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[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1464 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1464

 To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure 
          gender equity in education, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

           September 15 (legislative day, September 7), 1993

  Mr. Simon (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Harkin, Ms. Mikulski, Ms. 
 Moseley-Braun, Mr. Sarbanes, Mr. Inouye, Mrs. Boxer, and Mrs. Murray) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
                 Committee on Labor and Human Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
 To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ensure 
          gender equity in education, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Women's Educational Equity 
Restoration Act of 1993''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE OFFICE OF GENDER EQUITY.

    (a) Office of Gender Equity.--The Department of Education 
Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3401 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 215 as 216; and
            (2) by inserting after section 214 the following new 
        section:

``SEC. 215. OFFICE OF GENDER EQUITY.

    ``(a) There shall be in the Department, an Office of Gender Equity, 
to be administered by a Director of Gender Equity, who shall be 
appointed by the Secretary. The Director shall--
            ``(1) promote, coordinate and evaluate gender equity 
        programs;
            ``(2) disseminate information, provide technical 
        assistance, and coordinate research activities, regarding 
        gender equity;
            ``(3) administer gender equity grant programs;
            ``(4) report directly to the Secretary; and
            ``(5) perform such additional functions as the Secretary 
        shall prescribe.
    ``(b) The Director shall, not later than September 30 of each 
fiscal year, submit a report to the President and the Congress setting 
forth descriptions and evaluations of the programs and activities 
assisted under the Women's Educational Equity Act of 1993, and provide 
for the distribution of such report to all interested groups and 
individuals.''.
    (b) Organizational Entity.--For purposes of section 413(a) of the 
Department of Education Organization Act, the Office of Gender Equity 
shall be considered to be an organizational entity established under 
such Act and shall not be subject to the reorganization authority of 
the Secretary of Education under such section or any other provision of 
law.

SEC. 3. GENDER EQUITY IN EDUCATION.

    Part A of title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 3041 et seq.) is amended to read as follows:

                ``PART A--WOMEN'S EDUCATIONAL EQUITY ACT

``SEC. 4001. SHORT TITLE.

    ``This part may be cited as the `Women's Educational Equity Act of 
1993'.

``SEC. 4002. FINDINGS AND STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

    ``(a) Findings.--The Congress finds and declares that--
            ``(1) educational programs in the United States are 
        frequently inequitable as such programs relate to women and 
        girls;
            ``(2) such inequities limit the full participation of all 
        individuals in American society; and
            ``(3) efforts to improve the quality of public education 
        also must include efforts to ensure equity in education 
        programs for all women and girls.
    ``(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this part--
            ``(1) to provide gender equity in education in the United 
        States;
            ``(2) to provide financial assistance to enable educational 
        agencies and institutions to meet the requirements of title IX 
        of the Educational Amendments of 1972; and
            ``(3) to provide equity in education to women and girls who 
        suffer multiple forms of discrimination based on sex, race, 
        ethnic origin, limited English proficiency, disability, or age.

``SEC. 4003. PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED.

    ``The Director of the Office of Gender Equity (hereafter in this 
part referred to as the `Director') is authorized--
            ``(1) to promote, coordinate and evaluate gender equity 
        policies, programs, activities and initiatives in all Federal 
        education programs and offices;
            ``(2) to develop, maintain, and disseminate materials, 
        resources, analyses and research relating to education equity 
        for women and girls;
            ``(3) to provide information and technical assistance to 
        assure the effective implementation of gender equity programs;
            ``(4) coordinate gender equity programs and activities with 
        other Federal departments and agencies that have jurisdiction 
        over education and related programs;
            ``(5) to provide grants to develop model equity programs;
            ``(6) to provide funds for the implementation of equity 
        programs in schools throughout the Nation; and
            ``(7) to coordinate or provide any other activities 
        consistent with achieving the purposes of this part.

``SEC. 4004. LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS.

