Foreign Language Education Partnership Program Act

To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a partnership program in foreign languages. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Foreign Language Education Partnership Program Act 2. Partnership program in foreign languages (a) In general Section 5494 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 7259c 5494. Partnership program in foreign languages (a) Purposes The purposes of this section are— (1) to provide grants for developing and maintaining model programs of articulated foreign language learning from kindergarten through grade 12 that increase the number of students graduating from high school with an advanced level of proficiency in at least one foreign language; and (2) to widely disseminate information on the model programs that demonstrate success. (b) Program authorized (1) In general From the amounts made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall make grants to eligible partnerships to develop and maintain, or to improve and expand, model programs that support articulated foreign language learning in kindergarten through grade 12. (2) Planning and development For the first 2 fiscal years that an eligible partnership receives funds under paragraph (1) for a model program on a less-commonly-taught foreign language (as determined by the Secretary), the Secretary may allow that partnership, based on demonstrated need, to use those funds for planning and development activities, including— (A) development of an articulated instructional curriculum for the less-commonly-taught foreign language to which the model program relates; (B) in-service and pre-service development of teachers, and development of curriculum and language assessments in the less-commonly-taught foreign language to which the model program relates; and (C) development of contextual programs and curriculum materials related to the less-commonly-taught foreign language to which the model program relates, as described in subsection (e). (c) Applications (1) In general Each eligible partnership desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (2) Contents Each application shall— (A) identify each member of the partnership, provide contact information and letters of commitment for each such member, and describe the responsibilities of each such member, including— (i) identifying the member that will receive and manage the grant; (ii) specifying how each member will be involved in the planning, development, and implementation of the activities proposed under the grant; (iii) describing the resources to be provided by each member; and (iv) describing how each member will contribute to ensuring the continuity of student progress in proficiency from kindergarten through grade 12 in not less than 1 foreign language to which the program relates; (B) describe how an articulated curriculum for students to achieve an advanced level of proficiency by grade 12 in the foreign language will be developed and implemented; (C) identify target proficiency levels in the foreign language for students at critical benchmarks, and describe how progress toward those proficiency levels will be assessed at the benchmarks; (D) describe how the partnership will support and continue the program after the grant has expired, including how the partnership will seek support from other sources, such as State and local governments, foundations, and the private sector; and (E) describe what assessments will be used or, if assessments are not available, how assessments will be developed. (d) Use of funds An eligible partnership receiving a grant under this section— (1) shall use grant funds— (A) to design model programs and teaching strategies relating to not less than one foreign language that are informed by the best practices recognized by the field and by available research; (B) to develop, for the foreign language to which the model program relates, curriculum materials based on an articulated framework or approach designed to bring students to an advanced level of proficiency by grade 12; (C) to recruit students and teachers for the foreign language, such as individuals from heritage populations; and (D) to carry out teacher in-service and pre-service professional development programs, including summer institutes, that support the model programs; and (2) may be used— (A) (i) to develop nationally recognized assessments for kindergarten through grade 12 for the foreign language to which the model program relates, if such assessments do not exist for that language; or (ii) to enhance nationally recognized assessments for kindergarten through grade 12 for the foreign language to which the model program relates, if such assessments already exist for that language; (B) to provide scholarships and incentives to recruit new teachers for the foreign language, and encourage practicing teachers to take advantage of the professional development opportunities; (C) to provide opportunities for maximum foreign language exposure for students domestically, such as the creation of immersion environments in the classroom and school and on weekend or summer experiences, and special tutoring and academic support; (D) to provide the possibility for multiple entry points for studying the foreign language; (E) to provide scholarships for study-abroad opportunities related to the foreign language, for students in grades 9 through 12 and teachers and prospective teachers of such students, except that the eligible entity shall not use more than 20 percent of the grant funds for this purpose; (F) to carry out activities to integrate foreign languages into the school curriculum and generate whole-school collaboration, including activities and support for teachers of other subjects and administrators; (G) to carry out activities to encourage community involvement in the model program, especially with respect to heritage communities; (H) to incorporate effective and innovative uses of technology to enhance student learning and teaching in the foreign language; (I) to develop certification and alternative certification programs at the State level, especially for less-commonly-taught foreign languages (as determined by the Secretary); (J) to obtain technical assistance in the development and implementation of the model program funded under this section; and (K) to recruit or appoint a language supervisor to oversee and coordinate the progress of the articulated foreign language program funded under this section across grade levels in the local educational agency. (e) Contextual dimension A grant under this section may not be used to support a model program unless the program includes a dimension, carried out in conjunction with foreign language instruction, under which each foreign language learner also participates in programs to expand the understanding and knowledge of historic, geographic, cultural, economic, and other contextual factors of countries with populations who speak the foreign language to which the model program relates. (f) Research and evaluation (1) In general A grant under this section may not be used to support a model program unless the program includes a research and evaluation component, under which— (A) information is collected and analyzed regarding the effectiveness of activities carried out under the program, including— (i) program design; (ii) student and teacher recruitment strategies; (iii) curricular approaches; (iv) teacher development; and (v) foreign language assessment instruments; (B) information is collected and analyzed regarding the impact of each activity in subparagraph (A) on the foreign language proficiency of the students; (C) information is collected and analyzed regarding program participation, including data on student enrollments and numbers of foreign language teachers; and (D) the information collected, and the analyses of