates of retention of such participants by the 
        local educational agencies employing such participants.
            (H) The effect of any stipends or bonuses under subsection 
        (g) of such section 1151 (as so amended) in enhancing 
        participation in the program or in enhancing recruitment or 
        retention of participants in the program by the local 
        educational agencies employing such participants.
            (I) Such other matters as the Secretary or the Comptroller 
        General, as the case may be, considers appropriate.
    (3) The report of the Comptroller General under paragraph (1) shall 
also include any recommendations of the Comptroller General as to means 
of improving the program, including means of enhancing the recruitment 
and retention of participants in the program.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for the Department of Education $25,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2000 through 2004 for purposes of carrying out the program 
authorized by section 1151 of title 10, United States Code (as amended 
by subsection (a)).

               TITLE IV--ENGLISH PLUS AND MULTILINGUALISM

SEC. 401. ENGLISH PLUS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Immigrants to the United States have powerful 
        incentives to learn English in order to fully participate in 
        American society and the Nation's economy, and 90 percent of 
        all immigrant families become fluent in English within the 
        second generation.
            (2) A common language promotes unity among citizens, and 
        fosters greater communication.
            (3) The reality of a global economy is an ever-present 
        international development that is fostered by trade.
            (4) The United States is well postured for the global 
        economy and international development with its diverse 
        population and rich heritage of cultures and languages from 
        around the world.
            (5) Foreign language skills are a tremendous resource to 
        the United States and enhance American competitiveness in the 
        global economy.
            (6) It is clearly in the interest of the United States to 
        encourage educational opportunities for all citizens and to 
        take steps to realize the opportunities.
            (7) Many American Indian languages are preserved, 
        encouraged, and utilized, as the languages were during World 
        War II when the Navajo Code Talkers created a code that could 
        not be broken by the Japanese or the Germans, for example.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) our Nation must support literacy programs, including 
        programs designed to teach English, as well as those dedicated 
        to helping Americans learn and maintain languages in addition 
        to English;
            (2) our Nation must recognize the importance of English as 
        the unifying language of the United States;
            (3) as a Nation we must support and encourage Americans of 
        every age to master English in order to succeed in American 
        society and ensure a productive workforce;
            (4) our Nation must recognize that a skilled labor force is 
        crucial to United States competitiveness in a global economy, 
        and the ability to speak languages in addition to English is a 
        significant skill; and
            (5) our Nation must recognize the benefits, both on an 
        individual and a national basis, of developing the Nation's 
        linguistic resources.

SEC. 402. MULTILINGUALISM STUDY.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) even though all residents of the United States should 
        be proficient in English, without regard to their country of 
        birth, it is also of vital importance to the competitiveness of 
        the United States that those residents be encouraged to learn 
        other languages; and
            (2) education is the primary responsibility of State and 
        local governments and communities, and the governments and 
        communities are responsible for developing policies in the area 
        of education.
    (b) Resident of the United States Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``resident of the United States'' means an individual who resides 
in the United States, other than an alien who is not lawfully present 
in the United States.
    (c) Study.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall conduct a 
        study of multilingualism in the United States in accordance 
        with this section.
            (2) Requirements.--
                    (A) In general.--The study conducted under this 
                section shall determine--
                            (i) the percentage of residents in the 
                        United States who are proficient in English and 
                        at least 1 other language;
                            (ii) the predominant language other than 
                        English in which residents referred to in 
                        clause (i) are proficient;
                            (iii) the percentage of the residents 
                        described in clause (i) who were born in a 
                        foreign country;
                            (iv) the percentage of the residents 
                        described in clause (i) who were born in the 
                        United States;
                            (v) the percentage of the residents 
                        described in clause (iv) who are second-
                        generation residents of the United States; and
                            (vi) the percentage of the residents 
                        described in clause (iv) who are third-
                        generation residents of the United States.
                    (B) Age-specific categories.--The study under this 
                section shall, with respect to the residents described 
                in subparagraph (A)(i), determine the number of those 
                residents in each of the following categories:
                            (i) Residents who have not attained the age 
                        of 12.
                            (ii) Residents who have attained the age of 
                        12, but have not attained the age of 18.
                            (iii) Residents who have attained the age 
                        of 18, but have not attained the age of 50.
                            (iv) Residents who have attained the age of 
                        50.
                    (C) Federal programs.--In conducting the study 
                under this section, the Comptroller General shall 
                establish a list of each Federal program that 
                encourages multilingualism with respect to any category 
                of residents described in subparagraph (B).
                    (D) Comparisons.--In conducting the study under 
                this section, the Comptroller General shall compare the 
                multilingual population described in subparagraph (A) 
                with the multilingual populations of foreign 
                countries--
                            (i) in the Western Hemisphere; and
                            (ii) in Asia.
    (d) Report.--Upon completion of the study under this section, the 
Comptroller General shall prepare, and submit to Congress, a report 
that contains the results of the study conducted under this section, 
and such findings and recommendations as the Comptroller General 
determines to be appropriate.