    ``(a) Authority.--The Secretary is authorized to make grants to, 
and enter into contracts with, public agencies, private nonprofit 
agencies, organizations, and institutions, including student and 
community groups, for activities designed to achieve the purposes of 
this part at all levels of education, including preschool, elementary 
and secondary education, higher education, adult education and 
vocational and technical education, for the establishment and 
operation, for a period not exceeding 4 years, of local programs--
            ``(1) to ensure educational equity for women and girls;
            ``(2) to ensure equal opportunities for both sexes; and
            ``(3) that conduct activities incident to achieving 
        compliance with title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
    ``(b) Authorized Activities.--An entity described in subsection (a) 
may use funds under this part for--
            ``(1) introduction into the curriculum and classroom of 
        curricula, textbooks, and other material designed to achieve 
        equity for women and girls;
            ``(2) implementation of preservice and inservice training 
        with special emphasis on programs and activities designed to 
        provide educational equity for women and girls;
            ``(3) evaluation of promising or exemplary model programs 
        to assess the ability of such programs to improve local efforts 
        to advance educational equity for women and girls;
            ``(4) implementation of programs and policies to address 
        sexual harassment and violence against women and girls and to 
        ensure that educational institutions are free from threats to 
        the safety of students and personnel;
            ``(5) implementation of guidance and counseling activities, 
        including career education programs, designed to ensure 
        educational equity for women and girls;
            ``(6) implementation of nondiscriminatory tests of aptitude 
        and achievement and of alternative assessments that eliminate 
        biased assessment instruments from use;
            ``(7) implementation of programs to increase educational 
        opportunities, including higher education, vocational training, 
        and other educational programs for low-income women, including 
        underemployed and unemployed women and women receiving Aid to 
        Families with Dependent Children;
            ``(8) implementation of programs to improve representation 
        of women in all levels of educational administration;
            ``(9) implementation of comprehensive health education 
        programs, including pregnancy and AIDS prevention for women and 
        girls; and
            ``(10) planning, development and initial implementation 
        of--
                    ``(A) comprehensive plans for implementation of 
                equity programs in State and local educational agencies 
                and institutions of higher education, including 
                community colleges;
                    ``(B) innovative approaches to school-community 
                partnerships for educational equity; and
                    ``(C) innovative approaches to equity programs 
                addressing combined bias, stereotyping, and 
                discrimination on the basis of sex and race, ethnic 
                origin, limited English proficiency, or disability.
    ``(c) Application; Participation.--A grant may be made, and a 
contract may be entered into, under this part only upon application to 
the Secretary, at such time, in such form, and containing or 
accompanied by such information as the Secretary may prescribe. Each 
such application shall--
            ``(1) provide that the program or activity for which 
        assistance is sought will be administered by or under the 
        supervision of the applicant and in cooperation with 
        appropriate educational and community leaders, including 
        parent, teacher and student organizations, educational 
        institutions, business leaders, community-based organizations 
        serving women, and other significant groups and individuals;
            ``(2) describe a program for carrying out the purposes 
        described in section 4002(b) which is likely to make a 
        substantial contribution in attaining such purposes;
            ``(3) describe plans for continuation and 
        institutionalization of the program with local support 
        following completion of the grant period and termination of 
        Federal support under this part; and
            ``(4) establish policies and procedures which ensure 
        adequate documentation and evaluation of the activities 
        described in the application.
    ``(d) Criteria; Priorities; Categories of Competition.--The 
Secretary shall establish criteria, priorities, and categories of 
competition for awards under this part to ensure that funds under this 
part are used to achieve the purposes of this part.
            ``(1) Criteria.--The criteria shall address the extent to 
        which--
                    ``(A) the program addresses the needs of all 
                targeted participants, including those who suffer 
                multiple discrimination based on sex, race, ethnic 
                origin, or age;
                    ``(B) the program meets locally defined and 
                documented educational equity needs and priorities, 
                including compliance with the requirements of title IX 
                of the Education Amendments of 1972;
                    ``(C) the program is a significant component of a 
                comprehensive plan for educational equity and for 
                compliance with the requirements of title IX of the 
                Education Amendments of 1972 in the particular local 
                educational agency, institution of higher education, 
                vocational-technical institution, or other educational 
                agency or institution; and
                    ``(D) the program implements an institutional 
                strategy with long-term impact that will continue as a 
                central activity of the applicant entity after the 
                grant is completed.
            ``(2) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in 
        awarding grants under this part to applications describing 
        projects which--
                    ``(A) demonstrate adherence to research-based 
                principles for improving gender equity and incorporate 
                multiple strategies for achieving gender equity; and
                    ``(B) effectively address the educational needs of 
                all women and girls, including women and girls who 
                suffer multiple or compound discrimination based on sex 
                and on race, ethnic origin, disability, or age.
            ``(3) Categories of competition.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure that the total of grants awarded under this part in each 
        fiscal year address--
                    ``(A) all levels of education, including preschool, 
                elementary and secondary education, higher education, 
                vocational education, and adult education;
                    ``(B) all regions of the United States, including 
                at least 1 grant in each of the 10 Federal education 
                regions; and
                    ``(C) rural, suburban, and urban educational 
                institutions.
    ``(e) Use of Funds Limitation.--Not less than 50 percent of the 
funds awarded under this part shall be used to support activities or 
projects involving users at the level of elementary and secondary 
education.