that information, are made widely available to the public. (2) Standardization The Secretary shall provide guidelines to standardize the categories of information collected and analyzed under paragraph (1) and the manner in which that information is collected, analyzed, and made available to the public. (g) Duration of payments (1) Initial grants An initial grant awarded under this section to an eligible partnership shall be for a period of 4 years. (2) Additional grants An eligible partnership completing a 4-year grant award under this section may be eligible for not more than 2 additional 5-year awards under this section, but only if the partnership demonstrates, based on nationally recognized standardized foreign language assessments, that the partnership's model program is effective. (h) Matching requirement (1) In general An eligible partnership that receives a grant under this section shall provide, toward the cost of carrying out the activities supported by the grant, from non-Federal sources an amount equal to–– (A) 20 percent of the amount of the grant payment for the first fiscal year for which a grant payment is made; (B) 30 percent of the amount of the grant payment for the second such fiscal year; (C) 40 percent of the amount of the grant payment for the third such fiscal year; and (D) 50 percent of the amount of the grant payment for the fourth such fiscal year, and for each year of any subsequent grants made to the eligible partnership under this section. (2) Non-federal share The non-Federal share required under paragraph (1) may be provided in cash or in-kind. (3) Waiver The Secretary may waive, in whole or in part, the matching requirement under paragraph (1) for any fiscal year if–– (A) the eligible partnership demonstrates hardship and the waiver will best serve the purposes of this section; or (B) the foreign language to which the model program relates is a less-commonly-taught foreign language (as determined by the Secretary). (i) Supplement not supplant Grant funds provided under this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal and non-Federal funds available to carry out the activities described in this section. (j) Data collection, analysis, and dissemination (1) In general The Secretary may reserve not more than 3 percent of the total amount appropriated for this section for any fiscal year to— (A) annually collect and analyze data on the model programs supported under this section; and (B) disseminate nationally, including through a Web-based clearinghouse— (i) aggregated data collected under subparagraph (A); and (ii) promising kindergarten through grade 12 foreign language learning and teaching practices, and successful program models, that are developed under this section. (2) Authority for grants or contracts The activities described in paragraph (1) may be carried out by the Secretary directly or through grants or contracts to institutions of higher education or public or private nonprofit agencies and organizations. (k) Definitions In this section: (1) Advanced level of proficiency The term advanced level of proficiency (A) the advanced level as measured by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages; (B) level 2 as measured by the Interagency Language Roundtable; or (C) any other nationally recognized measure of advanced standards of foreign language proficiency, as determined by the Secretary. (2) Articulated The term articulated (3) Eligible partnership The term eligible partnership (A) shall include— (i) one or more local educational agencies or State educational agencies; and (ii) one or more institutions of higher education, which shall include— (I) a school, department, or program within the institution or institutions of higher education that provides a teacher preparation program; (II) a school, department, program, or center within the institution or institutions of higher education that provides a program of study or research in foreign languages; and (III) a school, department, program, or center within the institution or institutions of higher education that provides programs of study about the historic, geographic, cultural, economic, and other contextual factors of the world area or country with populations who speak the foreign language to which the model program relates; and (B) may also include one or more businesses or nonprofit organizations. (l) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 5 succeeding fiscal years. . (b) Findings and purposes Subpart 9 of part D of title V of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7259 et seq.) is further amended by inserting after section 5491 the following: 5491A. Findings; purposes (a) Findings Congress finds the following: (1) According to the National Research Council in 2007, a pervasive lack of knowledge about foreign cultures and foreign languages in this country threatens the security of the United States as well as its ability to compete in the global marketplace and produce an informed citizenry. (2) According to the National Research Council in 2007, early language learning in elementary and secondary school is key to establishing a pipeline of students who can eventually reach a high enough level of proficiency in foreign language and culture to meet national needs. (3) According to the Committee for Economic Development in 2006, current efforts to develop language skills and knowledge of world regions at an early age are clearly inadequate to prepare high school graduates with the skills necessary for productivity and citizenship in an integrated global economy. (4) Research demonstrates that success lies not only in the number of years of learning but also in having carefully sequenced and articulated programs of language learning across a child’s school experience, requiring bridging the gaps between levels in foreign language education. (b) Purposes The purposes of this subpart are— (1) to provide grants for model programs that address the needs for developing, strengthening, and expanding the teaching and learning of foreign languages and foreign cultures in the elementary and secondary schools of the United States; and (2) to widely disseminate information on successful programs and practices. . (c) Technical amendments The table of contents in section 2 of such Act is amended— (1) by inserting after the item relating to section 5491 the following: Sec. 5491A. Findings; purposes. ; and (2) by striking the item relating to section 5494 and inserting the following: Sec. 5494. Partnership program in foreign languages. .

Summary: Foreign Language Education Partnership Program Act - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to replace the program providing incentive payments to public elementary schools for foreign language instruction with a partnership program in foreign languages that provides matching grants to partnerships composed of state or local educational agencies and institutions of higher education. Requires such partnerships to establish, improve, or expand model programs of foreign language learning from kindergarten through grade 12 that increase the number of high school graduates who attain advanced proficiency in at least one foreign language. Requires each model program to have a dimension allowing the student to gain an understanding of the historic, geographic, cultural, economic, and other contextual factors of countries whose people speak the language studied. Conditions a partnership's continued funding for two additional five-year periods, after an initial four-year funding period, on its demonstrating its program's effectiveness based on nationally recognized standardized foreign language assessments. Directs the Secretary of Education to collect and analyze data on such programs annually and disseminate aggregated program data nationally, as well as information on successful programs and practices.