     TITLE V--EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN

SEC. 501. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this title are--
            (1) to assist and encourage States and localities to--
                    (A) give children from low-income families more of 
                the same choices of all elementary and secondary 
                schools and other academic programs that children from 
                wealthier families already have;
                    (B) improve schools and other academic programs by 
                giving low-income parents increased consumer power to 
                choose the schools and programs that the parents 
                determine best fit the needs of their children; and
                    (C) more fully engage low-income parents in their 
                children's schooling; and
            (2) to demonstrate, through a competitive discretionary 
        grant program, the effects of State and local programs that 
        give middle- and low-income families more of the same choices 
        of all schools, public, private or religious, that wealthier 
        families have.

SEC. 502. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS; PROGRAM AUTHORITY.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--For the purpose of carrying 
out this title, there are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2001 through 2003.
    (b) Program Authority.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants 
to not more than 10 States or localities, on a competitive basis, to 
enable the States or localities to carry out educational choice 
programs in accordance with this title.

SEC. 503. ELIGIBILITY.

    A State or locality is eligible for a grant under this title if--
            (1) the State or locality has taken significant steps to 
        provide a choice of schools to families with school children 
        residing in the program area described in the application 
        submitted under section 506, including families who are not 
        eligible for scholarships under this title;
            (2) during the year for which assistance is sought, the 
        State or locality provides assurances in the application 
        submitted under section 506 that if awarded a grant under this 
        title such State or locality will provide scholarships to 
        parents of eligible children that may be redeemed for 
        elementary schools or secondary education for their children at 
        a broad variety of public and private elementary schools and 
        secondary schools, including religious schools, if any, serving 
        the area;
            (3) the State or locality agrees to match 50 percent of the 
        Federal funds provided for the scholarships; and
            (4) the State or locality allows lawfully operating public 
        and private elementary schools and secondary schools, including 
        religious schools, if any, serving the area to participate in 
        the program.

SEC. 504. SCHOLARSHIPS.

    (a) Scholarship Awards.--With funds awarded under this title, each 
State or locality awarded a grant under this title shall provide 
scholarships to the parents of eligible children, in accordance with 
section 505.
    (b) Scholarship Value.--The value of each scholarship shall be the 
sum of--
            (1) $2,000 from funds provided under this title;
            (2) $1,000 in matching funds from the State or locality; 
        and
            (3) an additional amount, if any, of State, local, or 
        nongovernmental funds.
    (c) Tax Exemption.--Scholarships awarded under this title shall not 
be considered income of the parents for Federal income tax purposes or 
for determining eligibility for any other Federal program.

SEC. 505. ELIGIBLE CHILDREN; AWARD RULES.

    (a) Eligible Child.--In this title the term ``eligible child'' 
means a child who--
            (1) resides in the program area described in the 
        application submitted under section 506;
            (2) will attend a public or private elementary school or 
        secondary school that is participating in the program; and
            (3) subject to subsection (b)(1)(C), is from a low-income 
        family, as determined by the State or locality in accordance 
        with regulations of the Secretary, except that the maximum 
        family income for eligibility under this title shall not exceed 
        the State or national median family income adjusted for family 
        size, whichever is higher, as determined by the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Bureau of the Census, on the basis of the 
        most recent satisfactory data available.
    (b) Award Rules.--
            (1) Continuing eligibility.--Each State or locality 
        receiving a grant under this title shall provide a scholarship 
        in each year of its program to each child who received a 
        scholarship during the previous year of the program, unless--
                    (A) the child no longer resides in the program 
                area;
                    (B) the child no longer attends school;
                    (C) the child's family income exceeds, by 20 
                percent or more, the maximum family income of families 
                who received scholarships in the preceding year; or
                    (D) the child is expelled or convicted of a felony, 
                including felonious drug possession, possession of a 
                weapon on school grounds, or violent acts against other 
                students or a member of the school's faculty.
            (2) Priority.--If the amount of the grant provided under 
        this title is not sufficient to provide a scholarship to each 
        eligible child from a family that meets the requirements of 
        subsection (a)(3), the State or locality shall provide 
        scholarships to eligible children from the lowest income 
        families.