``SEC. 4005. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

    ``(a) Authority.--The Secretary is authorized to make grants to, 
and enter into contracts with, individuals, public agencies, private 
nonprofit agencies, organizations, and institutions, including student 
and community groups, for activities designed to achieve the purpose of 
this part at all levels of education, including preschool, elementary 
and secondary education, higher education, adult education, and 
vocational-technical education, to develop model policies and programs, 
and to conduct research to address and ensure educational equities for 
women and girls, including--
            ``(1) the development and evaluation of gender-equitable 
        curricula, textbooks, software, and other educational material 
        and technology;
            ``(2) the development of model preservice and inservice 
        training programs for educational personnel with special 
        emphasis on programs and activities designed to provide 
        educational equity;
            ``(3) the development of guidance and counseling 
        activities, including career education programs, designed to 
        ensure gender equity;
            ``(4) the development and evaluation of nondiscriminatory 
        assessment systems;
            ``(5) the development of policies and programs to address 
        and prevent sexual harassment and violence to ensure that 
        educational institutions are free from threats to safety of 
        students and personnel;
            ``(6) the development and improvement of programs and 
        activities to increase opportunity for women, including 
        continuing educational activities, vocational education, and 
        programs for low-income women, including underemployed and 
        unemployed women, and women receiving Aid to Families with 
        Dependent Children;
            ``(7) the development of instruments and strategies for 
        program evaluation and dissemination of promising or exemplary 
        programs designed to improve local efforts to achieve gender 
        equity;
            ``(8) the development of instruments and procedures to 
        assess the presence or absence of gender equity in educational 
        settings; and
            ``(9) the development and evaluation of various strategies 
        to institutionalize gender equity in education.
    ``(b) Application.--A grant may be made, and a contract may be 
entered into, under this part only upon application to the Secretary, 
at such time, in such form, and containing or accompanied by such 
information as the Secretary may prescribe. Each such application 
shall--
            ``(1) provide that the program or activity for which 
        assistance is sought will be administered by or under the 
        supervision of the applicant;
            ``(2) describe a plan for carrying out 1 or more research 
        and development activities described in subsection (a), which 
        is likely to make a substantial contribution toward attaining 
        the purposes of this part; and
            ``(3) set forth policies and procedures which ensure 
        adequate documentation, data collection, and evaluation of the 
        activities intended to be carried out under the application, 
        including an evaluation or estimate of the potential for 
        continued significance following completion of the grant 
        period.
    ``(c) Criteria and Priorities.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish criteria 
        and priorities to ensure that funds under this part are used 
        for programs that most effectively achieve the purposes of this 
        part.
            ``(2) Special rule.--The criteria and priorities described 
        in paragraph (1) shall be promulgated in accordance with 
        section 431 of the General Education Provisions Act.
            ``(3) Number.--In establishing priorities pursuant to 
        paragraph (1) the Secretary shall establish not more than 4 
        priorities, 1 of which shall be a priority for a program which 
        addresses the educational needs of women and girls who suffer 
        multiple or compound discrimination based on sex and on race, 
        ethnic origin, disability, or age.
    ``(d) Special Rule.--The Secretary shall ensure that the total of 
grants awarded under this part in each fiscal year address all levels 
of education, including preschool, elementary and secondary education, 
higher education, vocational education, and adult education.
    ``(e) Distribution Rule.--The Secretary shall give due 
consideration to distributing grants among--
            ``(1) institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
        organizations, State and local educational agencies, and 
        elementary and secondary schools; and
            ``(2) all regions of the United States.
    ``(f) Limitation.--Nothing in this part shall be construed as 
prohibiting men and boys from participating in any programs or 
activities assisted under this part.

``SEC. 4006. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``(a) Section 4004.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
$20,000,000 for the fiscal year 1994, and such sums as may be necessary 
for each of the fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998, to carry out 
the provisions of section 4004 of this part.
    ``(b) Section 4005.--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 fiscal years 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998, to carry out 
the provisions of section 4005 of this part.''.

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