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[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1556 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1556

    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
    strengthen the involvement of parents in the education of their 
                   children, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             August 5, 1999

 Mr. Reed (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Harkin, and Mr. 
   Bingaman) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
  referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 
    To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to 
    strengthen the involvement of parents in the education of their 
                   children, 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 ``Parental Accountability, 
Recruitment, and Education National Training Act of 1999''.

SEC. 2. REFERENCES.

    Except as otherwise specifically provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or a 
repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be 
considered to be made to a section or other provision of the Elementary 
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.).

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Parents are the first and most influential educators of 
        their children.
            (2) The Federal Government must provide leadership, 
        technical assistance, and financial support to States and local 
        educational agencies, as partners, in helping the agencies 
        implement successful and effective parental involvement 
        policies and programs that lead to improved student 
        achievement.
            (3) State and local education officials, as well as 
        teachers, principals, and other staff at the school level, must 
        work as partners with the parents of the children they serve.
            (4) Research has documented that, regardless of the 
        economic, ethnic, or cultural background of the family, 
        parental involvement in a child's education is a major factor 
        in determining success in school.
            (5) Parental involvement in a child's education contributes 
        to positive outcomes such as improved grades and test scores, 
        higher expectations for student achievement, better school 
        attendance, improved homework completion rates, decreased 
        violence and substance abuse, and higher rates of graduation 
        and enrollment in postsecondary education.
            (6) Numerous education laws now require meaningful parental 
        involvement, including title I of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), the Goals 2000: 
        Educate America Act (20 U.S.C. 5801 et seq.), the Head Start 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.), and the Individuals with 
        Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.), and 
        elements of these laws should be extended to other Federal 
        education programs.

SEC. 4. BASIC PROGRAMS.

    (a) State Plan.--Section 1111 (20 U.S.C. 6311) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(2)(B)(ii), by striking ``other 
        measures'' and inserting ``academic achievement and other 
        measures, such as a school or local educational agency's 
        responsibilities under sections 1118 and 1119'';
            (2) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by inserting before the 
        semicolon the following: ``, and parental involvement under 
        section 1118'';
            (3) by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as 
        subsections (e) through (h), respectively; and
            (4) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Parental Involvement.--Each State plan shall demonstrate that 
the State has identified or developed effective research-based best 
practices designed to foster meaningful parental involvement. Such best 
practices shall--
            ``(1) be disseminated to all schools and local educational 
        agencies in the State;
            ``(2) be implemented in all schools in the State; and
            ``(3) address the full range of parental involvement 
        activities required under section 1118.''.
    (b) Local Educational Agency Plans.--Section 1112 (20 U.S.C. 6312) 
is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(1)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (D) through (H) 
                as subparagraphs (E) through (I); and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the 
                following:
                    ``(D) work in consultation with schools as the 
                schools develop and implement their plans or activities 
                under sections 1118 and 1119;''; and
            (2) in subsection (e)(3), by inserting before the period 
        the following: ``and if such agency's parental involvement 
        activities are in accordance with section 1118''.
    (c) Schoolwide Programs.--Section 1114 (20 U.S.C. 6314) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)(E), by inserting after 
        ``involvement'' the following: ``in accordance with section 
        1118''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(2)(A)(iv), by inserting after 
        ``results'' the following: ``in a language the family can 
        understand''.
    (d) Targeted Assistance.--Section 1115(c)(1)(H) (20 U.S.C. 
6315(c)(1)(H)) is amended by inserting after ``involvement'' the 
following: ``in accordance with section 1118''.
    (e) Assessments.--Section 1116 (20 U.S.C. 6317) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
                paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively;
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) review the effectiveness of the actions and 
        activities the schools are carrying out under this part with 
        respect to parental involvement, professional development, and 
        other activities assisted under this Act;''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (4) (as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (3))--
                            (i) by inserting ``of yearly progress'' 
                        after ``annual review''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``of all'' and inserting 
                        ``and the review conducted under paragraph (3), 
                        with respect to all'';
            (2) in subsection (c)(4), by inserting after ``elements of 
        student performance problems'' the following: ``, that 
        addresses school problems, if any, in implementing the parental 
        involvement requirements in section 1118 and the professional 
        development requirements in section 1119,''; and
            (3) in subsection (d)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as 
                subparagraph (C);
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the 
                following:
                    ``(B) annually review the effectiveness of the 
                action or activities carried out under this part by 
                each local educational agency receiving funds under 
                this part with respect to parental involvement, 
                professional development, and other activities assisted 
                under this Act; and''; and
                    (D) in subparagraph (C) (as redesignated by 
                subparagraph (B))--
                            (i) by inserting ``of yearly progress'' 
                        after ``State review''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, and of the review 
                        conducted under subparagraph (B)'' after 
                        ``1111(b)(3)(I)''.
    (f) State Assistance.--Section 1117 (20 U.S.C. 6318) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``parental 
        involvement,'' after ``including''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(C)--
                            (i) by inserting ``parents,'' after 
                        ``including''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``parental involvement 
                        programs,'' after ``successful''; and
                    (B) by inserting at the end the following:
            ``(4) Parental involvement.--Each State shall collect and 
        disseminate effective parental involvement practices to local 
        educational agencies and schools. Such practices shall--
                    ``(A) be based on the most current research on 
                effective parental involvement that fosters achievement 
                to high standards for all children;
                    ``(B) be geared toward lowering barriers to greater 
                participation in school planning, review, and 
                improvement experienced by parents; and
                    ``(C) be implemented by the State in local 
                educational agencies and schools requesting such 
                assistance from the State.''.
    (g) Parental Involvement.--Section 1118 (20 U.S.C. 6319) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by inserting before the 
        semicolon the following: ``activities that will lead to 
        improved student achievement for all students'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting before the last 
        sentence the following: ``Parents shall be notified of the 
        policy in their own language.'';
            (3) in subsection (e)(1), by striking ``participating 
        parents'' and inserting ``all parents of children served by the 
        school or agency, as appropriate,'';
            (4) in subsection (g), by adding at the end the following: 
        ``Such local educational agencies and schools may use 
        information, technical assistance, and other support from the 
        parental information and resource centers to create parent 
        resource centers in schools.''; and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(h) State Review.--The State educational agency shall review the 
local educational agency's parental involvement policies and practices 
to determine if such policies and practices are meaningful and targeted 
to improve home and school communication, student achievement, and 
parental involvement in school planning, review, and improvement.''.