SEC. 506. APPLICATIONS.

    (a) Application.--Each State or locality that wishes to receive a 
grant under this title shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
such time and in such manner as the Secretary may reasonably require.
    (b) Contents.--Each such application shall contain--
            (1) a description of the program area;
            (2) an economic profile of children residing in the program 
        area, in terms of family income and poverty status;
            (3) the family income range of children who will be 
        eligible to participate in the proposed program, consistent 
        with section 505(a)(3), and a description of the applicant's 
        method for identifying children who fall within that range;
            (4) an estimate of the number of children, within the 
        income range specified in paragraph (3), who will be eligible 
        to receive scholarships under the program;
            (5) information demonstrating that the applicant's proposed 
        program complies with the requirements of section 503 and with 
        the other requirements of this title;
            (6) a description of the procedures the applicant has used, 
        including timely and meaningful consultation with private 
        school officials--
                    (A) to encourage public and private elementary 
                schools and secondary schools to participate in the 
                program; and
                    (B) to ensure maximum educational choices for the 
                parents of eligible children and for other children 
                residing in the program area;
            (7) an identification of the public, private, and religious 
        elementary schools and secondary schools that are eligible and 
        have chosen to participate in the program;
            (8) a description of how the applicant will inform children 
        and their parents of the program and of the choices available 
        to the parents under the program, including the availability of 
        supplementary academic services under section 509(2);
            (9) a description of the procedures to be used to provide 
        scholarships to parents and to enable parents to use such 
        scholarships, such as the issuance of checks payable to 
        schools;
            (10) a description of the procedures by which a school will 
        make a pro rata refund to the Department of Education for any 
        participating child who, before completing 50 percent of the 
        school attendance period for which the scholarship was 
        provided--
                    (A) is released or expelled from the school; or
                    (B) withdraws from school for any reason;
            (11) a description of procedures the applicant will use 
        to--
                    (A) determine a child's continuing eligibility to 
                participate in the program; and
                    (B) bring new children into the program;
            (12) an assurance that the applicant will cooperate in 
        carrying out the national evaluation described in section 511;
            (13) an assurance that the applicant will maintain such 
        records relating to the program as the Secretary may require 
        and will comply with the Secretary's reasonable requests for 
        information about the program;
            (14) a description of State or local funds (including tax 
        benefits) and nongovernmental funds, that will be available 
        under section 504(b)(2) to supplement scholarship funds 
        provided under this title; and
            (15) such other assurance and information as the Secretary 
        may require.
    (c) Revisions.--Each such application shall be updated annually as 
may be needed to reflect revised conditions.

SEC. 507. APPROVAL OF PROGRAMS.

    (a) Selection.--From applications received each year the Secretary 
shall select not more than 10 scholarship programs on the basis of--
            (1) the number and variety of educational choices that are 
        available under the program to families of eligible children;
            (2) the extent to which educational choices among public, 
        private, and religious schools are available to all families in 
        the program area, including families that are not eligible for 
        scholarships under this title;
            (3) the proportion of children who will participate in the 
        program who are from families at or below the poverty line;
            (4) the applicant's financial support of the program, 
        including the amount of State, local, and nongovernmental funds 
        that will be provided to match Federal funds, including not 
        only direct expenditures for scholarships, but also other 
        economic incentives provided to families participating in the 
        program, such as a tax relief program; and
            (5) other criteria established by the Secretary.
    (b) Geographic Distribution.--The Secretary shall ensure that, to 
the extent feasible, grants are awarded for programs in urban and rural 
areas and in a variety of geographic areas throughout the Nation.
    (c) Consideration.--In considering the factor described in 
subsection (a)(4), the Secretary shall consider differences in local 
conditions.

SEC. 508. AMOUNTS AND LENGTH OF GRANTS.

    (a) Awards.--The Secretary shall award not more than 10 grants 
annually taking into consideration the availability of appropriations, 
the number and quality of applications, and other factors related to 
the purposes of this title that the Secretary determines are 
appropriate.
    (b) Renewal.--Each grant under this title shall be awarded for a 
period of not more than 3 years.

SEC. 509. USES OF FUNDS.

    The Federal portion of any scholarship awarded under this title 
shall be used as follows:
            (1) First.--First, for--
                    (A) the payment of tuition and fees at the school 
                selected by the parents of the child for whom the 
                scholarship was provided; and
                    (B) the reasonable costs of the child's 
                transportation to the school, if the school is not in 
                the school district to which the child would be 
                assigned in the absence of a program under this title.
            (2) Second.--If the parents so choose, to obtain 
        supplementary academic services for the child, at a cost of not 
        more than $500, from any provider chosen by the parents, that 
        the State or locality, in accordance with regulations of the 
        Secretary, determines is capable of providing such services and 
        has an appropriate refund policy.
            (3) Lastly.--Any funds that remain after the application of 
        paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be used--
                    (A) for educational programs that help eligible 
                children achieve high levels of academic excellence in 
                the school attended by the eligible children for whom a 
                scholarship was provided, if the eligible children 
                attend a public school; or
                    (B) by the State or locality for additional 
                scholarships in the year or the succeeding year of its 
                program, in accordance with this title, if the child 
                attends a private school.

SEC. 510. EFFECT OF PROGRAMS.

    (a) Title I.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a local 
educational agency that, in the absence of an educational choice 
program that is funded under this title, would provide services to a 
participating eligible child under part A of title I of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965, shall provide such services to 
such child.
    (b) Individuals With Disabilities.--Nothing in this title shall be 
construed to affect the requirements of part B of the Individuals with 
Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.).
    (c) Aid.--
            (1) In general.--Scholarships under this title are to aid 
        families, not institutions. A parent's expenditure of 
        scholarship funds at a school or for supplementary academic 
        services shall not constitute Federal financial aid or 
        assistance to that school or to the provider of supplementary 
        academic services.
            (2) Supplementary academic services.--
                    (A) In general.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a 
                school or provider of supplementary academic services 
                that receives scholarship funds under this title shall, 
                as a condition of participation under this title, 
                comply with the antidiscrimination provisions of 
                section 601 of title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 
                (42 U.S.C. 1681) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation 
                Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794).
                    (B) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate 
                new regulations to implement the provisions of 
                subparagraph (A), taking into account the purposes of 
                this title and the nature, variety, and missions of 
                schools and providers that may participate in providing 
                services to children under this title.
    (d) Other Federal Funds.--No Federal, State, or local agency may, 
in any year, take into account Federal funds provided to a State or 
locality or to the parents of any child under this title in determining 
whether to provide any other funds from Federal, State, or local 
resources, or in determining the amount of such assistance, to such 
State or locality or to a school attended by such child.
    (e) No Discretion.--Nothing in this title shall be construed to 
authorize the Secretary to exercise any direction, supervision, or 
control over the curriculum, program of instruction, administration, or 
personnel of any educational institution or school participating in a 
program under this title.

SEC. 511. NATIONAL EVALUATION.

    The Inspector General of the Department of Education shall conduct 
a national evaluation of the program authorized by this title. Such 
evaluation shall, at a minimum--
            (1) assess the implementation of scholarship programs 
        assisted under this title and their effect on participants, 
        schools, and communities in the program area, including 
        parental involvement in, and satisfaction with, the program and 
        their children's education;
            (2) compare the educational achievement of participating 
        eligible children with the educational achievement of similar 
        non-participating children before, during, and after the 
        program; and
            (3) compare--
                    (A) the educational achievement of eligible 
                children who use scholarships to attend schools other 
                than the schools the children would attend in the 
                absence of the program; with
                    (B) the educational achievement of children who 
                attend the schools the children would attend in the 
                absence of the program.

SEC. 512. ENFORCEMENT.

    (a) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate regulations to 
enforce the provisions of this title.
    (b) Private Cause.--No provision or requirement of this title shall 
be enforced through a private cause of action.

SEC. 513. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title--
            (1) the term ``locality'' means--
                    (A) a unit of general purpose local government, 
                such as a city, township, or village; or
                    (B) a local educational agency; and
            (2) the term ``State'' means each of the 50 States, the 
        District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

                        TITLE VI--TAX PROVISIONS

SEC. 601. CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCHOOLS.

    (a) In General.--Subpart A of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to nonrefundable 
personal credits) is amended by inserting after section 25A the 
following:

``SEC. 25B. CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCHOOLS.

    ``(a) Allowance of Credit.--In the case of an individual, there 
shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter 
for the taxable year an amount equal to the qualified charitable 
contributions of the taxpayer for the taxable year.
    ``(b) Maximum Credit.--The credit allowed by subsection (a) for any 
taxable year shall not exceed $500 ($250, in the case of a married 
individual filing a separate return).
    ``(c) Qualified Charitable Contribution.--For purposes of this 
section--
            ``(1) In general.--The term `qualified charitable 
        contribution' means, with respect to any taxable year, the 
        amount allowable as a deduction under section 170 (determined 
        without regard to subsection (e)(1)) for cash contributions to 
        a school.
            ``(2) School.--The term `school' means any school which 
        provides elementary education or secondary education (through 
        grade 12), as determined under State law.
    ``(d) Denial of Double Benefit.--No deduction shall be allowed 
under this chapter for any contribution for which credit is allowed 
under this section.
    ``(e) Election To Have Credit Not Apply.--A taxpayer may elect to 
have this section not apply for any taxable year.''
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart A of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by 
inserting after the item relating to section 25A the following:

                              ``Sec. 25B. Credit for contributions to 
                                        schools.''
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1998.