SEC. 5. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Purposes.--Section 2002(2) (20 U.S.C. 6602(2)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (F), by striking the period and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) incorporates training in effective practices 
                in order to encourage and offer opportunities to get 
                parents involved in their child's education in ways 
                that will foster student achievement and well-being; 
                and
                    ``(H) includes special training for teachers and 
                administrators to develop the skills necessary to work 
                most effectively with parents.''.
    (b) Authorized Activities.--Section 2102(c) (20 U.S.C. 6622(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (13), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (14), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(15) the development and dissemination of model programs 
        that teach teachers and administrators how best to work with 
        parents and how to encourage the parent's involvement in the 
        full range of parental involvement activities described in 
        section 1118.''.
    (c) State Applications.--Section 2205(b)(2) (20 U.S.C. 6645(b)(2)) 
is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (N), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) by redesignating subparagraph (O) as subparagraph (P); 
        and
            (3) by inserting after subparagraph (N) the following:
                    ``(O) describe how the State will train teachers to 
                foster relationships with parents and encourage parents 
                to become collaborators with schools in their 
                children's education; and''.
    (d) State-Level Activities.--Section 2207 (20 U.S.C. 6647) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (12) and (13) as (13) and 
        (14), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (11) the following:
            ``(12) providing professional development programs that 
        enable teachers, administrators, and pupil services personnel 
        to effectively communicate with and involve parents in the 
        education process to support school planning, review, 
        improvement, and classroom instruction, and to work effectively 
        with parent volunteers;''.
    (e) Local Plan and Application for Improving Teaching and 
Learning.--Section 2208 (20 U.S.C. 6648) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ``parents,'' after 
        ``administrators,''; and
            (2) in subsection (d)(1)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (I) and (J) as 
                subparagraphs (J) and (K), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after subparagraph (H) the 
                following:
                    ``(I) describe the specific professional 
                development strategies that will be implemented to 
                improve parental involvement in education and how such 
                agency will be held accountable for implementing such 
                strategies.''.
    (f) Local Allocation.--Section 2210(b)(3) (20 U.S.C. 6650(b)(3)) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (P) and (Q) as 
        subparagraphs (Q) and (R), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after subparagraph (O) the following:
                    ``(P) professional development activities designed 
                to enable teachers, administrators, and pupil services 
                personnel to communicate with parents regarding student 
                achievement on assessments.''.

SEC. 6. TECHNOLOGY FOR EDUCATION.