SEC. 602. INCREASE IN ANNUAL CONTRIBUTION LIMIT FOR EDUCATION 
              INDIVIDUAL RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS.

    (a) In General.--Section 530(b)(1)(A)(iii) of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 (defining education individual retirement account) is 
amended by striking ``$500'' and inserting ``$1,000''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 4973(e)(1)(A) of such Code is 
amended by striking ``$500'' and inserting ``$1,000''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1998.

              TITLE VII--DEVELOPING BETTER EDUCATION TOOLS

SEC. 701. EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR UNDERSERVED STUDENTS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Limited data exists regarding Native American, Asian 
        American and many other minority students.
            (2) The limited data available regarding these students 
        demonstrates potentially severe educational problems among 
        Native American students and a decline in performance among 
        Asian American students.
    (b) Study and Data.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study 
and collect data regarding the education of minority students, 
including Native American students, Asian American students, and all 
other students who are often combined in statistical data under the 
category of other, in order to provide more extensive and reliable data 
regarding the students and to improve the academic preparation of the 
students.
    (c) Matters Studied.--The study referred to in subsection (a) shall 
examine and compile information regarding--
            (1) the environment of the students;
            (2) the academic achievement scores in reading, 
        mathematics, and science of the students;
            (3) the postsecondary education of the students;
            (4) the environment and education of the members of the 
        students' families; and
            (5) the parental involvement in the education of the 
        students.
    (d) Recommendations.--The Comptroller General shall develop 
recommendations regarding the development and implementation of 
strategies to meet the unique educational needs of the students 
described in subsection (a).
    (e) Report.--
            (1) In general.--The Comptroller General shall prepare a 
        report regarding the matters studied, the information 
        collected, and the recommendations developed under this 
        section.
            (2) Distribution.--The Comptroller General shall distribute 
        the report described in paragraph (1) to each local educational 
        agency and State educational agency in the United States, the 
        Secretary, and Congress.
    (f) Funding.--The Secretary shall make available to the Comptroller 
General, from any funds available to the Secretary for salaries and 
expenses at the Department of Education, such sums as the Comptroller 
General determines necessary to carry out this section.

SEC. 702. TEACHER TRAINING.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that too often inexperienced 
elementary school and secondary school teachers or teachers with low 
levels of education are found in schools predominately serving low-
income students.
    (b) Study.--The Comptroller General shall conduct a study to 
determine whether requiring teacher training in a specific subject 
matter or at least a minor degree in a subject matter (such as 
mathematics, science, or English results in improved student 
performance.

SEC. 703. PUTTING THE BEST TEACHERS IN THE CLASSROOM.

    It is the sense of the Senate that--
            (1) the individual States should evaluate their teachers on 
        the basis of demonstrated ability, including tests of subject 
        matter knowledge, teaching knowledge, and teaching skill;
            (2) States in conjunction with the various local education 
        agencies should develop their own methods of testing their 
        teachers and other instructional staff with respect to the 
        specific subjects taught by the teachers and staff, and should 
        administer the test every 4 years to individual teachers;
            (3) each local educational agency should give serious 
        consideration to using a portion of the funds made available 
        under section 101 to develop and implement a method for 
        evaluating each individual teacher's ability to provide the 
        appropriate instruction in the classroom; and
            (4) each local educational agency is encouraged to give 
        consideration to providing monetary rewards to teachers by 
        developing a compensation system that supports teachers who 
        become increasingly expert in a subject area, are proficient in 
        meeting the needs of students and schools, and demonstrate high 
        levels of performance measured against professional teaching 
        standards, and that will encourage teachers to continue to 
        learn needed skills and broaden the teachers' expertise, 
        thereby enhancing education for all students.

                    TITLE VIII--EMPOWERING STUDENTS

SEC. 801. EMPOWERING STUDENTS.

    The Secretary, not later than October 1, 2004, shall gradually 
reduce the sum of the costs for employees and administrative expenses 
at the Department of Education as of the date of enactment of this Act 
incrementally each year until the sum of the costs for employees and 
administrative costs are reduced by 35 percent.
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