    (a) Findings.--Section 3111 (20 U.S.C. 6811) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``and by facilitating 
        mentor relationships,'' after ``by means of 
        telecommunications,'';
            (2) in paragraph (14), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (3) in paragraph (15), by striking the period and inserting 
        a semicolon; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(16) access to education technology and teachers trained 
        in how to incorporate the technology into their instruction 
        leads to improved student achievement, motivation, and school 
        attendance;
            ``(17) the use of technology in education can enhance the 
        educational opportunities schools can offer students with 
        special needs; and
            ``(18) the introduction of education technology increases 
        parental involvement, which has been shown to improve student 
        achievement.''.
    (b) Statement of Purpose.--Section 3112 (20 U.S.C. 6812) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding after paragraph (12), the following:
            ``(13) development and support for technology and 
        technology programming that will enhance and facilitate 
        meaningful parental involvement.''.
    (c) National Long-Range Technology Plan.--Section 3121(c)(4) (20 
U.S.C. 6831(c)(4)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in subparagraph (F), by inserting ``and'' after the 
        semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(G) increased parental involvement in schools 
                through the use of technology;''.
    (d) Federal Leadership.--Section 3122(c) (20 U.S.C. 6832(c)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (15), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (16), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(17) the development, demonstration, and evaluation of 
        model technology programs designed to improve parental 
        involvement.''.
    (e) Local Uses of Funds.--Section 3134 (20 U.S.C. 6844) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and inserting 
        a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) utilizing technology to develop or expand efforts to 
        connect schools and teachers with parents to promote meaningful 
        parental involvement and foster increased communication about 
        curriculum, assignments, and assessments; and
            ``(8) providing ongoing training and support for parents to 
        help the parents learn and use the technology being applied in 
        their children's education, so as to equip the parents to 
        reinforce and support their children's learning.''.
    (f) Local Applications.--Section 3135 (20 U.S.C. 6845) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(D)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``and'' after the 
                semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(iii) a description of how parents will be 
                informed of, and trained in, the use of technologies, 
                so that the parents will be equipped to reinforce at 
                home the instruction their children receive at 
                school;'';
            (2) in paragraph (3)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) improve parental involvement in schools;'';
            (3) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking the period and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(5) describe how the local educational agency will 
        effectively use technology to promote parental involvement and 
        increase communication with parents.''.
    (g) National Challenge Grants.--Section 3136(c) (20 U.S.C. 6846(c)) 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (5), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) the project will enhance parental involvement by 
        providing parents the means and the skills needed to more fully 
        participate in their child's learning.''.

SEC. 7. DRUG-FREE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES.

    (a) State Applications.--Section 4112 (20 U.S.C. 7112) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, including 
                how the agency will receive input from parents 
                regarding the use of such funds'' after ``4113(b)''; 
                and
                    (B) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``, and how such 
                review will include input from parents'' after 
                ``4115''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' after the 
                semicolon;
                    (B) in paragraph (6), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(7) a specific description of how input from parents will 
        be sought regarding the use of funds under section 4114(a).''.
    (b) Evaluation and Reporting.--Section 4117 (20 U.S.C. 7117) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period and 
                inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) on the State's efforts to inform parents of 
                and include parents in violence and drug prevention 
                efforts.''; and
            (2) in the first sentence of subsection (c), by striking 
        the period and inserting ``and a description of how parents 
        were informed of and participated in violence and drug 
        prevention efforts.''.

SEC. 8. INNOVATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM STRATEGIES.

    (a) Definition.--Section 6003 (20 U.S.C. 7303) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``children, and (3)'' and inserting 
        ``children, (3) adopting meaningful parental involvement 
        policies and practices, and (4)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) A climate that promotes meaningful parental 
                involvement in the classroom and in site-based 
                activities.''.
    (b) State Applications.--Section 6202(a) (20 U.S.C. 7332(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) provides information on the parental involvement 
        policies and practices promoted by the State.''.
    (c) Targeted Uses of Funds.--Section 6301(b) (20 U.S.C. 7351(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period and inserting 
        ``; and''; and
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following:
            ``(10) programs to promote the meaningful involvement of 
        parents.''.
    (d) Local Applications.--Section 6303(a)(1)(A) (20 U.S.C. 
7353(a)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting ``, including parental 
involvement,'' before ``designed''.

SEC. 9. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    (a) Definition.--Section 14101 (20 U.S.C. 8801) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (23) through (29) as 
        paragraphs (24) through (30), respectfully; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (22) the following:
            ``(23) Parental involvement.--The term `parental 
        involvement' means the participation of parents on all levels 
        of a school's operation, including all of the activities 
        described in section 1118.''.
    (b) Parental Involvement.--Title XIV (20 U.S.C. 8801 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

                     ``PART H--PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

``SEC. 14901. PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT.

    ``(a) State Parental Involvement Plan.--In order to receive Federal 
funding for any program authorized under this Act, a State educational 
agency shall (as part of a consolidated application, or other State 
plan or application submitted under this Act) submit to the Secretary--
            ``(1) a description of the agency's parental involvement 
        policies, consistent with section 1118, including specific 
        details about--
                    ``(A) how Federal funds will be used to implement 
                such policies; and
                    ``(B) successful research-based practices in 
                schools throughout the State; and
            ``(2) a description of how such policies will be evaluated 
        with respect to increased parental involvement in the schools 
        throughout the State.
    ``(b) Parental Review of State Parental Involvement Plan.--Prior to 
making the submission described in subsection (a), a State educational 
agency shall involve parents in the development of the policies 
described in such subsection by--
            ``(1) providing public notice of the policies in a manner 
        and language understandable to parents;
            ``(2) providing the opportunity for parents and other 
        interested individuals to comment on the policies; and
            ``(3) including the comments received with the submission.
    ``(c) Language Applicability.--Each State educational agency and 
local educational agency that is required to establish a parental 
involvement plan or policy under a program assisted under this Act 
shall make available, to the parents of children eligible to 
participate in the program, the plan or policy in the language most 
familiar to the parents and in an easily understandable manner.''.
                                 <all>
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